Event Title
Running in heels: An analysis of the negative impact of science and technology on women's sport
Start Date
26-6-2010 10:45 AM
End Date
26-6-2010 11:45 AM
Description
This presentation is part of the Gender and Sport track.
From a North American liberal feminist philosophical perspective based on a combination of Martha Nussbaum (1999) and Joy Desensi’s (1992) interpretations of liberal feminism, I will argue that science and technology in their general conception have negatively impacted women athletes and women’s sport. According to DeSensi, a general claim of liberal feminism is that the oppression of women is caused by unequal civil rights and educational opportunities due to prejudices related to sex, race and age. Liberal feminism demands reforms in both cultural and social life to take place. The goal of liberalism, according to Nussbaum, is to take a stand for what is good for people and to place individuals into a position of agency and choice.
I will argue that because of various scientific technological advancements, we view women athletes and women’s sport to be a weaker product than its male counterpart. The sporting culture is not far removed from conceptual societal expectations and norms and often reinforces negative attitudes toward women athletes and their achievements. Consequently, gender norms that exist in society are usually reproduced and further perpetuated in sporting culture and vice versa. The paper will focus specifically on the concepts of sexualization and objectification. In order to ensure the narrow scope of this analysis, the underpinning and interconnecting argument of the problematic understanding of sexualization in connection with science and technology will be continually stressed and highlighted. Given the close relationship between sport and society, I will begin the argument with a brief glimpse into the past to demonstrate that women’s sexuality continues to be contested and perceived to be negative and troubling. A brief historical analysis detailing the origin of the vibrator and the treatment of women’s orgasms will help to support such a claim. The case of the vibrator will be connected to the criticisms women experienced when they first began to bicycle in the Victorian age. For instance, many believed that women should not bicycle because they might masturbate with the seat. This case helps to demonstrate the tension surrounding women’s sexuality and participation in athletics. Arguments will draw on Paul Davis (2001) and Martha Nussbaum’s (1999) theories surrounding the problematic understanding of sexualization and objectification in order to reinforce some of the impacts science and technology have had on women athletes and women’s sports at both the elite and recreational levels.
Overall, there are two main components to this analysis. Firstly, I will argue that technologically advanced media coverage has resulted in an increase in the hypersexualization of women’s sport. I believe that the sexist images of women athletes commonly found in the media are an extension of the technological age of pornography culture. It should be emphasized that science and technology have enabled the photography industry to alter every tiny aspect of a person’s body to create a perfect, yet unattainable or unimaginable, reflection. Contemporary photographs of women contain no flaws, no blemishes, no pimples, no unwanted hair, or unsightly fat. New technologies in air brushing and photodoctoring give women the sense that scrutiny itself has become superhuman. No doubt, technology will continue to radically destabilize the social value of the female body and furthermore, I consider the destabilizing to be rooted in sexualization. Women athletes experience tension because of their struggle to uphold a desired heterosexual supermodel-like being. This has ultimately skewed our view of how we consume women’s athletics. For example, the popularity and relevancy of the “crotch cam” in women’s sport will be addressed to demonstrate the predominance of sexualization in sport.
Secondly, because of the technological advancements in women’s sporting fashion and uniforms, I will argue that women are too often positioned as weak and fragile. More specifically, progress in clothing designs does not seem to promote the sentiment of moving freely; some garments, I will claim, actually hinder participation in physical activity and help to perpetuate the frailty myth in women’s athletics and greater society. I will refer to the case of Nike and its incredible investment in science and technology to develop the ultimate high heel shoe for women. I will argue that when a sporting company spends nearly fifteen years of technology and research effort in designing the most comfortable high heel, that this further perpetuates the sexualization of women. High heels share several similarities with other fashion-constricting items, such as corsets, which restrict and impede women’s ability to move. Granted, the shoe may be the most comfortable high heel on the market; however, it is fair to suggest that it would be difficult to run or even move quickly down the street or a flight of steep stairs in a four-inch heel.
It seems that women’s victory within the sporting fashion market is celebrated in having a pair of comfortable high heels, for even Nike’s current advertising campaign proclaims, “everything you need is already inside of you.” Overall, I will argue that for women athletes, more than just inner motivation and courage is needed; they are required to project a heterosexual, “sexy” image, which, I will argue throughout the paper, has ultimately been perpetuated and encouraged by scientific technological advancements.
