Assessment Brief – Assignment One (Individual Essay)

In spite of the progress made by women on and off the field, is sport still essentially a man’s world?

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In spite of the progress made by women on and off the field, is sport still essentially a man’s world?

Women are playing sports higher than ever, and many renowned female athletes have excelled in various activities. However, despite these positive signals regarding the growing popularity of women’s sports, a lot needs to be done to reach the level of men. The persisting gender discrepancy in the sports sector raises the question of whether the sport is still primarily a man's world. Traditionally, the role and contribution of women and sports have continually been looked at from a limited scope. For example, women and soccer have not worked well with many people around women. This and other social and psychological issues have continually crippled the position of women in sports. This essay takes the place that men still dominate the sport and intend to prove this argument by examining the elements of media coverage, salary differences, and social standards that lead to gender disparities in sports.

Current Overview of the representation of women in sport

Women are now more active in sports than a few decades ago, although their engagement is still lower than men's. According to information provided by the Women's Sports Foundation (2021), in the United States, only 40% of high school athletes are female, and only 43% of all undergraduate athletes are female. Furthermore, women are significantly underrepresented in professional sports leagues. Less than 10% of managerial jobs in the National Football League, National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball are held by women, and there are no female head coaches or general managers. Women's sports earn less money and receive fewer media attention than men's (Women's Sports Foundation, 2021). The disparity in representation indicates the perceived value that different community members attach to the contribution of women in sports. Although many milestones women's sport has taken over the last 20 years, their gift, perceived value, popularity, and the benefits they get from sports activities are nowhere close to the benefits, men gain from engaging in the same activities.

Media coverage during men versus women sport

Sport is still a man’s world because these activities get more media coverage than women's. Public opinions of sports are greatly influenced by media coverage, which also has an impact on athletes' and teams' popularity and financial prospects. Media is the only avenue of access to people in different parts of the world. The sport has to be aired to reach a diverse audience, and from the view and the rating gathered online, the popularity of men’s and women’s sports can be deduced. Horne et al. (2013) believe this is a string of social-cultural attributes that generations have based on and is core even in the mainstream media. As the situation is now, men's sports get more media attention than women's. In the United States, only 4% of total sports...