Competitive sports for both men and women have been a dominant issue in sports news, especially in the United States of America and Britain. The inclusion of women in competitive sports dates back to the onset of competitive sports itself, although the issue of equality between men and women has always arisen. Like all other professions, a philosophy of sports specific to women has developed over time[1]. This sport philosophy is responsible for many women’s sports that have been witnessed since the 19th century. Differences between how women and men behave in relation to sports have always been present.
However, one clear thing that emerges is the fact that leadership styles in competitive sports tend to favor the exclusive model whereby men and women come up with different programs[2]. The development of different programs suitable for each gender is seen as a solution to anatomical differences between them. However, high specialization of competitive sports to suit either men or women has been opposed by those who argue that this specialization results in wastage due to duplication of functions[3]. There is contention that separating programs based on gender creates unnecessary bureaucracy and leads to increased expenditure.
However, supporters of separating competitive sports by gender argue that it has led to the quick improvement and success of women in these sports. This is due to the autonomy that separation provides [4]. Separation has also helped reduce unnecessary antagonism between men and women. However, sometimes differences emerge between sports leaders during major events where both men and women are present, which can distract from the goal of sports. Despite this, separating men and women in competitive sports is seen as a way to uphold gender equity [5]. It grants women a unique opportunity to advance their cause by fighting against gender discrimination and promoting women’s rights. Additionally, successful sportswomen become role models for young girls who are motivated to compete even in male-dominated fields.
Separation of women and men in competitive sports has been viewed as one valid way of dealing with the problem of injuries in sports. The inclusion of both women and men in sports tends to favor men, resulting in more injuries for women. This is due to the fact that women have different hormonal levels than men, and their muscles are also different. Separation has always been associated with monetary value in competitive sports. Therefore, it has been applauded as a means of changing the traditional sports valuation which made it possible for women to earn less than men even when they play the same sport.
Separating competitive sports for men and women is seen as a means of achieving equitable distribution of resources. The reason behind this is that resources related to competitive sports have traditionally been controlled by men. This can be attributed to various factors, including the stronger social networks among male athletes compared to their female counterparts [9]. Therefore, separation is a way of addressing these disparities and empowering women to take control over sports resources.
Separation also leads to equitable distribution of resources, especially in regard to the fact that in most cases, men dominate the most lucrative sports. For instance, football and basketball are some of the highest-paid sports at competitive levels in both Britain and America. Considering the number of women earning from basketball in America, it is challenging to compare that with men’s earnings. Hundreds of male basketball stars earn millions of dollars while women’s earnings do not match up.
In Britain, football attracts almost a fanatical following; however, this is only for men’s football as women’s football rarely receives media coverage. This indicates that entrusting men to manage women’s sports affairs is equivalent to killing competitive sports amongst women. Separating competitive sports along gender lines would help women understand better and manage their sporting activities more effectively.
There is a high chance that women will take over some of the competitive sports currently dominated by men in the future, but only if women are given the opportunity to manage their own sports. However, this raises questions about experience. Encouraging separation of men and women in competitive sports denies women the advantage of gaining or sharing from the extensive experience that men have in competitive sports. This separation may cause women’s sports to take longer to evolve to the standards witnessed in men’s sports.
Taking the example of football standards for men in Britain, women can surely learn a great deal by functioning as a common entity with their male counterparts. The same applies to basketball in the United States, which is highly developed amongst male players. Therefore, not separating men and women in basketball could possibly lead to the success of women’s basketball in the United States. However, this is not to say that women are not doing well in both football and basketball.
Separation of women and men in competitive sports can hinder the campaign to stop media bias in sports news coverage. The dominance of men’s sports in media indicates that separation may worsen the popularity of women’s sports[10]. However, separation is likely to boost the fight against gender discrimination seen in prize awards. Each event will have its own sponsors and no basis for paying participants less in prize money.
According to research [11], separation compensates for women’s inferior strength compared to men. There are significant biological differences between men and women in terms of body performance, hormonal balance, and muscle functioning [12]. These fundamental body differences would put women at a disadvantage if left to compete with men whose bodies are stronger in terms of physique. Additionally, considering the reproductive role of women, there are factors that can impede their participation in sports. For example, pregnant women may need to stop active sports.
All of the above factors would put women at a disadvantage if they were to participate in competitive sports alongside men. However, this contention has been disputed by the fact that in sports, the best always emerges as the winner. Therefore, it is believed that nature takes its course and if women are not a match for men or vice versa, it will become clear and self-regulatory.
Separation of women and men in competitive sports has been blamed for the lack of interest most women show in some of the most popular sports, such as football. Some believe that making a sport like football a unisex game is the only way to increase women’s interest and participation.
