Statistically, women appear in less than 5% of Sports Illustrated magazines.

 What’s even more disheartening is the recurring pattern when they do get featured. Male athletes seen in powerful poses, donning their full sports uniforms, project an image of strength, competitiveness, and athleticism. In stark contrast, female athletes are predominantly depicted in swimsuits with suggestive or seductive expressions. These photographs have a tendency of reinforcing the harmful stereotype that a woman’s worth within the sports industry depends more on her appearance and sensuality than her athletic abilities. 

 This blatant contrast in the portrayal of male and female athletes bitterly reinforces traditional gender roles and  perpetuates the ongoing objectification of women.

 It’s worth arguing that whether intentional or not, Sports Illustrated showcases women’s bodies for viewers, a perspective that is harmful. This portrayal undermines the incredible achievements, skills, and hard work of female athletes, reducing their identity to mere objects of desire.

 Objectification is a significant contributor to the persistence of sexism in both the sports world and society at large.

 A quick Google search of “Sports Illustrated” confirms that a majority of images showcased on the platform focus on swimsuit models. While this undoubtedly reflects the magazine’s target audience, it also reveals the media’s profound role in shaping societal perceptions of women in sports. 

 This influence extends to how young girls and boys internalize gender roles; for girls, it can discourage them from pursuing athletic careers and erode their confidence, while for boys, it perpetuates stereotypes about women’s roles in sports and, by extension, society as a whole.

 A study published in the journal “Sex Roles” in 2013 found that women’s sports receive significantly less media coverage compared to men’s sports. In the occasional times that they are covered, there is often a focus on the physical appearance of female athletes rather than the performance.

 The sexualization of women in sports isn’t a recent and unpredicted phenomenon, but dates back to the 20th-century Olympics.

 An article in The Washington Post describes the emotions of women who started entering the realm of modern sports during the Olympics with emerging anxieties. One way to mitigate these concerns was through sexualizing female competitors, which reassured the public that men would remain dominant while women entered the sports industry.

 This historical trend seeped into contemporary media, where the focus shifted from celebrating the individual accomplishments of women to emphasizing their appearance.

 For instance, when Serena Williams was set to compete in the U.S. Open as the first woman in 27 years to complete a calendar-year Grand Slam, the only thing that the media could discuss was her body image. All eyes were on her curves. 

 As a Chicago Tribune reporter, Shannon Ryan, exclaimed in an article, “When was the last time you read a critique of Jay Cutler’s physique? Or found an online debate over whether LeBron James is sexy? Have you pondered Jonathan Toews’ masculinity?”

 It is also interesting to note the differences between the variety of ways that female and male athletes are described in the media and in real time. While female athletes are often described as ‘attractive’ or ‘graceful’, men are often called ‘strong or ‘powerful.’

 Society also tends to focus on the personal lives of female athletes, as the discussion around male athletes is very achievement-based.

 And while females receive criticism or praise for their clothing or makeup choices, men do not.

 Taylor Swift said it best in her song, The Man: “They’d say I hustled/Put in the work/They wouldn’t shake their heads and question how much of this I deserve”. 

 After that set of lyrics, she gave an ode to how if she was a man, nobody would focus on what she was wearing or how she acted. Instead, society would praise her for her “power moves”.

The stereotypes surrounding female athletes have continued to persist, affecting various aspects of sports, including uniform designs. 

 For instance, take the glaring disparity between men’s and women’s uniforms within the same sport. Women’s uniforms tend to reveal more skin and cleavage, reinforcing the notion that women should be provocative, even when participating in sports. 

 A survey conducted by the Women’s Sports Foundation found that female athletes sometimes feel pressured to wear revealing uniforms that may not be practical or comfortable for their sports. This can lead to inevitable feelings of sexualization and discomfort.

 This issue is evident in my sport, track and cross country, where female uniforms comprise low-cut tanks and short shorts, while our male teammates wear more modest attire. Despite the revealing uniforms, we are scrutinized for wearing sports bras on our runs. When men run shirtless, nobody bats an eye.

 Despite female athletes being constantly praised for their good looks, there is also a disparity in pay between professional male and female athletes. Plenty of studies have shown that female athletes generally earn less than their male counterparts in many sports, even if they are more popular or highly achieving. 

 In this exploration of the sexualization of female athletes in the world of sports, we’ve uncovered a deeply concerning and persistent issue that goes beyond mere aesthetics.

 Amongst female representation in sports magazines, the media focuses on their appearance, and the stark disparity in how female and male athletes are described. These all reflect the harmful stereotypes that continue to plague women in sports. 

 The objectification of female athletes not only undermines their accomplishments but also perpetuates traditional gender roles, making it harder for women to break free from these constraints.

 Addressing the sexualization of women in sports is not just a matter of fairness; it’s a matter of empowering women to achieve their full potential and pursue their athletic dreams without being held back by harmful stereotypes and double standards. It’s time for society to recognize the significance of this issue and take concrete steps towards change. 

 We should be working as a whole to support and celebrate the incredible achievements, skills, and hard work of female athletes while demanding an end to the harmful practices that have persisted for far too long. 

 Only then can we truly level the playing field and ensure that women in sports are valued for their abilities and not their appearance.