A lot of discrimination is faced by women athletes because of their appearance. This can be changed. You can change your body image by taking control of it. Participating in social media can challenge gender stereotypes. Lastly, you can be an advocate for gender equality. These tips will allow you to be an active member in the sports community.
Regaining 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 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.
Despite being under enormous pressure to improve their body image, female athletes are still at risk for developing body dissatisfaction. Body dissatisfaction refers to negative thoughts about a person’s body and the perceived difference between their ideal body size and theirs. The context and function of the body can affect how you perceive it. A recent study showed that female collegiate athlete participated in "Bodies in Motion," a program which helps to develop positive body images.
It's time to change the stereotypes associated with female athletes
It is important for female athletes to break down gendered stereotypes. Many women and girls are discouraged by the stereotypes they see. These stereotypes can be changed at home. It starts with teaching girls and women to respect one another and be unique. It starts by changing how we talk about women. We can change the way we talk and act about female athletes.
Although research on female athletes has been dominated by the bipolarity between femininity and masculinity, very little has been done regarding 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.
Participating in social networking
You can inspire young women through social media. This is one way to inspire female athletes. Last night's game saw the UConn Huskies defeat the Baylor Bears. The entire social media landscape was consumed 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 networks can be a great way to encourage young girls to take up sports and improve your health. Many female athletes are using social media to advertise themselves. However, the amount of research on how women athletes represent themselves online is still scarce.
Managing gender stereotypes
Gender stereotypes can be a barrier to participation in sports. 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 reflect wider cultural attitudes about women who are athletic. These stereotypes pose a problem because they are among the most significant barriers to female sport participation.
First, women athletes need to confront the issue of public perception. Women are often seen as submissive or objectified by the public. Additionally, male athletes are often viewed heroically and masculine and female athletes as wives or daughters. This harmful cycle of gender stereotypes can lead to the sexualization of and objectification of female athletes. This has been brought to the forefront by the USA Gymnastics scandal.