1. My view of women in sport changed because of this course and its readings and activities. I never realized how much women are looked down upon and categorized because they are seen as "manly". I knew that many people that are in the girls basketball world are seen as being "gay" or "bi", but I have never knew many people who would be rude toward homosexual athletes as shown in Ms. Kauer's study. In addition, how women are portrayed in media was shocking for me. I know women use their bodies to sell products because "sex sells", but there are so limited to only that and not on their achievements. Women need to be given the same respect as men, given the same amount of advertisement and not be objectified to half naked photos, but poses in their uniform and in their athletic environment. Women compete at the same high level intensity as males, so should get the same respect and airtime to showcase them.
2. One thing I was surprised to learn in this course was the about the head coach of Penn State, Renne Portland. I was surprised to hear that her three rules to be apart of her program were, no drinking, no drugs, and no lesbians. Yes all coaches have the first two apart of the rules, but the third was absurd. Being a female basketball athlete, playing in a D1 environment , I know there is at least one or two homosexuals athletes part of a basketball program. However, their sexual orientation doesn't bother anyone on the team and doesn't influence another person to change their preference. I feel as though Ms. Portland's blatant discrimination was crazy and that she was able to forgo with this "belief" for so long, without the school board/administration getting involved. Also I was surprised, being a basketball player since second grade and many other players on my team now, have never heard of this story previously, than when it was introduced in class.
This class was great! Thank you!
-Adelle Walton
Thursday, May 20, 2010
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