The Nation magazine has a special issue on the role and impact of sport on U.S. culture edited by Dave Zirin. One of the articles in this issue is “Sex Sells Sex, Not Women’s Sports” by University of Minnesota sport scholar Mary Jo Kane. Kane has conducted research using focus groups differentiated by gender and age to debunk the common assumption that sexualizing woman athletes or downplaying their athleticism are necessary to sell tickets, especially to the demographic coveted by corporate sponsors who advertise to sport audiences : Young males. You can read her article here and see a short slide show of the different ways women athletes are portrayed in the media here.
Kane’s research shows that sex does not sell women’s sports. Sex sells sex. Young men who think Serena Williams, Lindsay Vonn and Danica Patrick are hot don’t necessarily become fans of women’s sports. They just become fans of sexy pictures of these women. Moreover representations of women athletes in sexy, pornographic or non-athletic poses turn off women’s sports core audience: women and older men.
Some of the comments in reaction to Kane’s article reflect how resistant many men and some women are to the results of Kane’s research. Kane is derided as a humorless feminist who should lighten up and stop trying to take the fun and titillation out of women’s sport.
I want to challenge these folks to watch a replay (if they didn’t watch it live) of the USA matches against Brazil and Japan in recent Women’s World Cup. Depending on your preferences, you might think Hope Solo or Amy Wambach are sexy women, but the riveting, heart stopping, scream yourself hoarse reaction to these games came from the competition itself and how well the amazing athletes on all teams played the game. It wasn’t about the make-up, the pony tails (actually some women actually had short hair), who had a husband and children or who posed naked in Playboy. It was about tough and determined athletes playing their hearts out and keeping us on the edge of our seats (or in my case leaping around the living room trying to help them get the damn ball in the net).
That, my friends, is what sells tickets and garners high TV ratings, not seeing Hope Solo or Amy Wambach lying half-naked on a beach with soccer balls placed strategically in front of her breasts and pubic area. Can we please learn something from the Women’s World Cup and from Dr. Kane’s research: Exciting competition, whether the athletes are men or women sells sports. Portraying athletes in the media as the strong, tough, talented, competitive people they are sells sports.
You young guys who are fixated on seeing women in stale, posed soft porn photo shoots, go somewhere else to get your porn fix. You are not a real sports fan unless you can appreciate excellence regardless of the gender of the athletes you are watching. Plus, athletic women playing at the top of their game are pretty sexy just as they are. One doesn’t exclude the other, but if powerful women are scary to you, it might not be your cup of tea.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
46 comments:
Rare, we pretty much agree on this issue.
When I fit the magic demographic they're looking for, athletic skill meant a lot to me. I know sex sells and some of the ladies are beauties, but if you are a racecar driver, tennis player, or basketball player (to name a few), it makes more sense that your identity is in your sport.
Once your finite playing days are over, then devoting yourself to a new field and a new identity, is fine. "Joltin Joe" had his Mr. Coffee, etc., but I know Joe for his baseball career, though I never saw him play; better, than I knew him for the Mr. Coffee commercials I did see him in.
That may be what's being taken away from these ladies, when their body and beauty are sold as more memorable than their sports skills.
Their sports identities, and possibly their true identities, are being lost; to model as a sex object to sell a product. But, that's just my opinion.
Those that characterize Kane as a humorless feminist are being both kind and generous. The truth is that she is a radical feminist idealogue hiding in academia who publishes "results" based upon weak, dated and unsupportable research. I suggest readers refer to Wendy Parker's blog for the reality on Kane.
The truth is that "professionals" like you and Kane both have an agenda and it has little if anything to do with actual women's sports competition and everything to do with your burning desire for societal change. Sports is just your chosen vehicle to try to make that happen.
I watched the WWC and found it entertaining in spite of our #1 rated team being defeated by Japan. In spite of that failure the media treated them as heros which most certainly would not have happened had a #1 rated U.S. men's team been defeated under similar circumstances.
Wambach is certainly a talent but sexy? Not so much except possibly to a focused demographic that you are familiar with. Solo is talented and attractive to that wider demographic you seem to dislike so much. That probably explains why she has agreed to be featured in ESPNs next "Body" issue. You may not like it, but that's the way the world works.
I suggest you and Kane concentrate on building women's sports based upon true interest in the contests and quit complaining about sex and men.
If the competition in women's sports is as compelling as you claim then success is assured. Time will tell.
