Center of Attention

Analytical Rhetoric: “’Center of Attention’: The Gender of Sports Media” In Michael A. Messner’s article of the topic of sports portraying in the comparison between the genders, he justifies the theme by claiming that “Sport is a man’s world.” Throughout history, sports in America were mostly participated and entertaining to the masculine role. As for the women, through the men’s eyes, the female role in sports are observed as pawns in the game, only described by Messner’s translations, “Women are sexy props or prizes for men’s successful sports performances or consumption choices.” The praise for women athletes were shunned down by men having no interest of their potential in the athletic field and media portraying women as sexy props or trophies. Sports that are most traditional for men, for example, boxing and football, are rarely participated by women and men are shockingly surprised when the woman triumphs over the man. Yet, even when they prove themselves over the limit to the best of their abilities, women are still discriminated and judged by their looks and not by their personality. Media plays a huge impact on how they are presented in front of the public. Commercials, Messner describes to be the showcase of women as they model themselves as prizes during sports or alcoholic advertisements. When women are presented in commercials about sports, they’re less likely to be the mainstream, only becoming part of the background of the scene. Men who have the roles of athletes or a random bystander drinking a beer have women around them only for show. Although, some sport commercials may have only a woman advertising, the commercials may display stereotypical or hypocritical traits about women. Messner includes also that women, like the “hostesses” on WWE or MMA shows, are clearly shown to be a bait for viewers, mostly men, to stay tune on the channel and “enjoy” the show after and before an event. Sports of these fighting events are not so