Inequialty in Sports

Activity n° 4:

Before reading the text, answer the following questions:

a.- Do you watch female soccer, basketball or hockey league games? Why? Why not?

b.- Do you think that women and men players should earn the same? Why? Why not?

c.- Take a quick look at the images and scan the text. Can you predict what it is gping to be about? Write down three ideas.

Gender inequality in sports

When talking about sports, we should bear one thing in mind: it’s a men’s world. For instance, ages ago only men were allowed to play Olympic sports. In the old Greece, sports were aimed to express religious beliefs and also were considered the means to obtain a strong body. Even though times have changed and women have their own important place in society (at least in most of them), there’s still gender inequality when it comes to sports, despite them being essential for human development.

There are different aspects in which we can find gender inequality in sports:

Firstly, college and professional sports have been providing for years unequal funding for women. Paying men more FOR THE SAME SPORT gives women less incentive to push themselves harder and also discourages future female participation in playing sports. For example, for finishing in 3^rd place in the 2003 Women’s World Cup, each woman’s national soccer team member was awarded $25.000. On the other hand, for teaching the quarter of the World Cup in 2002, the U.S men’s national soccer team members received $200.000 each. In addition, sponsors are unwilling to finance individuals and teams that do not get good exposure – and few female athletes do. 

Secondly, the media also contributes to generate gender inequality in sports. Female sports matches are not transmitted as frequent as men’s. Currently, in Spain “Teledeporte”, which is a public channel broadcasts every Sunday morning a female basketball match. Each game costs 5000 euros approx. for the teams, and also for the players this is very traumatic since Sunday is the only day they can rest.

Finally, girls who participate in sports are seen unfeminine and even labeled as homosexuals. Needless to say, this is not real. It’s a fact that people from different sexual orientations have different professions and occupations. Hence it is not necessary to point the finger at anyone.

To sum up, what can we do to help?

• ·        Attend women’s sporting events
• ·        Encourage television stations and newspapers to cover women’s sports
• ·        Encourage your daughters, sisters or girlfriends to participate in sports
• ·        Become an advocate: if you know a female athlete that is being discriminated against – advocate for her rights.

·         Activity 5°:

·         Answer the following questions:

 a.- Why do you think women were not allowed to play sports in the Old Greece?

 b.- Provide two examples in which we can find gender inequality in sports. Explain.

c.- Do you support female sporting events? If not, how do you think you can support them?