Analyzing Gender Inequality as a Diversity Issue in Sports (Essay Sample)

ANALYZING GENDER INEQUALITY AS A DIVERSITY ISSUE IN SPORTS
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Summary of the Topic
Gender inequality or discrimination is a social phenomenon in which society treats males and females differently hence becoming a contentious topic in the sporting industry. This inequality stems from social and psychological issues in the community that treats men and women differently, even when they engage in a similar sport. Discrimination against the female gender is a current diversity issue in sports because women play the same sports as men, but the industry treats them contrarily. This prejudice has posed a diversity issue in the sporting industry that managers should address and solve in the spirit of equality. Diversity in the sporting industry includes individuals from different social, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, race, religious, and political beliefs. Gender discrimination poses a diversity issue across various sports such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, cross country, and softball, the most popular women's sports. The organization or sporting faculty collectively fails to provide appropriate, professional, and equal opportunity to female players and coaches compared to the male gender, discouraging women from pursuing a career or passion in sports (Cheslock, 2018). Society can identify gender inequality and discrimination by observing the processes, attitudes, and behavior that result in discrimination through prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness, and stereotyping, decreasing women's numbers and success in the sporting industry. Gender inequality in sports manifests itself in media coverage and audience viewing numbers of women sports, inequality in wages, and unequal range of opportunities offered to the male gender instead of the female gender in competitive sports (Musto et al.,2017). Gender inequality in sports is a multifaceted issue that requires radical steps to change the rigid ideologies of the sport that have shaped the current diversity issue.
Main Points from Sources
Gender inequality poses a diversity issue in sports because although the women's population is twice the male population globally, they receive fewer opportunities in the sporting industry (Cheslock, 2018). The sporting industry is predominantly male, whereby the male gender receives more opportunities to train and participate in sports than the female gender. Although Title IX helped create equal opportunities for women in sports, the female gender still faces discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping in the industry. Most of the coaches in sporting teams are male; thereby, sporting organizations have an implicit bias in recruiting and selecting the male gender to fill leadership positions (Singh & Naidoo, 2017). Society should dispose of gender stereotypes that men are better and superior to women in sports, hence facilitating the sports industry to provide equal opportunities for both males and females. Moreover, the sporting industry should not consider increasing the participation of women and hiring female coaches as proofs of diversity but rather view it as appreciating qualified individuals who deserve inclusion in the sports industry.
According to the Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport, 40% of all athletes are female, although they receive only 4% media coverage (LaVoi & Lough, 2019). Media coverage helps engage society in women's sports, thus increasing the fan base. Unfortunately, the low media coverage for women athletes is reflected in all other sports, thus decreasing fan base and fewer people watching female sports compared to male sports. Low media coverage and audience viewing members prompt sponsors to provide little support for women in sports, consequently decreasing the likelihood of success compared to men in the sports industry. Moreover, women receive fewer wages or pay compared to men in the same sport strips, such as the Professional Golfers' Association offers 256 Million dollars for men while the Women's association only offers 50 million (Burt, 2021).
Although gender inequality is a current diversity issue in sports, the government, non-governmental organizations, and women are fighting for gender equality. The general response to gender inequality is to implement regulations, policies, and strategies that promote equality and reduce discrimination based on gender in the sports industry. Moreover, the course text incorporates the definition, exploration, and examples of gender inequality as a diversity issue in sports.
Initial Thoughts
I chose this topic because of trending posts on social media about gender inequality in sports, especially on unequal wages, low media coverage, and unequal opportunities for women in sports compared to men. Gender inequality discourages women in sports to pursue their passion and career and lowers their esteem in their abilities and capabilities since society view women as a weaker sex in sports. Society stereotypes women and discrim