Short Argumentative Essay
Women Against Sport Critics
Sports are an important part of today’s world for athletes, fans, and journalists. The main problem with sports today is the lack of encouragement that females receive for their involvement. Women can be as talented as men in any sport they choose to play; however, women still do not get as much praise as men do when they excel in a sport. Women have become more accepted into the sports world compared to the past, but there is still improvement that could be made. In the past, women were not even allowed to participate in sports at all. Now women are given the right to become an athlete, fan, or a journalist if they choose to do so. Women should be accepted and positively encouraged in the world of sports as an athlete, fan, or journalist, regardless of what many sports enthusiast may believe.
The opposition will argue that female athletes are respected, which is true, but the opposing side refrains from saying that the men are far more respected. R. Vivian Acosta and Linda Jean Carpenter, professors of Brooklyn College in New York, have collected data including the number of girls in sports in high school. Even with the amount of female sports involvement being on the rise, it is still believed that sports are a part of a “man’s world”: “The 2008 average of 8.65 is the highest ever and demonstrates without question that the phrase, "If you build it, they will come," applies to women's athletics programs” (Acosta and Carpenter par. 3). The opposing side believes that since the involvement is rising, then there are no problems and women are well supported.
Women can be just as talented of athletes as men are if they put in hard work. Venus and Serena Williams are a prime example of the talent that female athletes can posses. According to Michael Kimmelman’s article “Women Who Hit Very Hard and How They’ve Changed Tennis,” “Venus and Serena raised the bar for everyone” (Kimmelman 514). The Williams sisters have changed the perspective of an excellent tennis player, or of a female athlete in general. Their power and strength when playing tennis has become an inspiration to all of the teenage athletes that aspire to play professionally one day. Jennie Yabroff, a freelance writer and blogger that discusses the struggles of cheerleading, also talks about female athletes being as good as men athletes. Yabroff believes that women cheerleaders perform just as well, if not better, than the men cheerleaders (Yabroff 525). Although cheerleading was started by men, women slowly started to become the face of cheerleading. The cheerleaders stunts include a variety of tricks that require upper-body strength and agility. In Yabroff’s words, “And unlike more-revered athletes--such as football players or even gymnasts-- cheerleaders have to contend with lack of respect from their peers and frequent mockery” (Yabroff 525). This statement just proves that even though cheerleaders work just as hard as the other athletes, they do not get the same praise.
Women are also allowed to love and support sports’ teams just like men. Being a sports fan should not be restricted by gender. A fan should just be an individual that enjoys a sport or sports team. Sara Maratta is an aspiring journalist that uses personal experiences of male fans judging her for loving and supporting her favorite team just because she is a girl. Maratta says, “I am a devout fan who attends games with my family and friends, and stays up into the early morning hours watching away games on TV” (Maratta 538). Maratta just proves that being a fan has nothing to do with gender, but everything to do with loyalty. Since women’s sports are on the rise, then women fans should also continue to be on the rise. According to Acosta and Carpenter, ”Nonetheless, the total participation levels for male athletes and female athletes have increased” (Acosta and Carpenter par. 7). With the rise of women in sports keeping up with the level of men participating in sports, the amount of women fans should also keep up with the amount of male fans.The amount of women sports reporters should also be the same as men sports journalist.
Becoming a sports journalist should be dependent on the knowledge the journalist has on the sport they will be following; however, becoming a journalist should not be dependent on the gender of the candidate. Women can be just as knowledgeable as men on the rules and plays of sports. For example, sports reporter Erin Andrews is an intelligent and well-versed sports journalist that is often belittled to being just a pretty face (Maratta 541). In my opinion, Andrews is one of the most successful female sports reporters in the United States. Maratta suggests, “Not only is there a bias against women’s sports in the media, there are also some who believe that women cannot offer valuable insights and opinions when it comes to reporting sports” (Maratta 541). I strongly agree with Maratta’s inferences on female sports journalists and reporters. ESPN broadcaster Melissa Block is aware of the struggle female sports journalist and reporters face. Block talks about Ron Franklin, ESPN announce, was fired for calling a sports reporter ‘sweet baby’ (Block par. 1). Franklin had apologized to the sports reporter, but he still lost his job (Block par.1). In Block’s view, “This adds to a long list of cases when women sports reporters who had to contend with sexist, demeaning or offensive remarks” (Block par. 1). The women sports reporters have to overcome that bias that the sports world belongs to men.
In conclusion, women’s rights to participate in the sports world has increased since the past; however, they are still not as respected as male athletes, fans, and reporters. Women fight to prove their worth in the sports world daily. They try hard to be “valuable” enough to be well respected in their professions.Women should be accepted and positively encouraged in the world of sports, whether it be as an athlete, fan, or journalist.
Works Cited
Acosta, R. Vivian, and Linda Jean Carpenter. “Title IX Has Increased Girls' Participation in School Sports.” Women in Intercollegiate Sport: A Longitudinal, National Study, Thirty-One Year Update [1977-2008], edited by Karen Miller, 2008, pp. 10–11. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010646218/OVIC?u=chil38234&xid=1e465495. Accessed 2017.
