The Spectator The independent student newspaper of Valdosta State University
Written by Ronald Moore, Staff Writer
Sports culture sexism shows itself through past male athlete’s objection to female journalists. Even today’s female journalists, such as Julie Dicaro, still experience unacceptable treatment.
Women, contrary to popular belief, have not been absence from male dominated sports.
Today’s prominent women include Michelle Roberts, Lesa France Kennedy, and Jeanie Buss; the accomplishments of these women may not be showcased mainstream, but the impact these women have on their sport is without question.
Women have made monumental progress in baseball, football and basketball. This development has occasionally been referred to as an “invasion” of male sports. The term “invasion” only further highlights an unacceptable culture that dominates mass thought.
The recent lineup of women pioneers in the male sports industry includes the likes of Becky Hammon, Sarah Thomas, Jen Welter and Justine Siegal.
Not only is the female presence growing, but women are obtaining larger roles as well.
The NBA’s Becky Hammon led the way by being the league’s first full-time female coach. Hammon received the coaching invite from legendary San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich. Hammon immediately silenced critics by going on to lead the Spurs to an NBA Summer League title. When asked about the issues her gender may create, Hammon responded “Character, working for each other, trusting your teammates….that stuff is universal.”
The NFL’s rocky relationship with women is widely known. Sarah Thomas, the first female to officiate a college bowl game, ascended to becoming NFL’s first full-time female official.
Through an internship with the Arizona Cardinals, Jen Welter made her mark as the NFL’s first female coach. Jen’s experience as a rugby and football player, coupled with her knowledge of the game, made her a great fit. Cardinals players have noted their respect for her emphasis on physicality.
Justine Siegal is the first female coach in MLB history. Siegel got her position as an instructor for the Oakland A’s fall instructional league.
These women have not been the only women of recent progress and will not be the last.
I’d like to see the statistics that show women’ presence in sports is still growing.
Women and men are different. Women make different choices than men.
Men gravitate towards certain occupations more than women do. That’s not about discrimination. That’s about the male brain being different from the female brain.
The majority of women, with exceptions of course, choose jobs that permit time to have a family, or they choose child-related occupations, like school teaching, or child psychologist, or social worker.
Men and women are different. Biologically, DNA, psychologically. Celebrate it. It has nothing to do with “progress”. Women being authentically women with their personal free will and choices, and men with theirs, is “progress” enough