Thursday 17 November 2011

Reference List/ Bibliography

triathlon.pdf

SOLUTIONS TO OVERCOMING WOMENS BARRIERS IN TRIATHLON PARTICIPATION

School Based Solution to Barriers:

A large part of Australian culture includes the coast and surfing. Young girls are not provided with many sporting womens role models due to poor media coverage. However, a few of the Aussie womens legends that young Australian girls love are surfers, such as Stephanie Gilmore and Layne Beachley. Layne Beachley has just mentored a young bunch of hopeful, future, Olympic triathletes. They loved and respected her for her sporting abilities and also positive attitude and encouragement. She said, “One of my strengths was my mental aptitude. You have to be conscious of the self-talk and the negative thoughts. You need to turn them around and catch them in time.”

(Herald Sun Courier Mail November. Stannard. D, Former world surfing champion Layne Beachley mentors next crop of triathlon Olympics hopefuls. 10/2011 1:00am)

LAYNE BEACHLEY

Young girls in school undergo so much pressure and insecurity, as they feel like they have to look pretty and fit in with peers. They are very consious of their bodies and weight. Participating in a triathlon could be very humiliating and embarrasing for many school girls.

One possible solution to help girls overcome their insecurity could be to invite someone like Layne Beachley to come support schools in an all girls triathlon event. By gaining access to such role models, young girls will really listen and want to participate. The event would be advertised as a fun TRY-athlon. Young girls in a schooling community are often very social, and therefore would feel more confident and comfortable participating with friends. Therefore, it could possibly even be a team event. Girls could complete the triathlon in teams. This would create a more fun, friendly and less intmidating environment. Also, girls will feel less paranoid about the way they look, as no boys would be invited to view or be involved. Another way to decrease girls negative self esteem and increase participation in triathlons could be to have Layne Beachley (or another role model) wear and promote a fairly modest and practical swimsuit during the event. Hopefully young girls will follow their lead and wear more practical swimwear, as there are no guys in the event to impress. Then young girls who are self conscious about their body image will feel more comfortable to participate, as they are not the only ones without a skimpy bikini.

COMMUNITY BASED SOLUTION:

To many women who live by a tight working or mothering schedule, triathlons would be an embarrasment or waste of time. However, if an all womens triathlon was held to raise funds for a worthy cause such as breast or cervical cancer, there may be more keen participants. The atmosphere of the event would not be competitive, but enjoyable and full of satisfaction with the knowing that all funds raised help lives. This would create a fun opportunity for women of all ages and sizes to get fit and involved in triathlons.

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Institutional Level

RELIGIOUS BARRIERS:

Religion is an Institutional barrier to womens participation in triathlons. Australia is becoming more and more multicultural all the time. For example, extensive numbers of Muslim women are migrating to Australia and have extremely different religious views to the typical Australian women. Australia is known as a sun-burnt land where everyone is free to do what they feel comfortable with. This includes actions, speech and dress. Womens triathletes are constantly in a 'coast/beach' culture. It is normal and expected that women involved in water sports, such as triathlons, will wear a bikini or revealing, tight swimsuit. However, to Muslims, to wear a bikini or even partially revealing swimsuit would be an extreme transgression against their religion. They must instead wear a 'bhurkini'. This is a full length swimsuit with only the face, hands and feet exposed.
(Social Policy Research Center- Cortis. N, Sawrikar. P and Muir. K. June 2008. Female physicality and dress (Online) Available:http://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/File/Report8_08_CALD_Women_in_sport.pdf Accessed 16/11/11)

Amira is a Muslim woman who found swimming uncomfortable due to religious restrictions in modesty. She would prefer gender segregated pools in order to partially reduce humiliation. She said:

"I‟m covered too. I find it difficult. Not all the sports I can do, you see,
just a few, because it‟s a bit hard, like at swimming we go and it‟s only
for women. I go sometimes to one for everyone [men and women] but I
have to wear a long one [gestures] and cover my head. It‟s not
comfortable."
(Social Policy Research Center- Cortis. N, Sawrikar. P and Muir. K. June 2008. Female physicality and dress (Online) Available:http://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/File/Report8_08_CALD_Women_in_sport.pdf Accessed 16/11/11)

Clearly, this image of a 'burkini' is unusual and almost comical to look at from our point of view in Australia. These Muslim women are not oblivious to this and feel very uncomfortable about being seen in triathlons. They feel embarrassed and restricted when out in the public. They know fully that they are not the stereotypical picture of a 'smoking hot womens triathlete' that the media and society love. They are stared at as if they are from another planet and laughed at. Therefore, they feel that they cannot participate in triathlons.

