SPORT
AND
GENDER
CM 3 & CM4
DISCUSSION
•1- Look at the pictures
•a- Describe them briefly, using appropriate vocabulary b-
Which ones suggest a conventional representation of sport?
Why?
•c- Which ones suggest a less conventional approach to sport?
Why
•d- In your opinion, what issue do these pictures raise?
Pictures description and analysis
CLASSICAL BALLET PINK OUTSTRETCHED
DANCE
SUMO LOINCLOTH KNEES WRESTLE
BOXING HELMET GLOVES INJURIES
FOOTBALL JERSEY STUDDED SHORTS
SHOES
RUGBY TACKLING VIOLENT MASCULINE
• The Sumo is a traditional Japanese sport
• Football remains a male-dominated sport in
many countries
• Dance and rythmic gymnatics
Conventional
Representation
• Almost exclusively practiced by men
• Inspite the growing presence of female
players and supporters.
• A discipline reserved for female athletes.
• The female boxers
• The male ballet dancer
• The female rugby players
Less Conventional
representation
• Boxing is perceived as masculine and
aggressive sport.
• As classical dance is often percieved as a
‘feminime’ discipline.
• Female teams are relatively rare and rugby is
often perceived as a typically ‘masculine’
sport.
• Gender in sport
Issue • Sport
stereotypes/cliches
raised • Equality between male
and female athletes
What is gender?
The fact of being male or female,
especially when considered with
reference to social and cultural
differences, rather than differences
in biology; members of a particular
gender as a group
In other words
•Gender is a based on a cultural
construction
How?
• Gender stereotypes are quite old
• Reproduced generation after
generation
Level of gender stereotypes
• Colour choices
• Personality traits
• Professional choices
Some examples
• Pink for girls vs blue for boys
• Girls are shy, sensitive, emotional
• Boys are brave, tough and should not cry.
• For girls: nurses, school teachers, secretary,
…
• For boys: scientists, car mechanic or
firefighter,…
Dance
• It is associated
with:
• Feminity
• Grace
• Softness
TIMELINE
The ancestor of synchronised swimming was sychronised swimming entered the Olympics Mixed duos were introduced in the World
already reserved for men as an exclusive feminime discipline. Championships in Kazan
1940s and 1950s 2002
800 BC 1982 2015
Esther William featured in aquamusicals and Male swimmers in France were allowed in
initiated a more feminime reputation of the official synchronised swimming competition
discipline. under certain conditions
PART 1
FOOTBALL AND SEXISM
Female referees have
frequently comments on
the way they look
Girls face many problems
when they try to play
football.
be
stay on the
rejected cheerleaders
side
Other issues females face in football
With facilities
Sometimes no changing
rooms for their own
They are obliged to get
changed in the toilet
cubicles
Default image of a coach
• A man who is
• POINTING at a mistake,
• YELLING on the pitch,
• A very TOUGH person who must make TOUGH decisions,
• Keeps on TOP of all the egos in the changing room,
• Maintains AUTHORITY and RESPECT of the players and
so on,
• These qualities, or at least characteristics are TYPICALLY
• Associated with MEN
• DO YOU AGREE?
Things change
• Clubs and selection panels should take their blinkers off.
• They should stop ignoring women’s presence in sport.
• They have to take them into consideration in their choices
and decisions.
• Many women proved that they are better as coaches than
many men.
• The best example is CHAN YUEN-TING
• The first woman ever to coach a professional male team
• She was the first woman to coach in Asian Champions
League
Things change
• Helena Costa
• who accepted to be the coach of Clermand
Ferrand professional male team
• but resigned because she mentioned
• There was a lack of respect
• and decisions were made behind her back.
Sport and violence
towards women
PART 2
What concepts typically come to mind in relation to sport?
• FUN
• FAIR PLAY
• SOCIAL COHESION
• PHYSICAL ACHIEVEMENT
• GOOD CITIZENSHIP
• RESPECT
• HELPFULNESS
Which athlete is a typical example of
violence within the sports sphere?
• On Valentine’s day in 2013 Oscar Pistorius shot his
girlfriend
• The model Reeva Steenkamp in his home in Pretoria
• He claimed has mistaken her for an intruder in the
bathroom
• But he was charged with murder and found guilty of
homicide
• 1/3 Proportion of women in the world who
are victims of male violence
• 1/5 Proportion of women aged 16 to 59 in
the UK who have experienced some kind of
Some figures sexual violence
• 120 million: number of girls in the world
have experienced forced sexual intercourse
• 200 million: number of girls and women who
have undergone genital mutilation
• Link between match results and domestic abuse
• Increase after home team losses
• Male athletes are more likely to commit violence
towards women than the general male population
• There is a link between major events and sexual
exploitation such as international events like the
Abuses Olympics or the Football World Cup trigger a massive
increase of trafficking of women and children for sexual
increase exploitation.
• Female athletes may also be victims of sexual abuses
from
• their male coach or male athletes
• through exploitation of power
• Trigger: provoke= déclencher/provoquer
• Women have:
• Lower salaries
• Limited media coverage
Inequalities • Fewer opportunities
between male • Frequently criticised on the social
and female media
athletes
