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ORAL HISTORY PAPER SUBMISSION 3: INTERVIEW SUMMARY
I interviewed Christina Richards, a retired African-American athlete born in Havana, Florida. I interviewed her regarding the various challenges that women athletics face in this industry and what is being done regarding this issue.
Question: What can you say about the efforts of various governments in encouraging women's participation in sports?
Christina: many governments are today doing their best to encourage the participation of women in sports. For instance, female Emiratis are making remarkable gains in sport. The number of Emirati women footballers has risen from 800 players in 2014 to 2,300 players by 2020, a significant growth (Rouhani, 2018). Empowerment, opportunity, and facilitation of achievement for women at the local, regional, and worldwide levels are all available in the UAE. As part of its policy to ensure women's rights and foster their creativity, it contributes to the advancement of its society via this.
Question: what is the major obstacle that women athletes face?
Christina: There's a common belief that males are better at sports than women because of this. However, it's important to note that this isn't always the case. Everyone has a unique set of talents. Because of their gender, several males cannot participate in college athletics, regardless of the sport (Hoggins, & Görzig, 2019). Competencies are what matter. Why can't a woman play on a men's team if she has the necessary skills? Why not let that girl play if she believes she is capable of doing so? As our society progresses, more and more women will participate in football games alongside men.
Question: Do female athletes receive equal media coverage as their male counterparts?
Christina: Media coverage of women's sports continues to be far less than that of men's sports. This includes Column inches, running time, personal quotations, size and length of articles, the positioning of images, and the size of the header. It's not uncommon to see pictures of female athletes in sexually suggestive stances.
Question: why do you think there is this kind of bias in the media despite the growing participation of women in sports?
Christina: Women's sports have made tremendous growth over several decades. According to recent statistics, women now make up 43% of collegiate athletes and 41.5% of high school athletes. That's a 400% increase in profit. Media coverage of female athletes' accomplishments still needs improvement, though (Scheadler, & Wagstaff, 2018). Complaints and criticisms of a female athlete's looks are sometimes replaced with adjectives like "sexy" or "fit," rather than "strong" or "fit." Female athletes were shown in the media in a way that made it clear that something had to be done about it.
Questions: What should be done to ensure equality in sports?
Christina: As a result of the shifts taking place on the field and in society about how women are seen and the possibilities accessible to them, the commercial sector of sports has seen a significant shift in its culture. There has been a tremendous amount of progress in the business sphere, and women have been recognized for their competence, aptitude, and unique viewpoint. Because of a generational and cultural transition toward a more equitable society, I believe there has been a beneficial influence. However, we must build a winning culture. Using this method, sports can see what is going well and identify difficulties and challenges early on, allowing them to take appropriate action. It's now or never to take advantage of the growing momentum.
Thank you very much for the candid discussion.
References
Hoggins, K., & Görzig, A. (2019). The portrayal of Olympic athletes defies traditional gender stereotypes: A content analysis of the 2018 Winter Olympics news outlets. New Vistas, 4(2), 38-43. retrieved from:
Rouhani, N. M. (2018). Women’s sport participation in the United Arab Emirates: A case study (Doctoral dissertation, Deakin University). retrieved from:
Scheadler, T., & Wagstaff, A. (2018). Exposure to women’s sports: Changing attitudes toward female athletes. The Sport Journal, 19, 1-17. retrieved from:
