The Times Australia
The Times News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

'Girls please stay in the kitchen' — as skateboarding debuts at the Olympics, beware of the lurking misogyny

  • Written by Brigid McCarthy, Lecturer in Journalism, La Trobe University

Skateboarding will make its Olympic debut this year at the Tokyo Games.

The women’s and men’s competitions will both involve park and street events. In each, athletes perform optional skill sets within a time limit and are judged based on the combined difficulty and execution shown, similar to diving or gymnastics.

Skateboarding has been included at Tokyo[1] for the first time as part of a bid to make the games “more youthful, more urban [and] include more women”.

But gender equality in sports is not as simple as just scheduling a women’s competition.

My research suggests female athletes in Tokyo are likely to cop sexist abuse online, especially if they are competing in traditionally male events.

Read more: Alt goes mainstream: how surfing, skateboarding, BMX and sport climbing became Olympic events[2]

My research

In my recently published research[3], I examined nearly 4,000 comments posted to YouTube about women’s skateboarding competitions. The comments were collected from 14 competition live streams, from 2017 to the end of 2019. The competitions selected were high-profile skateboarding events with large prizes.

Given that YouTube comments can be added, edited or removed at any time, all comments were extracted at the beginning of the study to create a stable data set.

How Olympic skateboarding works.

‘Welcome to womanhoodsville’

Of the comments examined, 17% of those made on street skating competitions contained misogyny or abuse. While recent studies[4] have found sportswomen to be individual targets of online abuse, I also found frequent gender discrimination targeting women skaters collectively. This was often expressed through gendered gate-keeping of both skateboarding and sport.

Girls, please stay in the kitchen.

Many comments used aggressive language that dehumanised and sexualised women.

Give the bitches armor [sic] so they don’t skate like pussies.

There were also frequent anti-feminist sentiments posted, suggesting women were being granted a free ride for the sake of equality.

Welcome to womanhoodsville, where you get 1000x the attention with a 1000th of the effort.

Interestingly — and disturbingly — some of the abusive comments we observed seemed to suggest women’s inclusion comes at the cost of men.

These hoe’s [sic] should be greatful [sic] that men did all the work so they can just go around doing flatground kickflips and missing 5050s for $20,000.

Dude culture

Despite women’s sustained participation, skateboarding has long been perceived as a “dude” culture. The new TV series Betty[5], based on its actors’ real-life experiences, highlights the macho monopolisation of skate spaces. As creator Crystal Moselle explains[6]:

[…] skateboarding for so long has been set up as a male sport. So even just, like, going to the store to set up a board is intimidating. It’s a lot of intimidation.

A woman competes in a pre-Olympic skateboarding competition. Women have had to fight to be included in elite skateboarding events. Riccardo Antimiani /EPA/AAP

Women have also had to fight for competitive opportunities, including the sport’s “Billie Jean King moment[7]”, when women threatened to boycott the 2005 X Games to gain better access to practice time, coverage and prize money.

Meanwhile, some major skate events have only recently included full women’s programs[8] in the course of becoming Olympic qualifying competitions.

Beyond skateboarding

This is not just a skateboarding problem, unfortunately. There is a wider problem with misogyny in sport. The uninhibited online abuse we observed is similar to the explosion of sexist commentary that occurred around the formation of the women’s AFL league.

In 2019, trolls[9] flocked to an image of AFL player Tayla Harris kicking a football. The following year, the Herald Sun attributed[10] their decision to close comments on their coverage to “constant trolling, harassment and disgraceful commentary”.

And of course, sadly, it’s not just athletes — women working in sports journalism face this, too[11]. This year, American sports writer Julie DiCaro published a book, Sidelined[12], about the online vitriol experienced by women working in the field.

Online abuse is everywhere

Since this research was undertaken, the vilest comments have been slowly removed from the streams. But this is not enough — online abuse of women is ubiquitous[13].

And while moderation can remove comments calling women skaters “a bunch of broken dishwashers” or a viewer’s bucket list of sexual acts they’d like an athlete to perform, it can’t change attitudes to women’s participation.

Read more: The Tokyo Olympics are supposed to be a 'landmark in gender equality' — are the Games really a win for women?[14]

Abusive, sexist language posted on online spaces where the sport is now consumed by global audiences may also shape perceptions of skateboarding as neither inclusive nor safe for women. And this occurs at a moment when women skaters are poised to become more visible than ever, providing opportunity to inspire further growth at the grassroots level.

