DAPP Task 6: 500-word mini essay 

Discuss the disparity between women and men in professional sports. Why is it like this and how can we move forward. 

I believe that finding a job in professional sports for women is harder than it is for men as most sports are male dominated such as football, there isn't many female coaches. Unless it is a "girls sport" such as netball, rounders, gymnastics you don't see women coaching in any other sports and I think this needs to change. Johnson (14 November 2022) confirms that “The main reason to get women into coaching is just to show that women are out there doing what men do”, this tells women that we can do what men can and some do it better than men.

 “She's in position 51 and has an income that is $66m (£50m) lower than Cristiano Ronaldo's” (BBC 2017). Explains the pay difference between men and women as the Women’s us football team won 2015 world Cup got $2 million (£1.5million reward) whereas the Men’s tournament was handed $35million (£20. 5 million) earlier that same year. Which is crazy to say that men got a lot more money than women for doing the same thing.

 “Women have limited professional opportunities in Sports; the careers which are available compared to the number of positions are small and the pay is rarely enough to make a living.” Kosofsky (1993) implies that it is harder for women to get into a professional career in sports than it is for men as there is unfair opportunities, as there are so many features that are discrimination to women such as the pay as men and women should get equal play as they are doing the same thing. This affects a lot to a women’s life as men are known to be the bread winners but now women are fighting to be equal which shows the disparity between the pay for men and women.

 There is discrimination within the cloths men vs women wear such as in beach volleyball as Wuertz (2021) states that “women are playing in bikinis or short, tight-fitting spandex, men are clad in long, loose shorts and tank tops” which shows that women have to wear small tight-fitting outfits just to be able to play a sport where as men get to wear usual comfy outfits which is unfair as previously a Norwegian team got fined for the women turning up in thigh length shorts instead of the correct bikini bottoms. “It's so frustrating, because these women are amazing athletes, and it's hard to watch that be diminished to just ‘this is what you're supposed to wear.” Zilbert (2021) supports this by saying its hard to have to define yourself by a uniform just to be able to play a sports as men get to wear normal sports beach gear as they get to wear a vest and shorts and it is even optional to them to remove their vest top but for women it is necessary for them to wear small bikini pants and a bra or they get fined which is discrimination towards women for having to almost be sexualised to wear their uniform and not having the freedom to wear  clothes that make them comfortable.

 

 

BC. (2017) gender pay is sports. BBC. 

100 Women: Is the gender pay gap in sport really closing? - BBC News
 
Johnson, K. (14 Nov 2022). Five reasons why more women should get into Sports coaching. BBC Radio 4.  BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour - Five reasons why more women should get into sports coaching (and how to actually make it happen)

Kosofsky, S. (1993). Toward gender equality in professional sports. HeinOnline. 

Toward Gender Equality in Professional Sports 4 Hastings Women's Law Journal 1993 (heinonline.org)
 
Wuertz, S. (November 2021) More than the uniform: Volleyball players speak out about body image and sexism. The beacon.More than the uniform: Volleyball players speak out about body image and sexism - The Beacon (upbeacon.com)
 
Zilbert, G. (November 2021) More than the uniform: Volleyball players speak out about body image and sexism. The beacon.More than the uniform: Volleyball players speak out about body image and sexism - The Beacon (upbeacon.com)