Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Athletic Feamle Bodies: What is Accepted?




















What is considered to be an appropriate female body when it comes to athletics? This question has arisen numerous times in both this class and other classes that I have taken here at Allegheny, but I still do not know if it has ever been answered. So many people have different opinions about what an ideal female body should look like that I don't see this question ever being fully answered.

Looking at the pictures above, which one looks more "natural" to you? Most people would pick the one on the left and think the one on the right would be too masculine even though she is a boxer. Further analyzing these pictures, both women are wearing boxing gloves yet the woman on the right still appears far more masculine because of her muscles and the intensity in her face. The picture on the left seems like someone imitating a boxer and her lean stomach is clearly shown beneath her sports bra compared to no stomach being shown in the right picture.

Relating these pictures back to some of our readings, Changing the Game by Pat Griffin mentions the idea of mannish lesbianism (p. 217). Which many people may assume by the pictures above that the woman on the right has masculine and lesbian characteristics. This would then cause people to question her sexuality and if her boxing career is as a female boxer or a "mannish lesbian". And yes I am saying that mannish lesbian has been created into a category that is in a separate sphere from female athletes.

This then brings in the idea that is also presented by Griffin about homophobia in women's sports and how it may have manifested itself there. As we discussed in class today, sexuality and homophobia are intertwined within sports. And if sexuality is removed from sports then, theoretically, homophobia would disappear as well. This then would erase the image of the mannish lesbian and finally ending the discrimination of a muscled female body (hopefully).

Going back to the question asked in my title, what is the accepted female athletic body? With the information that I have discussed above, I am wondering how you would analyze the pictures that I have provided. Do you think one is more accepted then the other? Why? When you first looked at the picture on the right, did you think about or question her sexuality? Female athletic bodies are a major discussion in the media and just within our normal conversations. I ask one final question, will we ever stop talking about the ideal female athletic body?

The next time you are watching women's basketball, soccer, boxing, etc. look at their bodies and think about what Griffin was discussing and how it really does affect our outlook on their bodies regardless of the talent that they may have. Also listen to the commentary and see if their bodies are ever mentioned and if they are, carefully listen to what they are saying and see if it is realted in any way to sexuality or sexual preference.

2 comments:

  1. The photo on the left seems extremely artificial. The pose seems forced
    (I can imagine no power behind that gloved fist, I can only feel the dead weight of an arm hanging too long in air). Her outfit is too coordinated: her boxing gloves and sports bra appear to be the same shade of red. Her facial expression does not seem especially fierce or ready for competition, rather she seems more likely to be in the midst of sexual play. She's sporting a come hither gaze and pouting lips. Also, interesting to note: her boxing gloves are intentionally placed to cover any kind of visible muscle.
    As for the lady on the right; sure, she's posing but it at least looks like she has the power and the will to sock the viewer in the face.
    I would say the left photo is more acceptable to public eyes because it only plays with the idea of a powerful, physically strong woman rather than revealing the evidence.

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  2. This whole "athletic bodies" section we've been doing has reminded me of something from "Fat Shame." We covered the section where the topic of exercise came up and it was decided that working out, in the most part, is done for vanity and body image, not health. I looked through a magazine with sports ads and I noticed that all of the models for Nike, Adidas, and the like were stick-thin but had hints of muscles. They looked much like the girl in red as opposed to the one in the blue. As Ava pointed out, the one in the blue looks more like a serious athlete than her counterpart. Are the ads then marketing only to those who want to get in shape to look it? Do they market to real athletes who just enjoy the game? I think they lean towards self-image enhancers as the "ideal female body" takes up as little space as possible. Maybe the muscles take up too much room?

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