Women athletes often face discrimination based on their appearance. There are some ways to change this. You can change your body image by taking control of it. To challenge gender stereotypes, you can use social media. Lastly, you can be an advocate for gender equality. These tips will help you to become an active part of the sports community.
Take back control over your body image
Female athletes are starting to take back control over how they look. These female athletes spoke out about the negative effects of being "perfect" on their mental and physical performance. Gracie Gold and Allie Ostrander are just two of the many athletes who have discussed their struggle with body image. These athletes want to make it clear that having a body that doesn't conform to certain standards is not weakness.
Female athletes can still feel dissatisfied with their bodies despite being under tremendous pressure to do so. A negative view of one's body or the perception of an ideal body size can lead to body dissatisfaction. The perception of the body also changes with context and function. A recent study found that female college athletes took part in "Bodies in Motion," a program designed to improve their body image.
Changing stereotypes about female athletes
It is important for female athletes to break down gendered stereotypes. Many girls and women are discouraged from participating in sports because of the stereotypes that surround them. These stereotypes must be challenged at home. It begins with teaching girls and their mothers to respect each other and be themselves. It all starts with changing our attitudes about women. If we change our words and our actions, we can improve how female athletes are presented in the media.
Most research on female athletes has focused on the bipolarity that exists between masculinity or femininity. However, very little has been done on androgyny. Androgyny is the middle ground between masculinity & femininity. It allows a female athlete to be both male & female simultaneously. This gender identity can be strong and assertive, gentle and independent, dependent and competitive, as well as passive and compliant. A woman's ability to display masculine and feminine traits can make her powerful.
Participation in social media
Through social media, it is possible to inspire younger female athletes to take up sports. Social media is one way for female athletes to be inspired by stories about other women who play the sport. Last night, the UConn Huskies beat the Baylor Bears, and the entire social media space was dominated by the game. While the final score was 69 -67 in favor UConn Huskies, the controversy surrounding the call was the most talked about part of the game.
Participating in social media can help young women get involved in sports and improve their overall health. Many female athletes use social media to market themselves. However, the amount of research on how women athletes represent themselves online is still scarce.
Managing gender stereotypes
Many women face gender stereotypes in sport and this can hinder their participation. They may choose not to emphasize their athletic accomplishments, and instead focus on other sports with less stigmatization. These issues reflect wider cultural attitudes about women who are athletic. These stereotypes are one of the biggest obstacles to female participation in sport.
First, women athletes need to confront the issue of public perception. The public often views women as submissive and objectified. Male athletes are often seen as heroic and masculine, while female athletes are viewed as wives and daughters. This unhealthy cycle of gender stereotypes often results in the sexualization and objectification female athletes. This problem has been highlighted by the recent USA Gymnastics scandal.