Feminist Perspectives
Article 1: Multiple Bodies 'Sportswomen, soccer and sexuality' by Barbara Cox and Shona Thompson (The University of Auckland, New Zealand)
In the text 'Multiple Bodies 'Sportswomen, Soccer and Sexuality', Barbara Cox and Shona Thompson address how women face the pressure of biding by the rules of the ideal female body, and the social exclusions women face if they digress from the 'norms' or struggle to achieve these optimal female traits. They explore how and why sportswomen are continuously being judged and questioned on their status of sexuality and appearance, and how it has caused them to display alternative ways of femininity. In this essay i will summarise Cox and Thompson's' main points and discussions, following with an in depth evaluation of the fundamental elements of the article as a whole.
To fit in to the ultimate female figure, there are certain characteristics one must qualify for. These include being slim, fit, pretty and having a moderately 'bronze' skin tone. The 'closer the actual body approximates the idealised images of youth, health, fitness and beauty, the higher its exchange value' (Featherstone, 1991:177 cited in Cox &Thompson, p6). Women are perceived as more visually appealing and considered higher value if they obtain these qualifications.
One sport that represents women in contrary to these idealised images is soccer. Women soccer players are continuously struggling to deal with the exposure of their displays of femininity and position of sexuality whether it is heterosexual or lesbian. Women who do not fit the ideal body weight or don't have long enough hair may be seen as a 'tom boy' or questioned on their sexual preference. Because of this, women soccer players are pressured to present what they perceive as representations of heterosexuality when off the soccer field and in different social surroundings, for example when being interviewed about their previous game by the media, to avoid any suspicions on their
In the text 'Multiple Bodies 'Sportswomen, Soccer and Sexuality', Barbara Cox and Shona Thompson address how women face the pressure of biding by the rules of the ideal female body, and the social exclusions women face if they digress from the 'norms' or struggle to achieve these optimal female traits. They explore how and why sportswomen are continuously being judged and questioned on their status of sexuality and appearance, and how it has caused them to display alternative ways of femininity. In this essay i will summarise Cox and Thompson's' main points and discussions, following with an in depth evaluation of the fundamental elements of the article as a whole.
To fit in to the ultimate female figure, there are certain characteristics one must qualify for. These include being slim, fit, pretty and having a moderately 'bronze' skin tone. The 'closer the actual body approximates the idealised images of youth, health, fitness and beauty, the higher its exchange value' (Featherstone, 1991:177 cited in Cox &Thompson, p6). Women are perceived as more visually appealing and considered higher value if they obtain these qualifications.
One sport that represents women in contrary to these idealised images is soccer. Women soccer players are continuously struggling to deal with the exposure of their displays of femininity and position of sexuality whether it is heterosexual or lesbian. Women who do not fit the ideal body weight or don't have long enough hair may be seen as a 'tom boy' or questioned on their sexual preference. Because of this, women soccer players are pressured to present what they perceive as representations of heterosexuality when off the soccer field and in different social surroundings, for example when being interviewed about their previous game by the media, to avoid any suspicions on their