Courageous Athletes and the Gender Barrier :: Sociology Essays Research Papers

Courageous Athletes and the Gender BarrierSports consecrate al musical modes maintained barriers concerning the gender of the suspensors. Wo men as well as men have been discriminated in dramas, which have for so long been defined as a one-sex pastime. For practice, boxing had long been pictureed a childs play for viriles unaccompanied. Another example is gymnastics, which is usually considered a feminine bid, besides similarly have male participants. However, although sports in general have come a long way in sex discrimination, keeping itself under water, it still stiff a consistent problem lurking its ugly head above. There still remains cost towards those individuals who are brave enough to challenge the system , but can there also be benefits for those individuals entering a non-traditional sport? There are many costs that both men and women moldiness face if they want to take the challenge of entering a non-traditional sport for their gender. First, they have to bare the discrimination and criticism from the members of that sport, the press, and society. Everyone testament look pull down on them for being different. The press will make a lampoon of them on television, in newspapers and in magazines. The spectators who go out to see that sport will not support them in what they are trying to accomplish. The only support the athlete will find is, hopefully, their friends and family. Another cost that the athlete will have to overcome is societys question in their informal orientation. Everyone will think that the reason the athlete is entering in a non-traditional sport for their gender is because they are gay. For example, the press used to print articles constantly concerning Martina Navratilovas sexual orientation. Even though it wasnt until later that Navratilova announced that she was gay, the press would constantly remonstrate her for her sexuality. Martina Navratilovas struggles are common for many athletes who have dared to compe te in sports that were not traditionally proper for their gender. These are only a few costs that athletes have to face entering a non-traditional sport. However, although there exists many costs, there are also benefits for challenging sports prejudices. Although the majority of society will consider the actions of the athlete as demeaning and improper to the sport, there will be a small minority of people who will think of this athlete as a hero and respect their dreams. Whether it is because these men or women also have the same dreams, or because they respect the athletes courage, the minority will overstep the athlete a reason to keep going.