"I'm an athlete, but I'm still a woman"

The video clip shown in class brought out a serious point; women athletes have to work to prove that they are feminine, heterosexual, and the way to prove that is by stripping and showing their bodies. In order to get sponsorship, and continue being an athlete, women have to submit to these gender stereotypes in the way that they are portrayed off the field. The only way for people to not feel threatened by these athletes is if they prove their femininity. Men are admired for their athletic form, but women are criticized if they are either too muscular or too large. Sports that portray women as strong and dominating are not as popular, are not shown on the media; they are on the fringe of the sports world. It is similar to the representation of female politicians. Once women get in a role that are typically masculine, meaning a powerful, dominant position, they have to automatically feminize themselves in the media. This is just proof that society is still uncomfortable with women who adopt roles that are seen as traditionally male. I cannot imagine how oppressive this is for female athletes in the public sphere.