I love the Olympics. I find them fun to watch, interesting, and amazing. The incredible athleticism that these people have is just extraordinary. But unfortunately, time and time again we see sexism. Even in 2016, men STILL seem to be prioritized over women. Men are considered the "real" athletes and women are "just pretty faces". Announcers, society, reporters and many others continue to belittle women's abilities and display them as "lesser". This year at the Rio Olympics, there are countless instances that prove once again that we still need feminism. Here are just a few.
1. The time the Chicago Tribute called a three time Olympian the "Wife of a Bears' lineman wins a bronze medal today in Rio Olympics."
Apparently writing "Three Time Olympian, Corey Cogdell wins bronze medal" wasn't necessary or even important enough to mention in their tweet. Can you imagine if a news station wrote "Husband of Nicole Johnson shatters 2000 year old medal record" (Micheal Phelps)? It just doesn't happen. So why does it happen to women?
2. The time a BBC reporter "forgot" that Serena and Venus Williams have won FOUR tennis gold medals each.
A blatant disregard for women's sports. Like our sports and achievements don't even count because we are women.
3. This improper and poorly placed headline
So tying for Silver is better than beating a world record? Ohhhhhkay....
4. The time an NBC announcer gave credit to the wrong person.
Katinka Hosszu broke the world record in the 400 meter individual by 2 seconds and the NBC announcer gave credit to her husband. The camera panned over to her husband, and coach, Shane Tusup, and the announcer said he was the "man responsible" for her win. What?! Isn't SHE responsible?
5. White men who destroy property and lie to police are just "kids" while a young black woman is "disrespectful and "un-American" for hand placement.
Ryan Lochte fabricated a story and then lied to the police stating that him and his friends were being held at gun point in Rio. In reality, they were on a drunken escapade in which they caused property damage to a gas station and got into an altercation with a security guard. Lochte who is 32, was regarded as a "kid who made a mistake and needs a break". While Gabby Douglas, 20 year old, three time Olympic gold winner, didn't put her hand on her heart during the National Anthem and was called un-American, disrespectful and told she needs to "fix" her attitude. Can we stop giving straight white males so many "breaks"?!
6. Katie Ledecky is not a talented female athlete but only known as "The Female Micheal Phelps"
Katie Ledecky broke her own world record in the 400 meter freestyle but wasn't regraded as herself in multiple articles. Her talents were undermined when she was refereed to as "the female Micheal Phelps". She can't just be an incredible female athlete, she has to be the "female version of a male."
So there you have it folks. Sexism is real. We aren't "being dramatic" we aren't "making it up". It is 2016 and we are treating OLYMPIC athletes as lesser than other OLYMPIC athletes because they are women. This has to stop. Join the conversation to stop sexism.
