GENDER INEQUALITY : GENDER STEREOTYPING IN SPORT
Stereotyping is a cognitive process in that it involves associating a characteristic with a group, but it can also involve, lead to, or serve to justify an emotional response toward people from other groups (Allport,1954). According to the dictionary, “stereotypes” is a set idea that people have about what someone or something is like, especially an idea that is faulty. This essay intends to discuss gender stereotypes, how it affects sports and what can be done to minimize it.
Gender stereotypes are common beliefs or stereotypes about the personality traits, appearance, behaviour, and role of a particular sex. Majority always expect that female individuals can’t play a sport because they assume that women are not strong enough like men. This leads to many females being undermined by their abilities because of their gender. This statement has been proved by professor Liu Wenli from Beijing Normal University. Women are perceived as inferior competitors. In fact, gender stereotypes affect the pay and funding for female athletes.
The perception that women are inferior to men has led to unequal pay for female athletes. In general, nearly all major sports do not offer equal pay for female athletes. There are many athletes who receive income from organizations they play for, but corporate sponsorships are another major source of income for successful athletes. The statistic from World Sports Network shows WNBA has a maximum salary cap of $117,500, whereas some of the NBA’s best players earn close to 300 times more, such as Stephen Curry at $48 million. In short, professional female athletes earn on average a fraction of their male counterparts. Unfortunately, women's sports squint towards fewer sponsors and fewer viewers than males who play the same sport. These reasons have led to a lack of funds for female professional athletes’ companies.
There are several ways to diminish gender stereotyping in sports. Firstly, parents can provide their children with books and movies about non-traditional gender roles, such as books and movies about athletes or dancers. Besides, parents should encourage their children to play a variety of sports that are not limited to gender stereotypes, such as soccer and basketball for girls and dancing for boys. Also, schools should create environments for students that are not restricted by gender stereotypes. Teachers can correct the misconception among girls that sports are not for them. This can be done through modifying their teaching approaches to encourage girls in class that they can also benefit in sports.
In conclusion, gender stereotyping from the parents and society brings various effects to an athlete. Hence, society has to work together and achieve equal respect and opportunities for all genders. Hopefully, gender stereotyping in sports is getting treated in the future.
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