Many professional sports organizations distinguish between gender in sports by placing the prefix “women’s” in front of female sports titles. This, paired with other inequalities, causes female athletes to be ostracized from men’s sports, despite the fact that their performances are often on the same level. Illustration by Lilli Sams
The distinction between genders in sports organizations leads to women’s sports to be viewed as less legitimate.
When people talk about sports, they often discriminate against female athletes just through their speech.
When referring to women’s sports, people often use the word “ladies” or “women’s”, but when referring to men’s sports they do not use a gendered term.
Furthermore, if one doesn’t specify they are talking about “women’s” sports, then people will automatically assume they are referring to men’s sports because of the existing association of masculinity with athleticism.
Although competitions rarely differ in major rules and regulations across genders, the distinction between genders in sports organizations leads to women’s sports to be viewed as less legitimate than men’s.
It is no secret that female athletes receive less respect. The National Basketball Association is listed as a parent organization to the Women’s National Basketball Association, sending a clear message: This game doesn’t belong to women.
This “women’s” title is viewed as a necessity to distinguish between organizations that deal with the same sport. Because male organizations came before female ones, they get ownership of the title of the game.
Another issue regarding gender equality in sports is the reality that it is easier for men to make a career out of playing a sport. For women, sports are viewed as just a hobby.
This may not seem worthy of outrage, but considering the the amount of sexism present in these leagues, there is a need for change to protect the ethics of athleticism.
Because women in sports aren’t viewed as professionals, women’s sports only receive four percent of mainstream media coverage according to the Women’s Sports Foundation. According to the Huffington Post, an even smaller percentage of airtime on some sports channels is attributed to women’s sports.
According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, the U.S. women’s soccer team was paid four times less than the men’s team in 2015 after winning the World Cup while the men only reached the sixteenth round. The women produced 20 million dollars more in revenue than the men and were paid a fraction of the men’s salary.
In Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, boys and girls are guaranteed equal opportunities in sports funded federally. According to a study by the National Women’s Law Center, gender disparities survive in schools who do not actively make sure their athletic departments are meeting the requirements of Title IX.
In 2015, Georgia was ranked last in a percentage point system measuring gender equity in athletic opportunities in high schools across the United States.
At Clarke Central High School, the girls’ sports teams are distinguished from boys’ sports teams using the label “Lady Glads”. The word “lady” was originally used to describe women of high class in the days of hoop skirts and corsets and, consequently, paints an image of daintiness and incapability.
What makes the girls on sports teams at CCHS any less of Gladiators?
It is time to stop naming female sports as “lady-like” and start supporting them as legitimate athletes.
Sports that are played by women are not inferior to sports played by men. Female athletes are not inferior to male athletes.
It is time to finally accept women into the professional world of sports and treat them as legitimate athletes that deserve respect.
