The
Women's Sports Foundation held its 31st Annual Salute to Women in Sports gala in New York City last week (see video). Perhaps the most news-worthy item there was the announcement that WSF would be the "official charity" of
espnW, a new brand for women to be launched soon by
ESPN. On its surface ESPN's attempt to cater to women would seem a positive thing, but
not everyone agrees. I too see a downside: espnW crystallizes gender segregation in sports further, taking us in the wrong direction good intentions notwithstanding.
Yes, we want to see women in sports getting more coverage. But this should be done via plain ol' ESPN (or its established sister networks, like ESPN2 and ESPNU). Segregation in sports perpetuates the second-class status, real or imagined, of female athletes. No amount of
palaver or wishful thinking will materially change that.
latest comments
Sat, 28.04.2012 21:05
Women will never be dominant o ver men unless they are on ave rage physically bigger than me n. The average height o [...]
Fri, 30.03.2012 09:13
Yes, that is what I'm saying. And no, I'm not crazy. Here 's your argument in a nutshell : any woman with large m [...]
Fri, 30.03.2012 08:54
Rubbish. Not just anyone can p ut on muscle fast--steroids or no. They can't wait forever f or someone who is ill-pr [...]
Fri, 30.03.2012 05:50
"Rob Mars".. feminists like yo u sicken me. If you're not Tin a herself.. then what on earth is wrong with you? Are [...]