Keagan Firenza, 10/1, Athlete or Sex Symbol

Summary

The article by Daniels and Wartena explores how teenage boys in the U.S. perceive different media images of female athletes. They conducted a survey with 104 boys who viewed and commented on four photos of women: two playing sports and two posing in bikinis. They found that the boys evaluated the women based on their physical competence and context when they were playing sports, but based on their physical appearance and attractiveness when they were sexualized. The authors suggest that this shows how media images can influence gender stereotypes, media literacy, and female empowerment in sports.

Connection – https://thestack.world/news/society/people/10-ways-the-media-has-undermined-women-athletes-1623081345255

Naomi Osaka is a successful women’s tennis player who withdrew from the French open in 2021. She had suffered from mental health issues and depression since the US open in 2018. This forced her to make the difficult session to withdraw from the French open in order to care for her well being. She had also opted to not participate in any press conferences during the open. On social media, she stated they negatively effect the athletes mental states and disregard their rights as athletes. She explained that it is similar to kicking a person while they are down. In response to her post the organizers of the grand slams claimed she had violated player’s media rights and gave her a $15,000 dollar fine.

Conversation with AI

Me: summarize “Athlete or Sex Symbol: What Boys Think
of Media Representations of Female Athletes” by Elizabeth A. Daniels & Heidi Wartena

Here is a summary of the article “Athlete or Sex Symbol: What Boys Think of Media Representations of Female Athletes” by Elizabeth A. Daniels & Heidi Wartena:

• The article is a research study that examined how U.S. adolescent boys reacted to different media images of female athletes, either performance-focused or sexualized.
• The authors used a survey method to collect data from 104 boys aged 12-17, mostly European-American, who viewed and commented on four photographs of women: two of them playing sports (tennis and soccer), and two of them posing in bikinis (one of them holding a surfboard and one of them holding a volleyball).
• The results showed that the boys focused on the physical competence and athletic context of the performance-focused athletes, while they focused on the physical appearance and attractiveness of the sexualized athletes and models.
• The authors concluded that performance-focused images of women evoke instrumental evaluations of women from male viewers, while sexualized images induce objectified appraisals.
• The authors also discussed the implications of their findings for gender stereotypes, media literacy, and female empowerment in sports.

You can read the full article here or here. You can also find some related articles here, here, and here.

Me: how does the author explain how media images can influence gender stereotypes, media literacy, and female empowerment in sports.

The author explains how media images can influence gender stereotypes, media literacy, and female empowerment in sports in the following ways:

• Gender stereotypes: Media images can reinforce or challenge the traditional gender roles and expectations of men and women in society. For example, performance-focused images of female athletes can show that women are capable of being strong, skilled, and competitive in sports, which are typically seen as masculine domains. On the other hand, sexualized images of female athletes can undermine their athletic achievements and portray them as objects of male desire, which are consistent with the feminine stereotypes of being passive, decorative, and submissive¹².
• Media literacy: Media images can affect how viewers interpret and evaluate the messages and meanings conveyed by the media. For example, performance-focused images of female athletes can encourage viewers to appreciate the diversity and complexity of women’s experiences and identities, and to recognize the social and cultural factors that shape their representations. On the other hand, sexualized images of female athletes can lead viewers to accept the unrealistic and idealized standards of beauty and attractiveness imposed by the media, and to internalize the negative effects of self-objectification¹².
• Female empowerment in sports: Media images can influence how women perceive themselves and their potential in sports. For example, performance-focused images of female athletes can inspire women to participate in sports and to pursue their athletic goals and aspirations, which can have positive outcomes for their physical, psychological, and social well-being. On the other hand, sexualized images of female athletes can discourage women from engaging in sports and from expressing their authentic selves, which can have negative consequences for their self-esteem, body image, and mental health¹²

Me: Can you find examples of how the media sexualizes female athletes

Sorry! That’s on me, I can’t give a response to that right now. What else can I help you with?

Me: explain why noami osaka withrew from the french open.

Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open because she wanted to protect her mental health and avoid the stress and anxiety of speaking to the media. She said that she had suffered from depression since 2018 and that she was not comfortable with public speaking. She also said that she thought some of the media rules were outdated and that she hoped to work with the Tour to improve them in the future. She apologized to the fans, the tournament, and the journalists for any inconvenience or hurt she may have caused¹²³.

