A few days ago, Heidi posted about the WNBA and the requirement to wear make-up for the atheletes to adhere to rules of “womanhood.” This story has caused a stir in the community and is asking why can’t women be noticed for sport instead of beauty. On this week’s F**K You Video on You Tube from the crew at www.feministing.com, Vanessa discusses this issue further:
7 responses so far ↓
WNBA Marketing w/ Makeup? // May 16, 2008 at 8:44 am |
[...] eydie wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptA few days ago, Heidi posted about the WNBA and the requirement to wear make-up for the atheletes to adhere to rules of “womanhood.” This story has caused a stir in the community and is asking why can’t women be noticed for sport … [...]
Danielle // May 16, 2008 at 9:00 am |
AARRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. This just drives me CRAZY!!
Erica // May 16, 2008 at 9:12 am |
Does it drive you crazy, really? Why? I’m not sure asking a professional figure to follow a type of “team dress code” is all that bad. And the men all wear designer suits, in fact, designers vie for the prestige to design team suits/outfits for pro-sports.
I see some of the offensiviness that women have to pretty to be recognized then again, i know that it works. Because that whole anna kornekova (sp) tennis thing woke me up to sport I didn’t know about – and I will tune in now for women’s tennis, but not men’s since I have no interest. Maybe beauty does help draw attention in a good way to women’s sports at times?
WNBA Marketing w/ Makeup? // May 16, 2008 at 9:54 am |
[...] Continue Reading [...]
heidiloebach // May 18, 2008 at 10:24 pm |
I guess I just fail to see how attention based on appearance is a good thing for female athletes. It really detracts from the fact that they are incredibly talented and focuses instead on their attractiveness and marketability.
The fact that sports have become something that is marketed is a problem in and of itself. Sports are big business, we all know that. Athletes make millions of dollars to play sports that they once played because they actually enjoyed it. If making money were not the objective, marketing players and teams wouldn’t be a problem. In the end, capitalism comes out as the real problem.
Sure, mandating a “dress code” for the athletes in the WNBA may seem like small potatoes, but it’s really only one small step away from excluding phenomenal athletes on the basis that they don’t look pretty enough to draw a fan base… And then what?
Sara // May 19, 2008 at 6:28 pm |
This bothered me so much I wrote about it in my column last week. (I won’t restate what I said, but feel free to read it on my blog.) I wish we were at a point where we could just market these players for the amazing athletes that they are. And maybe one day the excitement of basketball won’t only be limited to just dunking, less defense, and more one-on-one play.
Better Not Show Up The Boys: Girls & Basketball in Beaverton, OR « Sweat It Out: A Self-Esteem Campaign // May 26, 2008 at 12:37 pm |
[...] similar issue has arisen with the WNBA, of which Heidi has noted in other posts. The issue there is of course make-up [...]