Women taking charge in global sport
By Claudia Neal-Shaw
It gets solid airtime on all major networks; it features in our print media everyday and dominates the screens in our pubs. Australian sport is posited as an integral part of our national identity uniting us frequently on days of victory and defeat. Our mainstream media mostly covers male dominated sports with the majority of our presenters also being male.
There is a huge discrepancy between gender representation in the domestic and international arena so why aren't our female athletes and sportswomen receiving the same coverage?
2016 has seen the creation of women’s AFL and strong female athletes like Serena Williams casting a light on the gender pay gap. But is it enough?
Macquarie media graduate, Jacqueline Green has been a sportswoman for most of her life. Starting a career as an elite gymnast, she has moved through the ranks and through sports from international kayaking to Rugby 7’s and surf lifesaving. As a young professional, student and athlete, Jacqueline highlights sport as an essential part of Australian identity.
Jacqueline competing as one of The Salty Paddlers
“It has the ability to unite a nation and promote regional identity - rooting for the Wallabies and our Boxing Day cricket matches forge inextricable links between families, friends and communities"
Jacqueline is just about to compete for Australia in kayaking over the Europe summer in Belaruse.
Check out Claud Collective’s interview with Jacqueline:
Do you think sport is an integral part of Australian culture?
I definitely feel sport is dominant in being apart of an identity associated with a sense of Australianism. Sport has the ability to unite a nation and promote regional identity. Evidence of this includes the way a community is formed surrounding sporting events such as Boxing Day cricket matches or watching the Wallabies play. So much of Australian culture is formed around sporting moments and sporting personalities.
How has it contributed to your upbringing and goal setting? What sports do you play?
To me, I associate a sense of an Australian identity with being active, and this comes through my participation with sport. I set goals based on representing Australia, and this is currently my goal for kayaking. A sense of belonging is achieved through sport, which has definitely influenced my upbringing as I often found myself at various sporting events throughout the week.
Do you see a future for yourself in Australian sport?
I would like to say I do see a future for myself with kayaking, however it is a highly competitive environment. Attending trainings is incredibly important to improve everyday and get closer to my goals.
What challenges do you face?
I believe women face more challenges than men in relation to sport. This includes a) masculinity associated with female participation with sport; largely due to construction of the femininity and female identity. Dominant gender roles of men epitomise what it takes to be successful in sport, including physical and mental strength, power and competitive whereas a paradox exists for dominant gender roles that are embodied with women. Sexism exists in the form of funding for female participation in sport. When you look at major international events they are all male dominated, making it hard for women to make a living and play sport. Injuries are definitely apart of any sporting game, however I take necessary precautions as well as ensure any recovery is as quick as possible in order to return to training.
Do you feel you have the same opportunities as men in the industry?
I definitely feel there is large divide between male and female participation in sport. This is evident in the funding received on both ends, as women often receive next to nothing compared to male counterparts who can be on upwards of $100,000 salaries. The same opportunities do exist in terms of the equivalent level of play i.e. representing Australia however once in the same position; the divide is massive in terms of funding/wages/attention. This is largely due to coverage of sporting events, and women’s sport is largely under-represented. If you look to the media, a lot of high profile women are sexualised in order to receive this large-scale media attention.
What legal or cultural changes would you make to the Australian sporting arena?
I would definitely be promoting female participation in sport in a new light, and removing the sexual stereotype from the media. You don’t often see muscular women in the media light, but rather the smaller framed athletes willing to pose in lingerie etc. Within the media it isn’t unusual for females to be commented on by describing their appearance compared to male counterparts who are praised for actual athletic ability.
Legal changes may include balance of coverage or funding from the government to promote equality amongst both genders.
Many thanks to Jacqueline Green for spending some time with The Claud Collective Team to make this interview possible.