To my mind one and all ought to look at this.
Did we read the same article? Because I did not see any "research" or "debunking" a "common assumption".
Showing people pictures and asking if those would make them watch sport, is not research. If I showed people cigarette adverts and asked them "does this make you want to smoke", would you accept my conclusion that those adverts don't have an effect? BTW "focus groups differentiated by gender and age" sounds better than "random group of people", I agree.
She claims that "those charged with covering and promoting women’s sports" think sex sells sport. And to prove them wrong, she points to marketing campaigns for leagues like the WNBA and the coverage of women's sports on ESPN as examples of how it should be done.
Did she not realize that "those charged with covering and promotion" are the ones who do the coverage and marketing? Is this maybe the cognitive dissonance she mentions?
As for Sports illustrated and Playboy, their job is selling magazines.
And regarding the "offensive portrayal" of Lindsey Vonn: If there's anything offensive then it's not the pictures of women athletes, but rather her implication that these athletes are incapable of making decisions for themselves. Most telling is how she shows implicit approval of one man's statement: “If she [Serena Williams in a sexually provocative pose] were my sister I’d come in, slap the photographer, grab her and leave.”
Talk about respecting women...
she's not even worth this reaction, but hey..
So, I don't really believe it may have success.
I believe that sexualizing female (or male) athletes completely takes away from the sport. If you are a true fan of the athletic event, you would be watching it for better reasons than to watch "sexy athletes." It is true, magazines like Sports Illustrated want to sell copies and make a profit, but doing so by portraying female athletes in a way that resembles pornography is disgusting.
If fast cash is the ultimate goal and the only way to have success, where is the line drawn? I don't believe in censorship, but the sexualization of female and male athletes is taking away from these talented people and reaffirming that it's okay for women to be objectified by men.
Thank for this nice information, as share good stuff with good ideas and concepts, lots of great information and inspiration.
One of the reasons why I like visiting your blog so much is because it has become a daily reference I can use in order to learn new nice stuff. It's like a curiosities box that surprises you over and over again.
People usually don't notice that kind of stuff and they know how to do it. they divert people from it.
Thank you, I have just been looking for info approximately this
subject for a long time and yours is the best I've discovered so far. However, what about the conclusion? Are you certain in regards to the source?
Feel free to surf to my web page camgirl
Hey very nice web site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Wonderful .
. I'll bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally? I'm glad to seek out a lot of helpful information right here within
the publish, we need develop more techniques on this
regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
My webpage ... free porn cams
We stumbled over here from a different web page and thought
I might check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you.
Look forward to looking over your web page again.
Also visit my blog post: cams live
Hello, Neat post. There's an issue along with your website in internet explorer, could test this? IE nonetheless is the market chief and a good section of people will omit your magnificent writing due to this problem.
Also visit my page cam free porn
It's really a great and helpful piece of info. I'm satisfied that
you simply shared this useful info with us. Please
stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Here is my page; sexycams
fantastic issues altogether, you simply gained a brand new
reader. What may you recommend about your post that you simply made a few days ago?
Any positive?
Here is my web-site live free webcam porn
Helpful information. Fortunate me I found your web site unintentionally, and I'm surprised why this twist of fate did not came about in advance! I bookmarked it.
Here is my web site :: free Porn live cams
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an very long comment but
after I clicked submit my comment didn't show up. Grrrr... well I'm not writing all that over again.
Anyhow, just wanted to say excellent blog!
Feel free to visit my weblog: free live sex chat porn
I will immediately snatch your rss as I can not find your e-mail subscription link or
e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please allow me
recognize in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
Feel free to visit my homepage pc-overware.be
What's up all, here every one is sharing such knowledge, thus it's nice to read this web site, and I used
to go to see this webpage every day.
Also visit my blog; sex web
With havin so much content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright infringement?
My site has a lot of exclusive content I've either created myself or outsourced but it appears a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my permission. Do you know any techniques to help protect against content from being ripped off? I'd certainly appreciate it.
Feel free to visit my web-site; www.tradedays.com
Good respond in return of this matter with solid arguments and explaining all
about that.
Here is my web site ... maths.sggs.ac.in
Appreciation to my father who shared with me about this weblog, this blog is really amazing.
Here is my blog :: sex cams chat free
It's a pity you don't have a donate button! I'd most certainly donate to this fantastic blog! I suppose for now i'll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS
feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates
and will share this site with my Facebook group. Talk soon!
