The first three ESPN covers show the first stereotype: Baseball is only for guys. When I looked up "ESPN Baseball Covers" there were no females portrayed except for the scantily clad image of Anna Benson lying naked in a pile of baseballs. Clearly, baseball, the diamond of dreams and Americans favorite past time, is a sport that is strictly limited to Males.
The last image shows the last two stereotypes: The Butch, Dyke, and Lesbian image versus the Trophy Wife/Cleat Chaser image.
That last cover's not for real, is it?
ReplyDeleteNo its just a photoshop.
ReplyDeleteSports are all about entertainment. If you're going to try to take attention away from the actual players of this particular sport, there has to be a reason why fans should care about the people you're talking about, in this case females.
ReplyDeleteAs was mentioned in another article on here, some players have "trophy wives" who sit conspicuously in the stands as a testament to success, if not on the diamond then in the bedroom. Even if a guy strikes out on the field, he can still has the chance to score later on. It softens the blow when things don't go right and it sends the message that the celebrations will be hot and heavy (in theory) later on.
The argument that women somehow belong on the covers of these sports magazines doesn't make sense. The articles are about players, about people who actually play the sport of professional Major League baseball. Not their wives, not their fans. Would it make sense for an article about the players in the WBA to have random males in their portraits? Unless their coaches happen to be males, no.
If you're not showing the people who are making the stats and playing for a championship, you have to make a case for it that is short and simple. Sex makes that case, and very effectively.