TIME MANAGEMENT DUE TO SCHOOL AND EXPENSE ISSUES:

Another barrier that lies within the Institutional Barrier is school opportunities. Often girls in school do not have much time to properly train and increase their fitness levels for participating in triathlons due to hectic schedules. Speaking from a high school students point of view who works a part time job as well, training time outside of school is EXTREMELY minimal. Spare time is often jam-packed with assignments, study and working. The only chance many high school girls have to get active is during school based programs and physical education classes. The sport Triathlon is quite expensive due to facility hiring, bicycle cost.etc. Therefore, not many schools can afford to offer triathlons as a sporting option. The expenses for a whole class to participate in triathlons would be far too great. Therefore, not many young women grow up with the experience of participating in triathlons. From a young age during school, they are not given opportunities to do so.

Individual Level

INDIVIDUALITY

The influence of the individuality of human beings on womens participation in triathlons cannot exactly be pinpointed.... as NO two people are the same. Everyones values, attitudes, personality and genes are naturally different. Therefore, barriers within this level of the framework cannot exactly be recognized.

Interpersonal Level

One of the major barriers from within the Interpersonal Level keeping women from performing at elite sporting levels, like men, is their time management. The barrier ‘time management’ fits into the interpersonal and also the individual level of Figueroa’s framework, as it is all about family care and value. Due to women’s history in sport, they are expected to be the ‘pretty, feminine, motherly figures that support the males in work and sports. They were expected to perform gentle exercise only for health’. This was recognized to some extent after interviewing Maneena Roberts; a mother of three children who sometimes completes triathlons such as the Gatorade Series.

Maneena Participating in Mini Triathlon Series

The question asked was:

“Does being a wife/mother act as a barrier and limit your time to train and compete in sports and triathlons?”

Maneena explained that she is extremely limited in leisure time to exercise, as her kids always come first. Before she was married and started a family, she loved touch football. She would play touch football in a team three nights a week and train four times a week. Now with three small children, she has to MAKE time to exercise on the treadmill or go for a run usually for 45 minutes five days a week. Her daily schedule is something like the following, she says: Every morning is a 5:30am wake up if she wants to exercise (she must exercise before 7am or there will be no time later in the day); Then school rush hour (help kids get ready and drive them to school); Work during school hours; After school, drive three kids to their activities (Soccer, Calisthenics and swimming); Go home and help kids with homework; Make dinner for the family and then it is ‘lights out’. Her husband, Ali, trains for soccer on a week night and plays comp on the weekend. Maneena wishes to play in a touch team again but is unable to due to her responsibility of wife and mother. Maneena knows the great challenge of time management as a sportswoman and full-time mother. She said you need ‘mum time’ to do what you love and need to use your time wisely to get organized. Maneena does well to keep her fitness at a healthy level and take part in the Gatorade triathlon series each year. Although, she said that this is not a serious and competitive event. It is mostly about beating your own time and being able to say ‘I am a mum and just did a triathlon’. Although she completes the triathlons in an impressive time, she is far too restricted by time to even consider going elite athlete. Maneena says triathlons are a lot of fun and make you feel great, but it is more important to be there for her kids at home. Realistically, to compete professionally in a women’s triathlete, much more time and training is required.

Four times Ironman champion Chrissie Wellington’s life greatly contrasts Maneena’s.

