Falling into the muscle gap: Sally Jenkins on women’s sports

Despite the recent media attention given to Little League pitcher Mo’ne Davis, women athletes and women’s sports are usually receive second class treatment. Sports journalist Sally Jenkins explores the phenomenon in this August 2014 article in the Washington Post.

Read it here: Jenkins,  “Mo’ne Davis is out of Little League World Series and women’s sports are shoved from the spotlight”

 

1. Jenkins uses the statements of three sports authorities to support her argument. Who are those authorities, and what contribution does each make to Jenkins’ argument?
2. Jenkins’ key assertion is that if Mo’ne Davis had been playing on a girls’ team against other girls, she would never have come to the attention of the media executives who launched her into the spotlight. Does Jenkins provide adequate support for her assertion? Why or why not? Point to examples from the text that support your conclusion.
3. Jenkins, citing sports researcher Mary Jo Kane, discusses the example of a marathon race, in which women and men participate simultaneously but the results are divided by sex. Kane argues that a “smarter approach” would be to present the results all together. That way, it would be clear that “some women can beat most men.” Do you agree with this logic? Why or why not? 
4. Jenkins discusses the “muscle gap” between the sexes and criticizes the assumption that because a woman’s body is generally smaller than a man’s, “her talent, by definition, can’t be as important.” This assumption is widespread and generally goes unquestioned. What do you think? Is it true that women’s athletic abilities are innately less–or less important--than men’s because of their smaller bodies? Write an essay in which you respond to the assumption; use Jenkins and/or any of her cited sources as your They Say.

Comments

[Tiffany Pena]

Sally Jenkins has a very good point. Within the first year kids join sports, girls and boys end up on the same team. Later on though why do they get split up and categorized? Why don't they just stay on a team together? I think that is a male vs. female argument that we will never understand.

[Aliyyah]

I don't really understand the idea of a ''female sport'' I think a sport is just that a sport. So far what I have witness it look as if females that play sports are seen differently, she no longer fits in too a world that puts labels on gender. She becomes a tomboy, as if female were lose than males because their gender placed role is to be strong. I don't agree with that stereotype the reason is based on the fact that female and male teams are divided, and until they make teams coed it will always be an assumption.

[Oliver Michael Mendez]

Sally Jenkins is what I would say almost a feminist. Since I've been in college with my experience there's no such thing as a male or female sport. When I played sports here the woman's rugby team has a lot more funding then the mens rugby team has but, thats not because of there gender it's due to the fact that they have more efficient winning streaks. There a strong stereotype she plays which is a dangerous line to be walking. Therefore I'd say this makes her argument weaker and inefficient to make the common reader side with her.

[Taylor Telecky]

Jenkins uses gender stereotypes that some of the population would agree with, such as men being stronger and simply more athletic than women. I wouldn't go as far as to base athleticism on gender though, I believe that there are males who are stronger than females, but I also know many females who are stronger than males. I see Jenkins' point that generally male athletes are bigger and stronger than the female athletes who play a similar sport, but I think these stereotypes are destructive and not always valid.

[Gabi Miner]

Sally Jenkins claims that women's athletic abilities are less important than men's, because of their smaller bodies. On one had, I agree that men are physically stronger than women, but on the other hand, their talent isn't less important, it's just different. Men are naturally built with bigger and stronger bodies than women. There are some sports that women are better at then men. It's just the nature of life.

[Jade]

Tiffany, I agree with your comment. I do not see why sports are first something that starts out as a boy/girl thing, then later on down the line children have to split up and it becomes just a girl sport or boy sport. I also do not see why the sports are separated even when they are exactly the same (examples; baseball v. softball, basketball, soccer). They are the same thing but because males are "more aggressive" than girls we must be separated. It is a funny thing to think of but again, like you said Tiffany, this whole female v. male argument may never be solved.

[Dorothy Carter]

Women's sports are a rising phenomenan that doesn't get enough credit. Women can do everything men can do, as we have proven so in the past and present. However, the reason we don't get enough credit is because we have this view placed uopon us that we are not strong. The Williams sisters are essentially the most built women I have ever seen and at stronger than most guys I know. Yet he view on women has not changed one bit.

[Caroline Jenkins]

Women don't get enough attention for their participation in sports. Many women are just as skilled if not better than some men in certain sports. For years sports has been a male dominated group. Women hardly ever get credit where credit is due. Most women are placed in sports where they are "given a fair chance". Women don't get the opportunity for sports that most men do. Something needs to change. Although many women have already dominated in sports history, they still aren't given the same credit as men athletes.

