Gayathri Menon, Grade 11
UWC Mahindra
“Sports never caught my eye because I never saw someone like myself winning at them.” A sentence I’ve heard too many times. It is no lie that female representation in mainstream sports coverage has adhered to a socially acceptable idea of femininity for some time. Female sports that have received media attention tend to be those who let women be at little risk of injury and allow them to remain graceful (Duncan & Hasbrook, 1988; as cited in Daddario, 1992). These type of sports have been referred to as “sex-appropriate sport (Duncan, 1990; Graydon,1983; Hilliard, 1984; Kane, 1988; Poe, 1976; Rintala and Birrell, 1984; cited in Snyder & Kane, 1990; cited in Daddario, 1992). These sports tend to “[emphasize] erotic physicality rather than strength of the female body” and “tend to be individual-oriented” (Daddario, 1992). Where does Serena Williams play into all of this? Tennis is considered such a sex-appropriate sport (Daddario, 1992) and Williams’ representation challenges this notion.
Serena Williams has become a household name, having become the winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles. Undeniably a role-model for women and men alike, her ability has been questioned and trampled on by allegations of drug use and slanders aimed at her physique. A mother, an elite athlete, and a public figure, Williams has had her fair share of hate and admiration. But my admiration for Williams lies not just in her athletic ability but also her more human side and her endurance, both on and off the court. Far too often, on her social media feeds, one would stumble upon incessant comments about her body and overall looks. She has been dragged through the dirt, from being called a man to other words with negative racial and gender connotations.
Being in the limelight in an industry that expects adherence to the feminine ideal, Williams has challenged them on multiple occasions. Her physique being compared to a man, even when referred to in the most positive connotations demeans her femininity and associates strength with masculinity. Within the constraints of a sport which emphasizes grace and traditional female qualities, Serena has stood out, beating not only her personal best but several others’ as well. People look up to her for gaining a foothold in a highly competitive sport, but my appreciation for her stems not from an athletic admiration but something much more human.
To be human is to err and Serena has had breakdowns on the court. An athlete, high on adrenaline in a cut-throat competition is sure to lose her footing sometimes. Her outrages and “tantrums” on the court are popularised to diminish her professionalism and sportsmanship; whereas for certain, equally well-known male athletes, it becomes a sign of their passion for sports.
Criticism of her body followed her into her personal life as well when she got married and had a baby. It was disheartening to see people pin her ability on drugs, steroids, or pure race-determined factors. However, her physique is no way unconventional for an athlete but is, instead, unconventional for the media’s ideal of feminine sports.
Tennis has often reached front-page news for women’s participation as it fits with their narrative of being graceful and glamorous while not pushing the norms for the female body. Serena’s body has become controversial not only because of her outspoken nature but also because she retains her femininity and challenges its ideals along with it.
When she was barred from wearing a catsuit that would help her with blood clots for no valid reason, she flaunted a tutu on the court- a traditional, “girly” piece of clothing that showed her owning her feminine nature as she questioned the system that would not let her take care of her own health. Time and time again, she has owned up to her feminine side as much as she stretches the boundaries for the representation of people of colour and women in sports.
Her assertive nature and competitive mindset have expanded the preconceived notions of women in “sex-appropriate sports” (Duncan, 1990; cited in Daddario, 1992) which goes against the media’s ideal of the graceful woman athlete. Serena Williams is a motivational ideal for me because she has shown her human side and made it clear that she errs, despite her rather superhuman ability. She also acts as an important role model for future athletes and women of sports as she overcame the barriers gender and race had set for her. But overall, Williams has proved that she is an athlete, before she is a female athlete, setting herself up to further improve her game while being living proof that women’s sports are equally as valid as the man’s game.
Serena Williams has become a household name, having become the winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles. Undeniably a role-model for women and men alike, her ability has been questioned and trampled on by allegations of drug use and slanders aimed at her physique. A mother, an elite athlete, and a public figure, Williams has had her fair share of hate and admiration. But my admiration for Williams lies not just in her athletic ability but also her more human side and her endurance, both on and off the court. Far too often, on her social media feeds, one would stumble upon incessant comments about her body and overall looks. She has been dragged through the dirt, from being called a man to other words with negative racial and gender connotations.
Being in the limelight in an industry that expects adherence to the feminine ideal, Williams has challenged them on multiple occasions. Her physique being compared to a man, even when referred to in the most positive connotations demeans her femininity and associates strength with masculinity. Within the constraints of a sport which emphasizes grace and traditional female qualities, Serena has stood out, beating not only her personal best but several others’ as well. People look up to her for gaining a foothold in a highly competitive sport, but my appreciation for her stems not from an athletic admiration but something much more human.
