2. •
Australian media give minimal coverage to
world class women's sports that we excel in,
such as netball and cricket, as opposed to
male sports
- 9% of sports coverage is dedicated to female
sport, while 81% is given to male sport
coverage.
3. •
Because, generally there is less importance
placed on female sport, and minimal exposure
of female sport in the media, a flow on effect
has shown that less than half of all 5-14 year
old girls participate in any sort.
•
Research suggests that young females exit
from sport because of their poor self image.
4. •
The lack of promotion of women's sport also
means there are fewer female role models.
•
Increased media coverage would identify
female sport role models, assisting in
influencing more females to also participate
in sport.
•
-Currently, all areas of sport are dominated by
males- playing, promoting, in organisation, as
board members, and sports journalists.
5. •
Channel 7 is happy to broadcast the Legends
Football league, formerly named True fantasy
Lingerie league in which the female players
are only able to wear lingerie and makeup as
uniform, along with regulated padding. A
clause in their contract means that they must
allow accidental nudity if their lingerie is torn
in a game. Channel 7 do not broadcast fully
clothed women's gridiron leagues, so may be
seen as objectifying and sexualising women
6. •
Female sport participants are often identified
differently to males. They are spoken of
according to their feminine traits of
appearance, passiveness, relationship status,
(eg, mother, daughter, wife) and emotional
states. This type of labelling detracts from
their athletic ability.
7. •
Sport and media are two very powerful
influences on society. Increased, effective,
non-sexualised, objective and non biased
media coverage of female sport would aid in:
•
Improving participation levels, giving females
an opportunity to experience physical
activities, improving their social and
emotional well being
•
Promoting varying body images that are not
stereotyping women to adjust to ‘ideal’