Me: How does this article compare and constrast to “Athlete or Sex Symbol: What Boys Think of Media Representations of Female Athletes” by Elizabeth A. Daniels & Heidi Wartena

The article you are referring to is “Athlete or Sex Symbol: What Boys Think of Media Representations of Female Athletes” by Elizabeth A. Daniels & Heidi Wartena¹. This article is a research study that examined how U.S. adolescent boys reacted to different media images of female athletes, either performance-focused or sexualized. The authors used a survey method to collect data from 104 boys aged 12-17, mostly European-American, who viewed and commented on four photographs of women: two of them playing sports (tennis and soccer), and two of them posing in bikinis (one of them holding a surfboard and one of them holding a volleyball). The results showed that the boys focused on the physical competence and athletic context of the performance-focused athletes, while they focused on the physical appearance and attractiveness of the sexualized athletes and models. The authors concluded that performance-focused images of women evoke instrumental evaluations of women from male viewers, while sexualized images induce objectified appraisals. The authors also discussed the implications of their findings for gender stereotypes, media literacy, and female empowerment in sports.

The article you are comparing and contrasting to is “Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the French Open” by an unknown author². This article is a news report that explained why Naomi Osaka, ranked the No. 2 tennis player in the world, announced her withdrawal from The French Open citing the need to protect her mental health. The article provided some background information on Osaka’s career, achievements, and earnings, as well as the reactions and responses from the fans, players, and organizers of the Grand Slams. The article argued that Osaka is justified in prioritizing her mental health and that the incident sheds light on the sometimes problematic relationship between sportspeople and the media, particularly between sportswomen and the press.

The main similarities and differences between these two articles are:

• Both articles are related to female athletes and their media representations, but they focus on different aspects and perspectives. The first article is a scientific study that analyzed how male viewers perceive different types of media images of female athletes, while the second article is a journalistic report that narrated how a female athlete dealt with the media pressure and scrutiny.
• Both articles highlight the importance of mental health for female athletes and the challenges they face in a male-dominated sports culture. The first article shows how sexualized images of female athletes can undermine their athletic achievements and portray them as objects of male desire, which can have negative consequences for their self-esteem, body image, and mental health. The second article shows how media obligations and expectations can cause stress and anxiety for female athletes, which can also affect their mental health and performance.
• Both articles suggest that there is a need for change in the media environment and practices regarding female athletes. The first article calls for less sexualization and more diversity and complexity in the media representations of women in sports. The second article supports Osaka’s decision to withdraw from the tournament and advocates for more respect and empathy for female athletes’ mental wellbeing.

Me: How are women athetes portrayed on social media

According to the results from my web search, women athletes are portrayed on social media in different ways, depending on the type and source of the media. Some of the common themes and patterns that emerge from the results are:

• Women athletes receive less media coverage than men athletes, both in terms of quantity and quality. They are often ignored, marginalized, or trivialized by the mainstream media, which focuses more on men’s sports and achievements¹²³.
• Women athletes are subjected to gender stereotypes and expectations that emphasize their femininity, sexuality, and appearance over their athletic performance and skills. They are often depicted as models, sex symbols, or mothers, rather than as competent and powerful athletes¹²³⁴.
• Women athletes are compared and contrasted to men athletes, either explicitly or implicitly, which reinforces the idea that men’s sports are the norm and the standard, while women’s sports are the deviation and the exception¹²³.
• Women athletes are shown in ambivalent and contradictory ways, which reflect the tension between their athletic identity and their gender identity. They are praised for their strength and skill, but also criticized for their lack of femininity or attractiveness. They are celebrated for their achievements, but also sexualized or objectified for their bodies¹²³⁴.

However, some of the results also suggest that social media can offer an alternative platform for women athletes to challenge the dominant media representations and to create their own portrayals. Social media can allow women athletes to connect with their fans, stakeholders, and sponsors, to share their personal stories and experiences, and to express their authentic selves²⁵. Social media can also increase the visibility and popularity of women’s sports, as well as the diversity and complexity of women’s identities and roles in sports²⁵.

Me: What are some examples of women athletes who have used social media to challenge gender stereotypes?

Some examples of women athletes who have used social media to challenge gender stereotypes are:

• Morghan King, an American weightlifter and Olympian, who uses Instagram to share her passion for strength sports and to inspire young girls and women to feel positive in their bodies. She also travelled to Buenos Aires as an Athlete Role Model for the Youth Olympic Games in 2018, where she met a Peruvian competitor who said she was inspired by her Instagram posts¹.
• Serena Williams, an American tennis player and one of the greatest athletes of all time, who uses Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to voice her opinions on various issues affecting women in sports, such as sexism, racism, body shaming, and maternity rights. She also launched a campaign called #SeeHer to promote positive portrayals of women in media²³.
• Megan Rapinoe, an American soccer player and World Cup champion, who uses Twitter and Instagram to advocate for social justice causes, such as LGBTQ+ rights, racial equality, and pay equity. She also co-founded a lifestyle brand called re-inc, which aims to challenge the status quo and redefine the meaning of success for women⁴ .
• Simone Biles, an American gymnast and Olympic gold medalist, who uses Twitter and Instagram to celebrate her achievements and express her personality. She also responds to critics and trolls who try to diminish her accomplishments or question her appearance. She once tweeted: “I don’t have to look very good in a leotard. I have to perform very good in a leotard” .