Why do women collegiate athletes take a back seat to the men athletes? This question can easily relate to the blog Alli posted last week. However, this involves attendance at sporting events rather than television coverage. I was curious to see what peoples thoughts were on the trend of women's collegiate athletic events not being as popular among fans and students as the men's sporting events. One of the first things that popped into my mind was the UConn women's basketball team. The team recently went two consecutive seasons undefeated and won two consecutive National Championships, but I recall hearing some controversy during their historic winning streak on the lack of support and attendance at their games.
In 2010, Grace Malloy wrote an article in UConn's The Daily Campus about this very issue surrounding its women's basketball team. The article was titled "Women's Basketball Team Under Appreciated." In her article, she says "The women's team puts in an enormous amount of time, effort and focus to be the best. They deserve a strong, faithful following of UConn students for their work. Unfortunately, not enough has materialized" (Malloy, 2010). When talking about the the support for the men's team, Malloy goes on to say "At every game, the stands are packed. Students arrive at Gampel hours early to get good seats. It's important that the men's team receive this support, but why is there so much more support for them, especially when the women have been doing significantly better?" This question is a fair one to ask. At the time of this article, UConn had the by far the best women's team in college basketball, and an average men's team. It is commonly known that fans are more likely to go to games when the team is winning. Why is that no the case for the women's team? History was being made by the women's team, and it was still taking a back seat to the less successful men's team. Malloy wanted to find the answer to this, so she asked around campus. She said her results ended up like this: "The reason I've heard from countless guys is that the women's team isn't actually better than the men's. They say that the women play easier teams compared to the teams that the men play, and that's why the women have won two consecutive national championships. But really, is this arguement valid? The fact remains that the women have won the past 78 games straight, most of them by huge margins. It is the longest winning streak in women's college basketball history" (Malloy, 2010). Malloy then went on to question why women fans were attending more men's games than women's games. She has this to say: "The fact that so many girls passionately cheer on the players of the men's team, while largely ignoring the success of their fellow women, is insulting. Why don't more girls at UConn recognize the need to support the women's team with the same fervor? One would think that, as women, they'd understand the frustration of being under appreciated and that they'd admire the success of the women's team" (Malloy, 2010).
Malloy also left us with some more questions concerning this topic. What would it take for the women's team to get more recognition? Is the under-appreciation simply a result of the women's team not having as much talent as the men's team, or is it a result of something more complex? Is is possible that the success of the women's team poises a threat to the men's team?
Women's Basketball Team Under Appreciated
I think in order for women's teams to get the recognition they deserve it usually takes drastic measures to receive a moderate amount of attention. For your example of the UCONN women's team, they were making national headlines for winning 78 consecutive games and winning all the championships. Their coach was in the news for being quoted on some controversial topics and they were in the press as if they were a men's team. However, not all women's teams can win championships and dominate the court to get the attention. In other cases it takes a talented lady to step onto the court in order for team's to to get the recognition. Britteny Griner for Baylor attracted a lot of national attention because she could dunk and had a physical attitude about her. She did a lot for the popularity of her school's sports program and really put the women's team into the national spotlight.
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate that women's teams only get a mild amount of national attention for doing a superb job. Men's teams that have won 2 games in the last 15 years get more national attention than most women's programs. Unfortunately thats just the way the world is today in the U.S.
As Greg Stated above, it would take a streak or some event has to take place in order for women to receive national headlines in the news. We live in an age where entertainment is essential when individuals want to have fun or enjoy a sporting event and women's sports don't match up to the entertainment factor as men's sports do. One thing is for sure though, I believe women's college sports such as basketball is more popular than the WNBA and sees more coverage on major networks such as ESPN.
ReplyDeleteOnce a women's college basketball team has the fire power or the entertainment factor of a men's team than you'll see a increase in coverage of the women's team. This would mean having female players capable of dunking as if you were seeing a men's game. I know I would tune into a women's game if there was that kind of talent on the floor.
I have to agree with Greg that women’s teams have to have a significant following or news story to make national headlines. The last time I can remember UConn Women’s basketball being discussed a lot was when they were up for their third straight national championship. I can also recall in the past couple years there was a Sports Center watch for them to break the streak of 78 consecutive wins, however have the streak was broken no one mentioned them until March Madness.
ReplyDeleteDane makes a good point that women’s sports does not compete in the entertainment aspect of men’s sports. The last women’s sporting event to match any entertainment level as men’s sports was the World Cup this past year. The entertainment of that sporting event increased coverage for a month but it soon subsided when the tournament was over. Another prime example of a lack of entertainment in women’s sports is last years March Madness tournament. Many can not recall who won the NCAA championship or who the other team competing was because it lacked the entertainment of the men’s. Part of the blame could be the coverage of the sport. Often times in men’s sports you will hear a story of adversity that captures your attention and you tend to pay extra attention to the event. There is a lack of stories with women’s sports and if there was an increase then I believe that people’s attachment to the event would increase.