This situation made me consider a question that I think is of great importance to our society: Why do these women, who are obviously world-class professional athletes, feel the need to display their bodies in this way, even during competition?
One theory that I have is that they feel better about themselves if they wear clothing and jewelry that shows them in their best light. They are appearing on national television in front of millions of people, so I can understand feeling a little bit insecure and maybe needing some extra support from a comfortable outfit.
Another theory would be that these women feel as if they need to portray themselves as models and look just lika any other actor seen on TV. I find this particularly upsetting. Women should not feel the need to look their best at all times, especially if they are intense athletes such as these tennis players.
Why are we so obsessed with appearence? Is this really a healthy way for society to behave?
Lizzy, that's a really cool argument! I agree with you that it's a bit ridiculous that they wear all of that jewelry while they play tennis. They are so good that this probably doesn't happen often, but what if they get hit with tennis balls on top of a necklace or whack themselves in the wrists while wearing bracelets? That would really hurt!
ReplyDeleteMaybe they feel the need to express femininity. Since Title IX, sports are progressing from being seen as a male activity to something that men and women do, but maybe these women feel the need to wear jewelry to "cancel out" the masculine image caused by playing sports.
Another possibility is, as you argued, to change their image. Perhaps they feel that wearing jewelry makes them look more formal or professional. I don't really know- if I wore that much jewelry when I play sports, I'd break it or hurt myself by mistake!
I'm one of those people that doesn't mind wearing jewelry when I play sports but I konw many people who can't stand it.
ReplyDeleteOne option I thought about was advertising. Maybe they were given this jewelry to wear while playing sports, it's noticible BECAUSE they are wearing it while playing and therefore another form of advertising. I could be completely wrong with this but after a semester of consumer I see everything as an advertisement! haha
That's really interesting, I had no idea people did that. It seems counter-intuitive to me, but I guess some people really don't mind.
ReplyDeleteI mean, Ive heard of runners choosing to wear sunglasses so they can focus, but jewelry? That seems backwards. I agree with your idea that it boosts their confidence. I wonder if, as female athletes, they may feel more pressure to look feminine, because oftentimes girls don't associate themselves with athletics and those that do might be labeled as more tomboyish. Strange.
This is an interesting subject to me because I ref AYSO soccer games which have a strict no jewelry policy. I hate reffing the girl's games because there is always an argument with some girl who doesn't want to take out earrings. From what I am told, the post of an earring is positioned such that they would poke the carotid artery if hit by a player or ball. If punctured, it is very difficult to stop the bleeding. I can't back this up, but I heard that there was a girl in Maryland a few years back who bled to death after her earring was hit by a soccer ball.
ReplyDeleteWearing jewelry while playing sports definitely isn't a healthy habit. It is one thing for pros to care about looks over their own safety, but they have a responsibility to be better role models for kids.
My dad pointed this out to me when I was watching the US open, and I did find it a little weird. I don't think this jewelry poses that much of a safety risk but I would say it effects performance. Having a watch on your arm can get a little annoying when playing tennis, because as you start to sweat the watch starts sliding. But as Sam said, it could be for advertising. For example, Roger could be getting anywhere from 9-13 million dollars annually for wearing Nike clothes, which much more than he gets for winning a grand slam. So maybe it is for the money. And for Kevin's safety concern, I don't think jewelry in tennis is a problem, other sports maybe.
ReplyDeleteLizzy,
ReplyDeleteThis is a thoughtful post, and your blog has shown a wide-ranging curiosity throughout the quarter. The "packaging" of women athletes is worth even fuller attention. How much control over their appearance do women have? In tennis, in particular, there is a curious history of fashion and the portrayal of women. Check out Teddy Tinling, a famous designer, and perhaps the great athlete, Martina Navratilova, who never got the endorsement deals of inferior players because of her ultimate refusal to give in to the commodification . (She, for example, mostly wore shorts. Imagine).