Block, Melissa. "Journalist On Challenges Facing Female Sports Reporters." All Things Considered 7 Jan. 2011: n. pag. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
Kimmelman, Michael. "Women Who Hit Very Hard and How They’ve Changed Tennis." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 179-189. Print
Maratta, Sara. "Move Over Boys, Make Room in the Crease." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 179-189. Print
Yabroff, Jennie. "In Defense of Cheering." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 179-189. Print
Sports are an important part of today’s world for athletes, fans, and journalists. The main problem with sports today is the lack of encouragement that females receive for their involvement. Women can be as talented as men in any sport they choose to play; however, women still do not get as much praise as men do when they excel in a sport. Women have become more accepted into the sports world compared to the past, but there is still improvement that could be made. In the past, women were not even allowed to participate in sports at all. Now women are given the right to become an athlete, fan, or a journalist if they choose to do so. Women should be accepted and positively encouraged in the world of sports as an athlete, fan, or journalist, regardless of what many sports enthusiast may believe.
The opposition will argue that female athletes are respected, which is true, but the opposing side refrains from saying that the men are far more respected. R. Vivian Acosta and Linda Jean Carpenter, professors of Brooklyn College in New York, have collected data including the number of girls in sports in high school. Even with the amount of female sports involvement being on the rise, it is still believed that sports are a part of a “man’s world”: “The 2008 average of 8.65 is the highest ever and demonstrates without question that the phrase, "If you build it, they will come," applies to women's athletics programs” (Acosta and Carpenter par. 3). The opposing side believes that since the involvement is rising, then there are no problems and women are well supported.
Women can be just as talented of athletes as men are if they put in hard work. Venus and Serena Williams are a prime example of the talent that female athletes can posses. According to Michael Kimmelman’s article “Women Who Hit Very Hard and How They’ve Changed Tennis,” “Venus and Serena raised the bar for everyone” (Kimmelman 514). The Williams sisters have changed the perspective of an excellent tennis player, or of a female athlete in general. Their power and strength when playing tennis has become an inspiration to all of the teenage athletes that aspire to play professionally one day. Jennie Yabroff, a freelance writer and blogger that discusses the struggles of cheerleading, also talks about female athletes being as good as men athletes. Yabroff believes that women cheerleaders perform just as well, if not better, than the men cheerleaders (Yabroff 525). Although cheerleading was started by men, women slowly started to become the face of cheerleading. The cheerleaders stunts include a variety of tricks that require upper-body strength and agility. In Yabroff’s words, “And unlike more-revered athletes--such as football players or even gymnasts-- cheerleaders have to contend with lack of respect from their peers and frequent mockery” (Yabroff 525). This statement just proves that even though cheerleaders work just as hard as the other athletes, they do not get the same praise.
Women are also allowed to love and support sports’ teams just like men. Being a sports fan should not be restricted by gender. A fan should just be an individual that enjoys a sport or sports team. Sara Maratta is an aspiring journalist that uses personal experiences of male fans judging her for loving and supporting her favorite team just because she is a girl. Maratta says, “I am a devout fan who attends games with my family and friends, and stays up into the early morning hours watching away games on TV” (Maratta 538). Maratta just proves that being a fan has nothing to do with gender, but everything to do with loyalty. Since women’s sports are on the rise, then women fans should also continue to be on the rise. According to Acosta and Carpenter, ”Nonetheless, the total participation levels for male athletes and female athletes have increased” (Acosta and Carpenter par. 7). With the rise of women in sports keeping up with the level of men participating in sports, the amount of women fans should also keep up with the amount of male fans.The amount of women sports reporters should also be the same as men sports journalist.
Becoming a sports journalist should be dependent on the knowledge the journalist has on the sport they will be following; however, becoming a journalist should not be dependent on the gender of the candidate. Women can be just as knowledgeable as men on the rules and plays of sports. For example, sports reporter Erin Andrews is an intelligent and well-versed sports journalist that is often belittled to being just a pretty face (Maratta 541). In my opinion, Andrews is one of the most successful female sports reporters in the United States. Maratta suggests, “Not only is there a bias against women’s sports in the media, there are also some who believe that women cannot offer valuable insights and opinions when it comes to reporting sports” (Maratta 541). I strongly agree with Maratta’s inferences on female sports journalists and reporters. ESPN broadcaster Melissa Block is aware of the struggle female sports journalist and reporters face. Block talks about Ron Franklin, ESPN announce, was fired for calling a sports reporter ‘sweet baby’ (Block par. 1). Franklin had apologized to the sports reporter, but he still lost his job (Block par.1). In Block’s view, “This adds to a long list of cases when women sports reporters who had to contend with sexist, demeaning or offensive remarks” (Block par. 1). The women sports reporters have to overcome that bias that the sports world belongs to men.
In conclusion, women’s rights to participate in the sports world has increased since the past; however, they are still not as respected as male athletes, fans, and reporters. Women fight to prove their worth in the sports world daily. They try hard to be “valuable” enough to be well respected in their professions.Women should be accepted and positively encouraged in the world of sports, whether it be as an athlete, fan, or journalist.
Works Cited
Acosta, R. Vivian, and Linda Jean Carpenter. “Title IX Has Increased Girls' Participation in School Sports.” Women in Intercollegiate Sport: A Longitudinal, National Study, Thirty-One Year Update [1977-2008], edited by Karen Miller, 2008, pp. 10–11. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010646218/OVIC?u=chil38234&xid=1e465495. Accessed 2017.
Block, Melissa. "Journalist On Challenges Facing Female Sports Reporters." All Things Considered 7 Jan. 2011: n. pag. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
Kimmelman, Michael. "Women Who Hit Very Hard and How They’ve Changed Tennis." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 179-189. Print
Maratta, Sara. "Move Over Boys, Make Room in the Crease." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 179-189. Print
Yabroff, Jennie. "In Defense of Cheering." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 179-189. Print