-Caroline Jenkins
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[Kevin]

Sally Jenkins makes the point that men are stronger and generally more athletic that women which may be a true statement in some cases. However, this is simply not true, physiologically men are generally bigger, but that does not mean they are more athletic. If athletics were only measured by physical strength and not by the skill of the athlete it would be another story. Women can be just as physically skilled in sports if not more so than men.

[Karissa Brandon]

At a young age, children are playing sports that are mixed with girls and boys. As time goes by, females and males are then split apart and categorized into certain sports that each gender can play. Males are undoubtably stronger physically, but that does not mean that girls should not be given a chance to play a sport. There are some women who may even be better at a sport than the men.

[L McCoy]

In response to Taylor I agree with the points that you identified as the main points. Jenkins uses gender stereotypes to argue her point which is that men are stronger and simply more athletic than women. I too have a partial disagreement with that statement. I don't believe that athleticism is based solely on gender. Athleticism varies from person to person, there are males who are stronger than females and vice versa. I agree, however that Jenkins' point that male athletes are on average bigger and stronger than the female athletes who play a similar sport.

[Evan]

In response the Dorothy Carter, I agree that women's sports do not receive as much coverage, as men's sports. However, I must disagree with your idea that the reason female athletes are treated as second class citizens in the world sports is due to the belief that women are not as strong as men. The reason that broadcasters and advertisement agencies spend less money and time covering women's sports comes down to viewership and numbers. Statistically speaking men watch sports more frequently and spend more money on tickets, jerseys, and memorabilia. At the end of the day our culture idolizes male athletes and the profit margins for men's sports are too high for stations to suddenly decide to the "fair" thing and provide equal airtime for men and women. Men rally around the idea of masculinity, it is something that has always happened and broadcasters will continue to cash in on this idea. Again making a generalization, men tend to associate women with beauty, gentility, and last but not least sex. Beach volleyball is quite popular with men, however this is most likely due to the fact that the women who play it are wearing bikinis. As a man I apologize for our brutish and animalistic ways. Women’s sports will always be a second priority, I am not saying its okay, fair, or politically correct it is simply the truth. It was never about who was stronger, it has always been about viewership and money.

[Madison Walters]

A common issue in American sports today is the battle between male and female sports. Some say that the gap of popularity between the two is due to sexism and stereotypes, while others claim that it is simply due to the statistics in regard to viewers and commercialization of said sports. Sally Jenkin's addresses this issue in her article "Mo'ne Davis is out of the Little League World Series, and women sports are shoved out of the spotlight". Jenkins makes a claim that the gap between male and female sports is due to the assumption that "men are more athletic than females", and also implies that male sports excel more because they are physically stronger than women.

While Jenkins makes some valid points, I don't necessarily agree with her argument. Yes, it is scientifically proven that men are stronger than women, but her article is based on many stereotypes that I don't think contribute to the real underlying reason why male sports are more popular. To me, they are more popular because of the fan base. Men are the backbone behind why professional sports excel; they purchase more tickets, gear, and memorabilia than women. Also, these sports are considered the "best of the best" in our society. And as Americans, we naturally strive to see the best things, and go to the best events. I do not think it is a matter of physical strength or athleticism (look at the Williams sisters or Olympic Gymnasts), I think that the gap is cause primarily by the fan base. If women want female sports to excel, women need to be the core viewership behind such sports.

[Madelene]

I believe that different people have different physical qualities, but that does not mean that one person is "more important" than the other. When refering to gender separated sports, men should not be considered to be "more important" because they are genetically built to be stronger. In some sports women exceed past the achievements of men, vice versa. The separation of gender in competitive sports is to provide a more balanced scoring system for the general population of its competitors because of the genetical advantages between genders vary. I also agree with Madison Walters post about the sports fan base. A sport depends on its fans, for the fans turn into players. Uhnfortunatly, the majority of women do not reguarly support sports; therefore, there are less fans and less players as a result. On the other hand, many men enjoy sport, so there is more emphasis on that sport. A sport is only as good as its fans.

[Allie F.]

I mostly agree with Sally Jenkins use of the stereotype that men are usually stronger and more athletic than women. Howevever, the stereotype is not always true; plenty of women are stronger than men and more athletic. I also agree that women's sports do get overlooked by many, but I think this has to do with the fact that they aren't as public; men play sports on television very often, but it's not as likely to see women playing sports on television. If it was worked out that both men and women had equal sports shows aired, then the idea of men's sports being more popular would change drastically.