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Robert Moreno
Professor Bieber
English 115H
20 October 2015
Progression 2 Essay
Through the broad horizon of sports, women are often sexualized and objectified. This
has now become the norm for todays society and is just one example of gender inequality that
still looms over present advances made against sexism. The image of females in the athletic
community is often blurred and becomes focused on fashion and beauty. Society becomes too
focused on the looks of the female athletes. They encourage these women to sell their sport by
their performance but more importantly, by their bodies, looks, and feminine characteristics.
Although the sexualizing of female athletes may lead to more revenue and a more successful
career for them, it diminishes their worth by exploiting them, as their male counterparts are
successful and truly acknowledged solely for their athletic worth.
Throughout history in most cultures, women were often discouraged to participate in
sports. It was not acceptable and viewed as unladylike, often causing problems for young
females that pursued an athletic talent or career. Taking part in sports has often had a masculine
connotation to it. When Title IX of the Educational Amendment was passed in 1972, it prohibited
discrimination based upon sex in any federally funded education program or activity (U.S.
Department of Justice). Since then, there has been an 847% increase in girls participation in
high school varsity sports with the greatest increase happening in recent years (Harrison). There
are now more opportunities available for women to take up a career in professional sports as
well. Despite these considerable strides and advances made, there is still an image problem

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with women becoming athletic and participating in sports, as many athletic women are
considered to appear masculine and not conform to the norms of society and their expectations
(Harrison). Through the exploitation of their own bodies, they pinpoint their heterosexuality and
show that they dont stray from the norm of what society thinks a female should be. They show
society that even though they play sports, they are attractive and still have the personal and
physical characteristics that make them females. Many of them often advertise feminine clothing
or accessories for a profit and to reinsure society of their sexuality. Female athletes pose in
sexual manners to show society that they are truly indeed feminine and to reinforce the
assumption that they are heterosexual. This is all in attempts to show society where their
sexuality lies, and to try to convince society that they arent masculine because of the fact they
choose to play sports.
Many athletes from all sports are sexualized with their consent and approval. They are
often hired by other companies to help sell products, but in the covers and ads that they do, they
are almost nude or sexually exploit themselves in at least one way. The athletes that agree to do
these ads are both upcoming and trying to get on their feet, or are very successful and already
famous. These two types of athletes do it not only for the financial boost and productivity, but for
more support and fame. Many of them are extremely fit and beautiful. They show that they are
still gorgeous and are like all other females, if not better, despite the fact that they partake in
sports. They use this tactic to of exposing themselves to attract attention to the ads and to get
people to look. The people see who is advertising the product and figure that it might be a good
one and end up deciding to try it. This is a great and brilliant marketing trick, but it still involves
women sexualizing themselves in turn for money. The athletes do this for more promotional

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opportunities and making more money, but more importantly to keep their fan base happy and to
reinsure their heterosexuality.
Female athletes go about seeking support and popularity improperly through sexually
exploiting themselves. These women need to be coached to make better choices, maybe by
their coaches who have already risen to stardom and has been successful in the spotlight
(Brooks). Instead of exposing themselves to the public as reassurance of their femininity, they
can do other things that both benefit society and themselves. By supporting charities or
organizations that help deal with women and femininity, they could reassure society and their
fans through a positive outlet, one that does more than just make men look in their direction.
Women can also show their feminine side by the way that they carry themselves outside of
sports. Dressing conservatively yet flashy can show fans or an audience a feminine side of the
athlete. Many athletes are already very fashionable when it comes to dressing up and exclusive
events, but many times, they wear very revealing attire that many others would not feel
comfortable wearing. If the athletes wear clothing that is less revealing and just as stylish or
fashionable, they might be able to change the way that our culture views fashion all together.
Many women of today believe that being fashionable involves revealing yourself which is not
the case. If women athletes change the way that they dress, they can change the way people view
them as well as the norms when it comes to socially acceptable feminine attire. When carrying
themselves outside of sports, the women believe that through sexual exploitation, modeling, or
revealing attire, that they may gain more revenue, support, and fans.
These female athletes have a very large amount of people that support and follow them.
Many other women and girls look up to these athletes because they were able to push through
years of pain, verbal abuse, and practice and made it to the level that others could only dream

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about. When the athletes begin to exploit themselves, people notice. Many of the pictures or
videos with these athletes are modified, edited, and changed to have the athletes look even better
in the eyes of society. It isnt taken lightly by many as girls that dont fit that particular body
image wish that they did. They begin to excessively go to the gym and diet, or if they dont,
[they] feel guilty about it (Jones). The images seen are almost unobtainable goals in most
circumstances and young ladies become so infatuated with these images and develop an
unhealthy obsession. These women have the power to change the way females view their bodies,
but instead just add to the problem. When others see these images of the athletes, it brings them
more attention, but not for the right reasons.
In our society, many female athletes are viewed in a sexualized manner, which minimizes
or diminishes their athletic ability. They often appear on the cover of magazines, in shows or
movies, and partake in photo shoots which sexualizes their appearance. Many have a belief that
sex sells womens sports, particularly for male audiences (Kane). Society believes that if
women sexualize their appearance and show themselves outside of sports that they will gain
support and that it will translate and turn over to viewers and fans in their respective sports. Yet
this isnt the case for men. Men gain fans and supporters through the sports that they play and not
through other sources. Modeling or appearing in commercials is solely for more revenue, but not
in hopes of bringing in more fans or to justify actions that they have taken. This concept should
apply to both genders but does not. Women believe that they have to attract an audience with
their body, in a way selling themselves to the public. Often times however, they dont realize that
they are instead selling themselves short and not taking the proper credit where it is due. They
should sell themselves on the field, track, or courts where they work. This would make them

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fight even harder because it is their pride and joy, and their career which needs to be successful
rides on their performance playing, not behind the camera.
Females often feel that it is okay to exploit themselves because it is their body. However,
they negatively influence the way society works. The athletes are indirectly telling young women
that it is okay to be revealing and show themselves off behind the camera. They are role models
for many other young women, and they are knowingly being sexually exploited to get what they
want to maintain a particular image. Their male counterparts are able to make a living from their
athletic abilities alone, and women should be able to do the same. These women need to be able
to maintain a large enough fan base to make a profit, yet have to do so without compromising
their integrity or sexuality.

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Works Cited
Brooks, David. "The Year of Domesticity." NY Times. The New York Times, 2006. Web. 9 Aug.
2012.
Jones, Liz. "What I Think About the Fashion World." Mail Online. YOU Magazine. Web. 9
Aug. 2012.
Kane, Madeline. "My Most Attractive Adversary." Women's Village. Women's Village, 2002.
Web. 9 Aug. 2012.
"Overview of Title IX Of The Education Amendments Of 1972." The United States Department
of Justice, 7 Aug. 2015. Web. 16 Oct. 2015.