Separation of women and men in sports is a leading source of gender discrimination, which costs advertisers potential revenues. For example, football and golf have historically attracted more male fans than female fans. However, if inclusion were encouraged, these sports could attract a larger female fan base. When considering the world’s population of women and men, any concept that separates them in competitive sports results in lost potential profits from a wider spectator base.
Many women avoid watching sports that are traditionally considered to belong to men, resulting in a significant loss of revenue. The separation debate has been one-sided, with most arguments against separating women and men in competitive sports advocating for women to compete in male-dominated sports such as golf, football, and basketball. However, they fail to call for the inclusion of men in female-dominated sports such as netball or sports where women have tended to outperform men. This discrepancy makes the debate on separating men and women in competitive sports difficult to finalize.
The separation of women and men in competitive sports is facing a new question on how to accommodate transsexuals[13]. Those who oppose the separation of genders in sports are advocating for its abolition. The increasing number of transsexuals seeking inclusion in competitive sports calls for a review of the current separation concept favored by many in both Britain and the United States.
Finally, the separation of men and women in competitive sports faces the problem of authenticity. This becomes a challenge due to the fact that there is no agreement among sports bodies on how exactly one’s sexuality should be determined. Depending on physical appearance, which was used in the early 19th century, it was rapidly replaced by chromatin testing and eventually into urine testing supported by physical examination.
In conclusion, the separation of women and men in competitive sports seems to be the best way to approach sports today based on public opinion. However, it is necessary to reconsider this situation and find a common ground on the issue in the future. A possible solution is to strike a balance by ensuring that some sports such as football, golf, and basketball which have tended to be male-dominated are made more accessible for women. This balancing will help create a common ground that favors both those who advocate for or against separation of men and women in competitive sports. As a result, both men and women will equally benefit from competitive sports.
Works Cited Page
Furst, A. S. (1994). A Case Study of How One Company Uses Sports Sponsorship to Reach a Female Audience. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 3(2), 33-47.
Gardyn, Rebecca. (2001). A League of Their Own. American Demographics, 23(3), 8-19.
Hargreaves, Jennifer. (1994). Sporting Females: Critical Issues in the History and Sociology of Women’s Sport. London: Routledge, pp. 67-81.
McDonald, Mary G. (2000). The Marketing of the Women’s National Basketball Association and the Making of Postfeminism”. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 35(1), 29-51.
Vertinsky, Patricia A. (1994) explored the changing inquiry of gender relations, women’s history, and sport history over a decade from 1983 to 1993. Her article was published in the Journal of Sport History (21:1-25).
D. Amato, MJ Rach, and Br. Jr. (2003) wrote about anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the second edition of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, edited by JC Delee and D Drrez Jr., published in Philadelphia from 2011-2066.
Wiley, Caroline G. E., Susan M. Shaw, and Mark E. Havitz (2000) conducted a study on the involvement of men and women in sports to examine the gendered aspects of leisure involvement. The research was published in Leisure Sciences, and it found that there were significant differences between men’s and women’s participation in sports.
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The Nairobi Municipal Council is a local government authority responsible for the administration of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. It was established in 1963 and has since been responsible for providing essential services to its residents, including waste management, public transportation, and urban planning.
[1] Furst, A. S. (1994). A Case Study of How One Company Uses Sports Sponsorship to Reach a Female Audience. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 3(2), 33-47.
[2] Furst, A. S. (1994). A Case Study of How One Company Uses Sports Sponsorship to Reach a Female Audience. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 3(2), 33-47.
[3] Furst, A. S. (1994). A Case Study of How One Company Uses Sports Sponsorship to Reach a Female Audience. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 3(2), 33-47.
[4] Amato, M.J.D., Rach D.L., Jr., & Brown Br Jr.(2003). Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries.In JC Delee & D Drrez Jr.(Eds.), Orthapeadic Sports Medicine (2nd ed.) Philadelphia: Saunders; pp:2011-2066.
[5] Gardyn, R. (2001). A League of Their Own.American Demographics ,23(3) ,8-19.
[6] Gardyn,R.(2001) .A League of Their Own.American Demographics ,23(3) ,8-19.
[7] Gardyn,R.(2001) .A League of Their Own.American Demographics ,23(3) ,8-19.
[8] Gardyn,R.(2001) .A League of Their Own.American Demographics ,23(3) ,8-19.
[9] Vertinsky,P.A.(1994). Gender Relations,Womens History and Sport History:A Decade Of Changing Enquiry19831993.Journal Of Sport History21(Spring),1-25.
[10] Vertinsky,P.A.(1994). Gender Relations,Womens History and Sport History:A Decade Of Changing Enquiry19831993.Journal Of Sport History21(Spring),1-25.
[11] McDonald,M.G.(2000).The Marketing of the Womens National Basketball Association and the Making of Postfeminism. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 35(1),29-51.
[12] Gardyn,R.(2001) .A League of Their Own