To be human is to err and Serena has had breakdowns on the court. An athlete, high on adrenaline in a cut-throat competition is sure to lose her footing sometimes. Her outrages and “tantrums” on the court are popularised to diminish her professionalism and sportsmanship; whereas for certain, equally well-known male athletes, it becomes a sign of their passion for sports.
Criticism of her body followed her into her personal life as well when she got married and had a baby. It was disheartening to see people pin her ability on drugs, steroids, or pure race-determined factors. However, her physique is no way unconventional for an athlete but is, instead, unconventional for the media’s ideal of feminine sports.
Tennis has often reached front-page news for women’s participation as it fits with their narrative of being graceful and glamorous while not pushing the norms for the female body. Serena’s body has become controversial not only because of her outspoken nature but also because she retains her femininity and challenges its ideals along with it.
When she was barred from wearing a catsuit that would help her with blood clots for no valid reason, she flaunted a tutu on the court- a traditional, “girly” piece of clothing that showed her owning her feminine nature as she questioned the system that would not let her take care of her own health. Time and time again, she has owned up to her feminine side as much as she stretches the boundaries for the representation of people of colour and women in sports.
Her assertive nature and competitive mindset have expanded the preconceived notions of women in “sex-appropriate sports” (Duncan, 1990; cited in Daddario, 1992) which goes against the media’s ideal of the graceful woman athlete. Serena Williams is a motivational ideal for me because she has shown her human side and made it clear that she errs, despite her rather superhuman ability. She also acts as an important role model for future athletes and women of sports as she overcame the barriers gender and race had set for her. But overall, Williams has proved that she is an athlete, before she is a female athlete, setting herself up to further improve her game while being living proof that women’s sports are equally as valid as the man’s game.
Bibliography:
Daddario, G. (1992). Swimming Against the Tide: Sports Illustrated's Imagery of Female Athletes in a Swimsuit World.
Women’s Studies in Communication, 15, 49-64.
Duncan, M.C (1990). Sports photographs and sexual difference: Images of men and women in the 1984 and 1
988 Olympic Games. Sociology of Sport Journal, 7, 22-40.
Duncan, M.C.,& Hasbrook, C.A. (1988). Denial of Power in televised women’s sport. Sociology of Sport Journal, 5, 1-21.
Graydon, J. (1983). “But it’s more than a game. It’s an institution.” Feminist perspectives on sport. Feminist Review, 13, 5-16.
Hilliard, D.C. (1984). Media images of male and female professional athletes:
An interpretive analysis of magazine articles. Sociology of Sport Journal, 1, 251-262.
Kane, M.J. (1988). Media coverage of the female athlete before, during and after Title IX:
Sports Illustrated revisited. Journal of Sport Management, 2, 87-99.
Poe, A. (1976). Active women in ads. Journal of Communication, 26,185-192.
Rintala, J.,& Birelle, S. (1984) Fair treatment for the active female: A content analysis of Young Athlete magazine. Sociology of Sport Journal, 1, 231-250.
Snyder, E.E. & Kane, M.J. (1990). Photo elicitation: A methodological technique for studying sport. Journal of Sport Management, 4, 21-30.
Daddario, G. (1992). Swimming Against the Tide: Sports Illustrated's Imagery of Female Athletes in a Swimsuit World.
Women’s Studies in Communication, 15, 49-64.
Duncan, M.C (1990). Sports photographs and sexual difference: Images of men and women in the 1984 and 1
988 Olympic Games. Sociology of Sport Journal, 7, 22-40.
Duncan, M.C.,& Hasbrook, C.A. (1988). Denial of Power in televised women’s sport. Sociology of Sport Journal, 5, 1-21.
Graydon, J. (1983). “But it’s more than a game. It’s an institution.” Feminist perspectives on sport. Feminist Review, 13, 5-16.
Hilliard, D.C. (1984). Media images of male and female professional athletes:
An interpretive analysis of magazine articles. Sociology of Sport Journal, 1, 251-262.
Kane, M.J. (1988). Media coverage of the female athlete before, during and after Title IX:
Sports Illustrated revisited. Journal of Sport Management, 2, 87-99.
Poe, A. (1976). Active women in ads. Journal of Communication, 26,185-192.
Rintala, J.,& Birelle, S. (1984) Fair treatment for the active female: A content analysis of Young Athlete magazine. Sociology of Sport Journal, 1, 231-250.
Snyder, E.E. & Kane, M.J. (1990). Photo elicitation: A methodological technique for studying sport. Journal of Sport Management, 4, 21-30.
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