Same-Sex Sports Competition

In the sports world, females are constantly striving to gain a sense of entitlement and respect from peers, fans and their competitors. Many female sports athletes will try all sorts of things in order to gain publicity and attention. As we have already discussed, some appear on the cover of magazines or articles showcasing their talent along with their physical attributes. Through the use of media and social networking, women have tried to gain attention and notoriety. Many of these attempts do provide the athlete with some attention, but they are nothing compared to the attention a male athlete receives. Over the last couple of decades, female athletes have developed incredibly. Female athletes can now be put up against the best in the world in their sport, regardless of their gender. Many have tried to compete with men in attempt to not only to gain attention but to prove that they can break the boundaries of male dominance in sports.

There have been numerous female athletes who have entered into the male sports field, all of which broke barriers that no one thought could be reached. We have one example of Annika Sorenstam. Sorenstam is a female golfer who, in 2003, after countless victories on the LPGA, decided to enter into the men's competition. This was a big step in both male and female golf, as no woman had entered into male competition in over 50 years. Unfortunately, this step in the right direction for Annika was halted by many opposing male players. Another male golf professional, Vijay Singh, said "It's just different for ladies to play on the men's tour,"...... "Why? Because she doesn't belong out here…if I'm drawn with her, which I won't be, I won't play." Obviously, he had some strong disagreement with her playing in a male dominated field. This just shows the immature and backwards way of thinking men have about sports. They feel threatened or feel as though women cannot compete at their level. This belittles the female athletes and says that males believe they do not have a place in sports. Unfortunately, it just continues to show how we as individuals need to accept same sex competition in our sports, and how many women are still treated unfairly. 

Another example of female athletes competing against men is in hockey. A Canadian national hero Hayley Wickenheiser, a female hockey player, competed in a men's swiss league and was the first female to ever do so. She also is noted as being the first and only female character in a professional league sports video game. She is a pioneer who is breaking down the barriers of gender equality. More female athletes should follow her example and continue the movement towards same-sex sports competition.

These are just two examples of how female athletes are trying to break the boundaries set by men in sports. They strive to inspire young females by changing the game and continue to excel year after year. It is there goal to not only get recognition from fans and young athletes that look up to them, but to escape this shadow that men have cast out. Females today need to learn from the women before them who stood up for what they believed in and continued to excel in their sport. This will help that sport to grow and shed light on the issue of sexism in sport. 

Sources:

Potter, Jerry, and USA TODAY. "USATODAY.com - Singh says Annika 'doesn't belong' on PGA Tour." USA TODAY: Latest World and US News - USATODAY.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2012. <http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/golf/pga/2003-05-12-singh_x.htm>.

eluta.ca. "Video: Hayley Wickenheiser breaks gender barrier on EA Sports NHL 13 - The Globe and Mail." Home - The Globe and Mail. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2012. <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/sports-video/video-hayley-wickenheiser-breaks-gender-barrier-on-ea-sports-nhl-13/article4505456/>.