Running in heels: An analysis of the negative impact of science and technology on women's sport
This presentation is part of the Gender and Sport track.
From a North American liberal feminist philosophical perspective based on a combination of Martha Nussbaum (1999) and Joy Desensi’s (1992) interpretations of liberal feminism, I will argue that science and technology in their general conception have negatively impacted women athletes and women’s sport. According to DeSensi, a general claim of liberal feminism is that the oppression of women is caused by unequal civil rights and educational opportunities due to prejudices related to sex, race and age. Liberal feminism demands reforms in both cultural and social life to take place. The goal of liberalism, according to Nussbaum, is to take a stand for what is good for people and to place individuals into a position of agency and choice.
I will argue that because of various scientific technological advancements, we view women athletes and women’s sport to be a weaker product than its male counterpart. The sporting culture is not far removed from conceptual societal expectations and norms and often reinforces negative attitudes toward women athletes and their achievements. Consequently, gender norms that exist in society are usually reproduced and further perpetuated in sporting culture and vice versa. The paper will focus specifically on the concepts of sexualization and objectification. In order to ensure the narrow scope of this analysis, the underpinning and interconnecting argument of the problematic understanding of sexualization in connection with science and technology will be continually stressed and highlighted. Given the close relationship between sport and society, I will begin the argument with a brief glimpse into the past to demonstrate that women’s sexuality continues to be contested and perceived to be negative and troubling. A brief historical analysis detailing the origin of the vibrator and the treatment of women’s orgasms will help to support such a claim. The case of the vibrator will be connected to the criticisms women experienced when they first began to bicycle in the Victorian age. For instance, many believed that women should not bicycle because they might masturbate with the seat. This case helps to demonstrate the tension surrounding women’s sexuality and participation in athletics. Arguments will draw on Paul Davis (2001) and Martha Nussbaum’s (1999) theories surrounding the problematic understanding of sexualization and objectification in order to reinforce some of the impacts science and technology have had on women athletes and women’s sports at both the elite and recreational levels.
Overall, there are two main components to this analysis. Firstly, I will argue that technologically advanced media coverage has resulted in an increase in the hypersexualization of women’s sport. I believe that the sexist images of women athletes commonly found in the media are an extension of the technological age of pornography culture. It should be emphasized that science and technology have enabled the photography industry to alter every tiny aspect of a person’s body to create a perfect, yet unattainable or unimaginable, reflection. Contemporary photographs of women contain no flaws, no blemishes, no pimples, no unwanted hair, or unsightly fat. New technologies in air brushing and photodoctoring give women the sense that scrutiny itself has become superhuman. No doubt, technology will continue to radically destabilize the social value of the female body and furthermore, I consider the destabilizing to be rooted in sexualization. Women athletes experience tension because of their struggle to uphold a desired heterosexual supermodel-like being. This has ultimately skewed our view of how we consume women’s athletics. For example, the popularity and relevancy of the “crotch cam” in women’s sport will be addressed to demonstrate the predominance of sexualization in sport.
Secondly, because of the technological advancements in women’s sporting fashion and uniforms, I will argue that women are too often positioned as weak and fragile. More specifically, progress in clothing designs does not seem to promote the sentiment of moving freely; some garments, I will claim, actually hinder participation in physical activity and help to perpetuate the frailty myth in women’s athletics and greater society. I will refer to the case of Nike and its incredible investment in science and technology to develop the ultimate high heel shoe for women. I will argue that when a sporting company spends nearly fifteen years of technology and research effort in designing the most comfortable high heel, that this further perpetuates the sexualization of women. High heels share several similarities with other fashion-constricting items, such as corsets, which restrict and impede women’s ability to move. Granted, the shoe may be the most comfortable high heel on the market; however, it is fair to suggest that it would be difficult to run or even move quickly down the street or a flight of steep stairs in a four-inch heel.
It seems that women’s victory within the sporting fashion market is celebrated in having a pair of comfortable high heels, for even Nike’s current advertising campaign proclaims, “everything you need is already inside of you.” Overall, I will argue that for women athletes, more than just inner motivation and courage is needed; they are required to project a heterosexual, “sexy” image, which, I will argue throughout the paper, has ultimately been perpetuated and encouraged by scientific technological advancements.