So, we’re all enjoying the Olympics right? It’s all fun and games until some—or more accurately, a vast majority—of the announcers decide we need to start tossing in some sexism.
We are at the point where Huffpost thinks it’s a good article idea to clickbait the “Top 10 Most Sexist Things To Occur At The 2016 Rio Olympics So Far”. And mostly, they all consist of very successful women being overshadowed by a man in the news after completely shattering records.
I remember watching Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszu completely demolish the world record in the women’s 400 individual medley, and almost immediately, NBC cut to her husband and coach, labeling him “the man responsible” for her amazing swim. Never mind the fact that he has been accused of using scare tactics to keep her involved in swimming. In one incident, he told her to stay in the pool and drown after she ended in fifth place in a race.
What will all the young women who watched that race think? “To be successful, I need to find a man like that.” Or will they stop giving themselves the credit they so rightfully deserve when it could go to a man?
In another atrocious display of Olympic sexism, one of the next most popular articles that had absolutely nothing to do with athletic ability is this winner: “19 Nakedest Rhythmic Gymnastics Costumes in Olympic History.” Other than the fact that “nakedest” is not a word, this article served as nothing more than reason for these athletes and young women who read it to feel poorly about themselves. This extreme emphasis placed on looks and clothing removes the spotlight from the athletes’ hard work and accomplishments.
This is manifested in other ways too. The U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team “might as well be standing in the middle of a mall” according to one commentator, which did nothing except diminish them because of their young age. Rather, their amazing achievement of dominating the team competition was left alone, and their demeanor was emphasized instead.
Finally, one of the most unfortunate sexist remarks came in regards to Corey Cogdell-Unrein, a two time Olympic bronze medalist in trap shooting. She also happens to be the wife of a Chicago Bears lineman. And this was why the Chicago Tribune chose to use “Wife of a Bears' lineman wins a bronze medal today in Rio Olympics” as a headline, instead of her name or previous Olympic history. She only received two paragraphs in the whole article before it turned to her husband’s training schedule.
Whether the Olympics have always been sexist or people are just noticing it more is a different debate. But now that it is being discussed, we should realize that there are young women and girls watching, reading and seeing this. And if we can’t make this fair for us, we should make it fair for them and their future.The main takeaway of the Olympics should not be that women can only be successful when associated with a man.
