Female athletes often face discrimination due to their appearance. There are some ways to change this. First, you can control your body image. Social media allows you to challenge gender stereotypes. You can also advocate for gender equality. These tips will enable you to be a part of the sporting community.
Take back control over your body image
Female athletes are starting to take back control over how they look. 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 to show everyone that it is not a sign of weakness to have a body that does not fit a certain standard.
Female athletes can still feel dissatisfied with their bodies despite being under tremendous pressure to do so. Body dissatisfaction refers to negative thoughts about a person’s body and the perceived difference between their ideal body size and theirs. The way we see the body changes depending on its context and function. In a recent study, female athletes from collegiate sports participated in "Bodies in Motion," an exercise program that aims to promote a positive body image.
Female athletes: Changing the stereotypes
A female athlete can break down gendered stereotypes. Many women and girls are discouraged by the stereotypes they see. These stereotypes must be challenged at home. It starts by teaching girls to respect and appreciate each other. It starts by changing how we talk about women. By changing our words and actions, we can improve the way female athletes are portrayed in the public eye.
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 refers to a compromise between masculinity/feminity. This suggests that a female runner can be both male/female simultaneously. This gender identity can be assertive or gentle, independent or dependent, competitive but passive, and even aggressive. A woman may have both masculine and feminine characteristics, which can be helpful for the individual.
Taking part in social media
You can inspire young women through social media. The stories of other female athletes is what inspires them. The UConn Huskies beat Baylor Bears last night. This game dominated the social media space. Although the final score was 69-67 for the Huskies the controversial call was the talk of the night.
Social media can be an effective way to encourage young women into sports and improve their physical 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
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 indicative of wider cultural attitudes towards athletic women. Problem is, these stereotypes are the greatest barriers to female participation in sports.
First, women athlete must address the issue of public perception. The public often views women as submissive and objectified. Female athletes are often considered to be wives or daughters of male athletes. This harmful cycle of gender stereotypes can lead to the sexualization of and objectification of female athletes. This issue was highlighted by the USA Gymnastics scandal.