Below is a fraction of an interview which shows the realistic lifestyle of an elite women’s triathlete:

Interviewer: When you are not training are you just resting then?
Chrissie: Yes, eating or resting. I don’t tend to take naps during the day. We train two or three sessions per day, seven days week and between sessions we rest. I spend time on the internet, put my feet up and take it easy. That’s what the life of a pro triathlete is about. Rest is training, eating is training, staying in on Friday night is training so it's a 24/7 job.

MEDIA AND SEXPLOITATION:

One of the biggest barriers keeping women from participating in triathlons, which belongs to the Structural level in Figueroa’s Framework, is media influence and sexploitation. Women’s body image is becoming a large issue due to the unrealistic photo-shopped models in magazines and all over the internet. Upon an internet search of ‘triathlete’, the images that popped up proved this point:

This makes girls want to lose weight before trying on their bathers ever again and perhaps go on a safari to an island… not become a triathlete (especially if they are not skinny and pretty) Notice this Triathlete magazine is a Swimsuit edition…?!!?? Are little bikinis realistic for a triathlon? No.

Not self conscious about his body. He is actually competing and the magazine encourages men that they too can be an iron man and share the glory.

Media advertising is seen worldwide and leaves an impression on peoples’ minds, including companies who are looking for a worthy recipient to sponsor. The majority of sponsored athletes are men. Men are less self conscious about their body image in sports, as they are not expected to flaunt their bodies like women in uncomfortable clothes. An audience would prefer to view a male’s game of rugby than a women’s as it is a higher level of competition due to their greater physical strength. Generally, many of the audience would prefer to watch a female’s game of beach volleyball, purely because they are expected to wear quite skimpy bikinis (highly impractical!) The Matilda girl’s soccer team went to the extreme of doing a nude photo shoot to advertise their team and get attention and sponsors quickly.

From browsing through a wide range of sporting magazines, it was further confirmed that women are not appreciated by society for their skill in sport like men, but for their body and how attractive their outward appearance is. Almost every sports magazine displayed men in action on the front cover. Rare exceptions were women on the fronts of surfing, cheerleading, gymnastics and running magazines.

She is pretty and skinny but is not even doing anything sporty… or wearing hardly anything either! As if you would play ball in that for comforts sake!

WHAT?!?!

THAT LADY IS NOT DOING SPORT!...???

This is because of the way they are pressured and expected to dress when participating in these sports! Anorexia levels are rising as a result, and more and more young girls feel depressed because of the way they look and are too afraid to try in sports because society will not like the way they look.

Structural level

One major Structural barrier keeping women from participating in triathlons is the economic cost. Triathlons are a costly sport. The athlete is required to pay for membership fee, pool fee (for annual training), a good bicycle, togs, goggles, helmet, runners. etc Here is a blog from an anonymous person who frequently wishes to compete in triathlons but struggles with economy:
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The cost of triathlon. How much do you spend?	Quote \| Reply

I have been into triathlon since 2005 and have enjoyed competing in many races in that time to include 2 IMs (one more next year), many HIMs and Olys and a few sprints.

Recently, I started to think about how much I have spent on the sport. I took a quick estimate and added up the costs for bike, gear, clothes, entry fees, travel, hotels, etc and came up with a very conservative number of about $15,000.

I obviously love the sport and have no intention to quit because of the cost. However, because of the economy I will probably sign up for a couple less races in 2009 than 2008.

I was curious if anyone else ever thought about how much they spend on the sport and if the economy will change anything for them.
(This post was edited by bcn0204 on Nov 14, 08 18:31) http://forum.slowtwitch.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=2090054
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It is evident that women find it difficult to reach elite levels in triathlons, as LOTS of training is required and LOTS of cost. Especially if they have the role of being full time 'mother'.

Another huge barrier keeping women from participating in triathlons is the issue of media coverage and sexploitation. Shocking facts on such issues were revealed by article writer Felicity Harley:

1. Women make up just 9 per cent of all sports coverage in Australian TV news and current affairs – horseracing sits at 10 per cent

2. When the men’s cricket team lost the Ashes in January, there were 25,426 media reports. When the women won, there were 2,780

3. Organisers for the London Olympics have priced tickets to female events well below their male counterparts

4. At 10 years of age, 64.6 per cent of girls play organised sport; by age 35, it’s 12.8 per cent.

(MamaMia, Raw Deal Womens Sport. Harley, F. 18/10/11 (Online) Available: http://www.mamamia.com.au/social/whos-the-better-role-model-rihanna-or-ellyse-perry/ )
For an extensive read, please see the blog named 'Sexploitation in Triathlons and Womens Media Coverage'.