My web site - live porn sex
you're really a just right webmaster. The web site loading speed is incredible. It kind of feels that you're doing any unique trick.
Also, The contents are masterpiece. you have performed a great task in this matter!
Also visit my blog: free cams to cams
Magnificent beat ! I would like to apprentice at the same time as you amend your web site, how
could i subscribe for a weblog site? The account aided me a applicable deal.
I have been a little bit familiar of this your broadcast offered shiny clear concept
Look into my web-site: Www.Lijit.Com
Fantastic items from you, man. I have consider your stuff prior to and you're simply extremely magnificent. I really like what you've bought right here,
certainly like what you are saying and the way in which through
which you assert it. You are making it enjoyable and you continue to
care for to keep it wise. I can not wait to read much more from you.
This is really a great site.
Here is my homepage http://Www.Winelog.net/winelog/gongstamp39
This is really interesting, You're a very skilled blogger. I've joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more
of your magnificent post. Also, I've shared your site in my social networks!
Here is my website :: live cam show
I think the admin of this web site is really working hard in support of his web site,
for the reason that here every material is quality based information.
Also visit my blog - xxx cams
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit, but instead of that, this is wonderful
blog. A fantastic read. I will definitely be back.
my web site; Gruppoedilcentro.Net
I'm no longer sure the place you're getting your info, however good topic.
I must spend a while learning much more or understanding more.
Thanks for fantastic info I used to be in search of this info for my mission.
Also visit my site ... sex web
Thank you for sharing your info. I really appreciate your efforts and
I am waiting for your further write ups thanks once again.
Take a look at my web blog: webcam chat website
Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all people you really
recognize what you're talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also talk over with my website =). We may have a hyperlink exchange contract between us
Check out my web page - webcams for free
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! By the
way, how could we communicate?
My site Live sex cam show
It's going to be ending of mine day, except before end I am reading this great piece of writing to increase my know-how.
Also visit my blog free adult webcam chat
I really love your site.. Excellent colors & theme. Did you create this site yourself?
Please reply back as I'm planning to create my own personal blog and would love to know where you got this from or just what the theme is named. Appreciate it!
my blog post: adult porn free porn
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your
weblog and in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts.
Any way I'll be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently fast.
Have a look at my blog; sexy webcam free
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though
you relied on the video to make your point. You definitely know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos to
your blog when you could be giving us something informative to
read?
my blog post: online webcams porn
Amazing! This blog looks just like my old one! It's on a totally different topic but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Excellent choice of colors!
Also visit my weblog ... live porn theater [http://fnatic.com/users/ukScruggilsixTa]
What's up, yeah this piece of writing is in fact pleasant and I have learned lot of things from it concerning blogging. thanks.
Feel free to visit my weblog - live sex chat cams free
Howdy would you mind letting me know which hosting company you're utilizing? I've loaded your
blog in 3 completely different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most.
Can you suggest a good web hosting provider at a
honest price? Thanks, I appreciate it!
Also visit my site ... sex chat with computer
Pretty! This has been an incredibly wonderful post.
Thanks for providing these details.
Also visit my weblog :: angelina jolie sex taking lives (http://filmpreviews.tv/read_blog/222418/porn-cams-website-members-evaluation)
Hello Dear, are you genuinely visiting this web page on a
regular basis, if so after that you will absolutely obtain fastidious experience.
Feel free to surf to my blog post free porn cams chat (http://www.enstarz.com/community/blogs/12932/37879/uncover-the-strategy-of-live-por)
Awesome! Its actually awesome piece of writing, I have got much clear idea regarding from this paragraph.
Here is my homepage sex Web cam (karmacity.org)
I'm truly enjoying the design and layout of your website. It's a very easy on the eyes
which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often.
Did you hire out a designer to create your theme?
Exceptional work!
Feel free to visit my homepage live sex cams and chat (com.ar)
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an very long comment but after I clicked
submit my comment didn't appear. Grrrr... well I'm not writing all that over again.
Anyway, just wanted to say superb blog!
My web-site; free live wecams - www.videokeeping.com -
Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thank you so much, However I am
encountering issues with your RSS. I don't understand the reason why I cannot join it. Is there anybody having the same RSS issues? Anyone that knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanks!!
Also visit my blog ... live cams iphone - -
Post a Comment