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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. Although the sexualizing of women
athletes may lead to more revenue and a more successful career, it diminishes their worth by
exploiting them as their male counterparts are successful, televised, watched, and truly
acknowledged solely for their athletic worth. The image of females in the athletic community
often fades and becomes focused around fashion, looks, and what society wants to see so that the
women can both sell their sport and to reinsure their feminine characteristics.
Throughout our society and its history, women were often discouraged to participate in
sports. It was not acceptable and viewed as unladylike, often causing problems for young
females that chased 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 (Harrison) with most of the increase happening in recent years. There
is now more opportunities opening up for women to take up a career in professional sports as
well. Even through all of these great strides and advances, there is still an image problem with
women becoming athletic and participating in sports. It still does not conform to the norms of

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society and makes women appear masculine (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. Female athletes pose in sexual manners to show society that
they are feminine and where their sexuality lies. They try to convince society that they are
feminine in nature and that sports does not coincide with masculinity.
Female athletes go about this improperly through sexually exploiting themselves. 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 their way. 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
viewers and fans.
In our society, many female athletes are viewed in a sexualized manner and their worth in
the athletic community declines and is not always recognized nor acknowledged, especially by

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men. They often appear on the cover of magazines, in shows or movies, and partake in photo
shoots often sexualizing their appearance having them appear almost nude in many cases. Many
have a belief that sex sells womens sports, particularly for male audiences (Kane 1). 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. In male sports, they gain fans and supporters
through the sports that they play and not through other sources. 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 should be taken. They
should sell themselves on the field where their work, pride, and joy is, not behind the camera.
Females often feel that it is okay to exploit themselves because it is their body. However,
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. The athletes often

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Works Cited