Monday 14 November 2011

Cultural Barriers to Womens Participation in Triathlons

Womens sporting history differs greatly to that of mens. This is due to their cultural identity and expectations; gender stereotypes; mens dominance over women and ethnic background. Before the 1920's, it was deemed highly inappropriate for women to put foot in any type of sports participation. They were stereotyped as weak, feminine providers for men who belong in the kitchen and nursing rooms. In the 1920's, it was acceptable for women to become 'associate members' in light sports such as shooting, rowing, archery and swimming. It was difficult for women to become elite athletes due to lack of financial support. A triathlon was held in Victoria in 1984. This event offered a prize for both men and women. However, the woman prize winner was given a bicycle; while the male prize winner was given two return flight tickets to Hawaii. Training was an issue for women as well, as they were given only limited use of sporting grounds and facilities.Often they were allocated to certain, insufficient, hours in swimming pools. The rest of the week was open to men only.

Tides began to change in the 1970's when laws were introduced by the Commonwealth to offer equal opportunity for men and women in sports and end discrimination against women. After this age, womens participation in team sports rose. The Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act was passed in 1984, where the generation saw sporting grounds and clubs forced to be open full time to women.(Australian Government- Australian Sports Commission. Participating In Sport- History. Online. Available: http://www.ausport.gov.au/participating/women/about/history Accessed 14/11/11)

However, although time and culture has changed in more recent years, women still do not seem to have the same level of opportunity and success as men in triathlons. Societies views on participation in triathlons and all sports still see men as the dominant sporting heroes and legends over women. Women are stereotypically deemed to be the 'weaker', more 'emotional' vessels. They are seen as being 'maternal' in nature and therefore best equipped to tasks such as caring for and raising a family and supporting a husband. Participating at elite levels in triathlons is often seen as unnecessary for women and a waste of precious time; as it will take them no-where. They aren't stereotypically 'built' for a sporting courier. Men, on the other hand, are naturally physically stronger than women. Therefore competition is at higher levels and is more intense. Society wants to watch good competition in mens ironman series (hence why they call it IronMAN not IronWOMAN competition). They may be interested in womens triathlons... but often just for a laugh or to ogle over their athletic, slim bodies, not admire their skill.

Another barrier that falls under the Cultural level which restricts womens participation on triathlons is, ethnic background. Australia is an extremely multicultural country. This is due to immigrants from all over the world who moved to Australia for its beautiful land; freedom as a nation and work opportunity. etc. Many women of Muslim and Asian (.etc.) ethnics were not taught to swim. Therefore, women who migrate to Australia from such countries may have trouble participating in triathlons due to the swimming leg. It would be an un-safe environment for them to be swimming out in open water. (Triathlon/Multisport:Triathlon Australia. Barriers to participation. (Online) Available: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/racial_discrimination/whats_the_score/pdf/triathlon.pdf)

Figueroas Framework

Peter Figueroa is a sociologist who constructed a framework to explore how aspects of sociology (including levels of opportunity in sports) are viewed by and affect society. The framework is made up of five levels: Cultural; Structural; Institutional; Interpersonal and individual. These levels contain sub-categories that can be analysed and compared to 'womens participation in triathlons'. The cultural level contains issues acting as barriers to womens participation and competitive levels. These include: womens history in the sport and societies views; hegemonic masculinity and ethnic background. Barriers within the Structural level include media portrayal; sexploitation and sponsorship. Institutional levels barriers include: Womens and mens different sporting rules; Religious views on women in sport and poor school opportunity. A large barrier from within the Interpersonal level includes the role of possibly being a 'mother'. Barriers within the individual level are hard to pinpoint, as it really depends on the individuality of the athlete as to what barriers may arise. Everyone is unique.