Female athletes often face discrimination due to their appearance. There are ways to reverse this. You can first take control over your body image. Participating in social media can challenge gender stereotypes. Lastly, you can be an advocate for gender equality. These tips will assist you in becoming an active member of the sport community.
Taking back control of body image
Female athletes are attempting to regain control over their body images. These athletes speak out about how pressure to look perfect can impact their performance and mental well-being. Gracie Gold and Allie Ostrander are just two of the many athletes who have discussed their struggle with body image. These athletes want everyone to understand that having a body which does not meet a certain standard is not an indication of weakness.
Despite being under enormous pressure to improve their body image, female athletes are still at risk for developing body dissatisfaction. The mental state of body dissatisfaction results from negative thoughts about the body, as well as the perception that there is an inconsistency between the body's ideal size and what it looks like. The context and function also affect the way you see your body. A recent study showed that female collegiate athlete participated in "Bodies in Motion," a program which helps to develop positive body images.
Change the stereotypes of female athletes
One of the most important things that a female athlete can do is break down gendered stereotypes. Many girls and ladies are discouraged form participating in sport because of the stereotypes surrounding them. These stereotypes must be challenged at home. It begins by teaching girls, and women, to respect one other and to be unique. It begins with changing the way that we talk about women. We can change the way we talk and act about female athletes.
Most research on female athletes has focused on the bipolarity that exists between masculinity or femininity. However, very little has been done on androgyny. Androgyny is the middle ground between masculinity & femininity. It allows a female athlete to be both male & female simultaneously. This gender identity is a mix of assertiveness and gentleness, independence and dependence, competitive and passive, and can even be independent and dependent. A woman can have both masculine traits and feminine qualities. This can be extremely empowering for an individual.
Taking part in social media
Through social media, it is possible to inspire younger female athletes to take up sports. 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.
Social media can be an effective way to encourage young women into sports and improve their physical health. Many female athletes now use social media to promote 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. They may choose not to emphasize their athletic accomplishments, and instead focus on other sports with less stigmatization. These issues are indicative of wider cultural attitudes towards athletic women. These stereotypes can be a barrier to participation in female sports.
First, women athletes have to face the problem 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 has been brought to the forefront by the USA Gymnastics scandal.