Gender in Sports

Sports are generally seen, in our society, as a male dominated. Sports such as basketball, football, soccer, and baseball get significant attention because of male involvement, but female athletes in these same and other sports receives little attention. For instance, Purdue University has had a formidable female basketball team for a number of years, and the mens program has been mediocre for a number of years, but the mens team receives a much larger fan base and even television appearances.

The reason for this interest in male versus female sports is probably a result of our past. Because it has been in the last couple of decades that female sports have really come into existance, we still follow the trends set by those before us. It is more socially acceptable to watch football versus the WNBA. Also, some argue that male sports have a more intense, aggressive nature. I cannot argue 0n either side of this issue because I have not, as far as I can remember, every attended a female sporting program and actually watched the event. This is not because I do not like watching female sports, but because most of my friends do not attend female sporting events, giving me no particular reason to go.

As far as I have seen, female athletes are not given a negative appearance by the media or public. It is not an issue of whether or not the female athletes are respected, but more of an enterainment issue; most Americans are entertained more by male sports versus female sports.