Due to the recent debate in class over Serena Williams' outburst at the US Open, I have decided to write about the things athletes do and how it really affects their images. In case you have been living under a rock, here is a clip of Serena.
One of the issues discussed in class was that it doesn't matter what an athlete does, their image won't be tarnished. I definitely don't believe this. Whether it's something they did on the court or during the off season, if it's in the news, you're going to remember it. Something that goes right along with the way we perceive athletes' images is through femininity and masculinity. If a woman has an outburst like Serena did at the US Open, does the fact that she is a woman and she is "supposed" to play into the roles of femininity make it worse in the public eye? When a male acts out, is he just being masculine and fitting into his role of being aggressive and dominant? Another example used in class was Michael Vick. His image is most certainly tainted whether you want to believe it or not. Last summer my dad mentioned something to me about the possibility of the Dolphins trying to sign Michael Vick with his return to the National Football League. I was disgusted. I love the Dolphins but I definitely didn't want him on the roster. Thankfully he is with the Eagles who just recently took him off the exempt list so he can practice with them. Another example was Brandi Chastain at the 1999 Womens World Cup. She tore her shirt off after kicking the game winning goal to reveal a SPORTS BRA. Everyone made such a big fuss over it. Really? It was a sports bra. I see girls jogging in the same attire on a daily basis. If a male had done this.. it wouldn't have even made anyone blink, but apparently a woman isn't supposed to act this way.
I understand that many athletes make several different mistakes and can usually find themselves slipping back into their sport and going about their business with only a slightly bruised image. It's the athletes who commit crimes like Michael Vick's that make people think twice. Things like that should tarnish someone's image, not an outburst during a tennis match that didn't even hurt anyone. What's next? Serena will be gender tested because her outburst was a masculine act of aggression? Get real.
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I really liked your blog about the everfamous 'Serena outburst'. I would definitely agree that think people are taking this a bit to the extreme. Yes, Serena made a mistake, which was obviously caused out of anger and it was in the heat of the moment. It has been addressed and she apologized for her actions. It's time to move on. It was a huge event for her and she had a lot at stake at that point in the match. I would have been upset too. But because Serena is one of the best players in her sport currently, she received a ton of media attention for it. I think that if the linejudge had been a male, this would not have escalated as much as it did, and Serena may or may not have made the statement to the judge at that point. Who knows....I'm just getting sick of hearing about it over and over again everyday and it will be nice when it's no longer a popular topic of discussion.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Serena made a mistake but I sure don't think any less of her. She's an amazing athlete, without a doubt. She isn't known for doing stuff like this so why can't people just get over it. When we were watching that ESPN thing on it and the one guy made a comment about when Serena was on the VMA's....people are taking what she said on the VMA's as being even more disrespectful but I see it the other way..I think she was trying to show people that it can be laughed off and she's much stronger then what people are making her.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, Serena plain and simple was just showing passion. Now it wasn't very mature of her to say she would slam a ball down the judges throat, but it wasn't like she has a reputation of this. She got frustrated and it got the best of her. Truthfully I have already gotten over this the day after it happen. Anyone would be pissed if they were suppose to be winner and had the chance to be number one in the world. As for Vick, I think what he did was terrible. As much as I was against what he did, he did seem remorseful and suffered the consequences. What kind of world would we be in if there wasn't second chances?
ReplyDeleteIn the clip you can just tell that it was done in the heat of the moment, just as any athlete would get when they are trying to win. It is unfortunate it happened but shouldn't take away from her accomplishments just like Roger Federer's recent outburst won't hurt his. Also I agree with the comments about Mike Vick and don't get me wrong what he did was horrific but shouldn't he be allowed another chance. I wouldn't mind having him on my favorite team the Tennessee Titans to mentor Vince Young he has come a long way and hopefully learned some things and could instill that and help other players. Also its funny you brought up Brandi Chastain, what she did simply should of been a non issue, like u said its a sports bra big deal but now in most leagues over seas the men are not aloud to remove their shirt when they score it is a yellow card for doing so.
ReplyDeleteAlex, I did not know that men who take off their shirts in soccer (overseas) now receive a yellow card. And that was because of Brandi Chastain? At the time, I thought maybe she was just promoting a new sports bra.
ReplyDeleteBrandy, I wanted to comment on the last statement of your entry: "What's next? Serena will be gender tested because her outburst was a masculine act of aggression?" I actually saw comments on various sites that showed YouTube clips, where people suggested just that, and compared Serena to Semenya. I was amazed to see some of the derogatory comments that were posted.