Discrimination against women athletes is often based on their looks. There are ways to reverse this. You can change your body image by taking control of it. To challenge gender stereotypes, you can use social media. You can also advocate for gender equality. These tips can help you become an active participant in the sport community.
Regaining control over your body image
Female athletes are taking back control of their body image. These athletes have spoken about how the pressure to be "perfect" impacts their performance and mental health. Gracie Gold, an Olympic figure skater, as well as Allie Ostrander (a professional runner), have shared their struggles with negative body images. These athletes want people to see that it's not weakness to have a body not conforming to a standard.
Despite being under enormous pressure to improve their body image, female athletes are still at risk for developing body dissatisfaction. The mental state of body dissatisfaction results from negative thoughts about the body, as well as the perception that there is an inconsistency between the body's ideal size and what it looks like. Context and function can also influence how we perceive our bodies. A recent study found that female college athletes took part in "Bodies in Motion," a program designed to improve their body image.
Female athletes: Changing the stereotypes
Breaking down gendered stereotypes is one of the most important things a female athlete can accomplish. Many women and girls are discouraged by the stereotypes they see. These stereotypes must be challenged at home. It starts at home by teaching girls and women how to respect each other, and how to be different. It also starts with changing the way we talk about women. It is possible to improve the image of female athletes in the public eye by changing our words, actions and speech.
The majority of research on female athlete has been focused on the bipolarity in masculinity and feminineity. Very little has been done to examine androgyny. Androgyny is the middle ground between masculinity & femininity. It allows a female athlete to be both male & female simultaneously. This gender identity may be assertive yet gentle, independent and dependent, competitive yet passive, or it can be assertive but gentle. A woman may have both masculine and feminine characteristics, which can be helpful for the individual.
Participating in social networking
Use social media to inspire younger women to get involved in sports. The stories of other female athletes is what inspires them. Last night, the UConn Huskies beat the Baylor Bears, and the entire social media space was dominated by the game. The final score was 69-67 in favor of the Huskies, but the controversial call was the talking point of the night.
Participating in social networking can be a powerful way for young women to get involved in sport and to improve their health. Many female athletes are now using social media as a way to promote themselves. The amount of research that has been done on the online representations of women athletes is limited.
Managing gender stereotypes
Women are often confronted with gender stereotypes when it comes to sport, which can restrict their participation. Women may decide to focus less on their athletic accomplishments and instead choose to participate in other more popular sports. Or they might even give up their chosen sport entirely. These issues are a reflection of larger cultural attitudes about athletic women. The problem is that these stereotypes are some of the biggest barriers to female sports participation.
First, women athlete must address the issue of public perception. Public perceptions often portray women as submissive or objectified. In addition, male athletes are often viewed as heroic and masculine while female athletes are seen as wives and daughters. This toxic cycle of gender stereotypes often leads to the sexualization and objectification of female athletes. This has been brought to the forefront by the USA Gymnastics scandal.