Problem of Gender Stereotypes in Weightlifting

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Recommendations
Conclusion
References

Introduction

The Change paper is a combination of all the recommendations that can be useful in dealing with the problem of gender stereotypes in weightlifting. As identified earlier in the issue analysis, a number of muscle building sportswomen rarely perform to their best because of the biases surrounding their sport. It will therefore be insightful to look into some of the solutions to these challenges.

Recommendations

Varga and Gammage (2008) realized that two important issues normally intertwine in order to affect society’s perceptions about a sport. In other words, even when a participant seems to be lacking in one aspect, then he/ she can make up for it through another dimension. This implies that for the case of female weightlifting, contestants are perceived negatively in terms of their physical appearance. The latter statement may seem very unfair but it is a harsh reality. Therefore, stakeholders in the weight building sport need to work their way around this stereotype and they can do this by empathizing with other non-physical aspects of the female weight builders. Here, promoters and announcers ought to bring out the endearing aspects of their personality. Also, the sportswomen themselves need to show how intelligent they are. Alongside this, they need to show the public that they are dedicated to excellence. This may help break the negative barriers that most people who are not familiar with the sport may have against it. However, such a strategy may not work amongst the stakeholders of the industry. There ought to be other approaches used in dealing with the stereotypes held by judges or sponsors in female weightlifting.

The media has a large role to play in sports as it is the platform against which cultural norms and values are created. Whenever a particular sport is supported by the media, then chances are that it will become endearing to the public and will be accepted and promoted. For example, the super bowl has become one of the biggest sporting events in the country and its players are often motivated to perform to their best in order to meet these high expectations. Fuyuan et al (2007) claimed that weightlifting among women has been sidelined by media outlets for a very long time. Even channels dedicated to sports alone rarely give it enough airplay. By marginalizing such a sport, then chances are that the public will keep finding it odd. Participants will keep being stereotyped and this is likely to discourage them from performing to their best. Consequently, there is a need to start taking a different approach towards the media.

One way in which this can be done is through injection of greater funding and sponsorship by weightlifting stakeholders. One cannot lay blame to the media without acknowledging the fact that they are a profit making industry. They tend to give greater airtime to sports that can meet their financial needs. It is therefore incumbent among female bodybuilding sponsors to take the initiative and spend more finances on various media platforms. They need to establish a give and take relationship between mainstream media and themselves. In other words, the media outlets can air their competitions and advertise upcoming events while female weightlifting stakeholders can pay for advertisements and also promote the overall well being of these media outlets. In so doing, the sports will become commonplace and may lessen the biases associated with it. This may attract more females into it and may also eliminate all the fear surrounding success in this sporting activity.

Slater (1996) claimed that times are changing and that more and more women are getting interested in male dominated sports. Consequently, this author feels that female weightlifting is an embodiment of progress in sports generally. This means that times are changing and that society now questions the passive role that it had historically placed women in. In other words, this denotes that there is hope for greater acceptance of female bodybuilding in the sports arena. Since culture is a transient, then certain aspects that were previously thought of as being unacceptable are gradually being accepted. The latter author therefore suggests that some of the stereotypes that have bogged down certain sports will slowly fade away.

The latter writing suggests ideological changes that may not be revolutionary in nature. In other words, without knowing it, society is slowly embracing different dimensions in sports and that this may progress with time. However, one cannot tell exactly when this is going to occur or at what point in time this may happen. Participants in female weightlifting, enthusiasts, sponsors, judges and financiers may have a very minimal role which they can play in affecting such a change. This is something that will happen naturally with time and society just needs to accept it as it occurs.

Upon analysis of the latter issues in depth, one can challenge these passive assertions by recognizing the fact that most changes in society have occurred through change agents. In this regard, people who understand the unfairness inherent in certain aspects of life have stood up and spoken against it or challenged those stereotypes. The same thing can occur in female weightlifting. A number of authors have written on the topic and they have internalized the challenges that female bodybuilders face. In this regard, they can talk about the respect that these sporting participants deserve especially in light of all the discipline and hard work that they put into it. Aside from that, change agents need to address the foundations of those stereotypes i.e. that such bodybuilders are less feminine. They could challenge this notion by asserting that gender and gender roles are transient and that new facets of femininity keep evolving everyday. They need to be embraced and understood without being written off immediately.

One of the biggest problems impeding success in female bodybuilding is the fear of discrimination associated with their unconventional physiques. (Duff et la, 2007). Therefore in order to help these women reach their greatest potential, then sports psychologists need to handle that fear. One way in which this can be done is by taking potential participants and actual participants in the sport through counseling sessions. Here, such women can be asked about their perceptions and opinions on the sport. More often than not, some of their fears tend to be exaggerated or the effects of those stereotypes tend to be blown out of proportion. Consequently, there may be a need to let these women know the actual facts on the grounds and what they can do in order to change those facts.

Duff et (2007) adds that most women in bodybuilding tend to be very enthusiastic about their sports because they want to receive positive attention for their bodies. Counselors can emphasize this aspect to female bodybuilders. They also need to encourage them to increase the intensity of their practices. (Mannie, 2005)

Conclusion

The major reason behind gender stereotypes in sports is culture and its understanding of femininity. Therefore to deal with this effectively, then change agents in the sport should play their role enthusiastically, counseling should be introduced and the media’s role in promoting the sport should be emphasized.

References

Drouin, B., Varga, H. & Gammage, K. (2008). The positive exerciser stereotype. Applied Biobehavioural Research journal 13 (3): 153

Salter, D. (1996). The tragedies and triumphs of women in sports. NY: Praeger

Duff, R., Hong, L. & Royce, S. (2007). Gender comparisons in weight training. Journal of Gender Issues 17 (1): 104

Mannie, K. (2005). On female strength training. NY: Springer link

Marie, H., Fuyuan, S. & Nan, Yu. (2007). The influence of gender participation and media on visual priming responses. Journal of sports and gender 14 (5): 79

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Problem of Gender Stereotypes in Weightlifting

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