My research is yet another example of how social media can reveal the deep entrenchment of misogyny in a society where women are still seen as interlopers and threats to certain areas of public life.

References

  1. ^ at Tokyo (olympics.com)
  2. ^ Alt goes mainstream: how surfing, skateboarding, BMX and sport climbing became Olympic events (theconversation.com)
  3. ^ research (journals.sagepub.com)
  4. ^ recent studies (www.tandfonline.com)
  5. ^ Betty (www.theguardian.com)
  6. ^ explains (www.npr.org)
  7. ^ Billie Jean King moment (www.theguardian.com)
  8. ^ full women’s programs (www.prnewswire.com)
  9. ^ trolls (www.abc.net.au)
  10. ^ attributed (www.heraldsun.com.au)
  11. ^ face this, too (www.genvic.org.au)
  12. ^ Sidelined (www.chicagomag.com)
  13. ^ ubiquitous (www.plan.org.au)
  14. ^ The Tokyo Olympics are supposed to be a 'landmark in gender equality' — are the Games really a win for women? (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/girls-please-stay-in-the-kitchen-as-skateboarding-debuts-at-the-olympics-beware-of-the-lurking-misogyny-161883

The Times Features

From Classic to Contemporary: 5 Timeless Costumes for Any Party

When it comes to dressing up for a costume party, you want to choose something that is not only fun but also memorable. Whether you're attending a Halloween event, a themed gathe...

Action Figures as Art: The Growing Trend of Custom Figures and Modding

Action figures have long been regarded as collectible items, valued by enthusiasts and fans for their connection to popular culture. However, in recent years, a growing trend has...

The Ultimate Guide to Securing Grants for Your Small Business in Australia

Running a small business in Australia comes with both opportunities and challenges. While it can be rewarding, funding your business through the early stages or periods of growth...

Men’s Guide to Styling Suits with Sweaters for the Ultimate Winter Look

Winter brings a unique set of challenges when it comes to maintaining a sharp and stylish wardrobe. While suits are a staple of a well-dressed man’s closet, staying warm during t...

Discover the Charm of a Girl's White Dress

Key Highlights Timeless elegance: White dresses feel pure and have classic charm. They are perfect for many types of events. Versatile styles: You can pick from lace, embroid...

Top Medical Grade Red Light Therapy Devices in Australia

Key Highlights Lumitter™ has advanced red light therapy devices that combine new ideas with wellness. Red light therapy helps lower pain and swelling and boosts skin health. ...

Times Magazine

The Essential Guide to Transforming Office Spaces for Maximum Efficiency

Why Office Fitouts MatterA well-designed office can make all the difference in productivity, employee satisfaction, and client impressions. Businesses of all sizes are investing in updated office spaces to create environments that foster collaborat...

The A/B Testing Revolution: How AI Optimized Landing Pages Without Human Input

A/B testing was always integral to the web-based marketing world. Was there a button that converted better? Marketing could pit one against the other and see which option worked better. This was always through human observation, and over time, as d...

Using Countdown Timers in Email: Do They Really Increase Conversions?

In a world that's always on, where marketers are attempting to entice a subscriber and get them to convert on the same screen with one email, the power of urgency is sometimes the essential element needed. One of the most popular ways to create urg...

Types of Software Consultants

In today's technology-driven world, businesses often seek the expertise of software consultants to navigate complex software needs. There are several types of software consultants, including solution architects, project managers, and user experienc...

CWU Assistive Tech Hub is Changing Lives: Win a Free Rollator Walker This Easter!

🌟 Mobility. Independence. Community. All in One. This Easter, the CWU Assistive Tech Hub is pleased to support the Banyule community by giving away a rollator walker. The giveaway will take place during the Macleod Village Easter Egg Hunt & Ma...

"Eternal Nurture" by Cara Barilla: A Timeless Collection of Wisdom and Healing

Renowned Sydney-born author and educator Cara Barilla has released her latest book, Eternal Nurture, a profound collection of inspirational quotes designed to support mindfulness, emotional healing, and personal growth. With a deep commitment to ...

LayBy Shopping