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"Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
Billie Jean King On "Grunting"; Centre Court Comeliness
Foul Ball

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Pizza!Pizza!Pizza!
07/07/09

In reply to "Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
What if the casual straight male fan decides he won't watch unless the female players are all topless? Caucasian, petite with DD breasts? Handing out free beers between matches? And what if someone catches wind to the fact that women and the male gays like tennis, too - will we be treated to the hottest players getting the best courts, talent be damned? And what of the lesbians watching, are their dollars no good?

I need an anger nap.
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Newsgirl
07/07/09

In reply to "Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
Ya know what burns my ass? When people call womens sports "girls sports," while obviously talking about grown women. THAT kills me.
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ChristieLove
07/07/09

In reply to "Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
I find this very disheartening and I really wonder if it actually even works. I was lucky enough to go to Centre Court at Wimbledon on the Monday and Friday of the first week, and the lineup was very similar on each day: Federer to begin, Djokovic to end, and a women's match in between.

On Monday it was Serena Williams, and the crowd diminished a bit at first (queues for the Ladies' are a nightmare) but came back quickly and was into the match. On Friday it was Azarenka-Cirstea, a "hottie" match, and everyone went away. I came back for the second set, but there were very few people there and the match was played in near-silence.

I just find it difficult to believe that this makes a real difference to the ratings.
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skahammer
07/08/09

@ChristieLove: I've had the same skepticism too, and I'm glad to have your report on this.

I have to admit, I suspect even the effects of sexism here are extremely hard to demonstrate. For instance, there've been times when both Venus and Serena have been seeded very low or unseeded due to injuries and inactivity -- but if I'm a tournament organizer, I'm probably featuring their matches as prominently as I can anyway.

The Williams sisters play dramatic tennis, have huge public profiles/name recognition, and also have extraordinary looks going for them. I would guess that in the long run, they probably get featured even more prominently than their exceptional (but occasionally) erratic talents suggest.

I do recall Pam Shriver or someone pointing out how galling it was to play against an inferior opponent who had a big crowd behind her primarily because the opponent was blonde or wore lipstick or something. That seems like a more enduring, although probably less combatable, prejudice.
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Andalucía
07/07/09

In reply to "Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
Nadal, a player I love, regularly picks his ass and no one considers it to be "controversial" due to possible sexual overtones by a few. People notice it and make fun, yet he's not deemed some sort of threat like women's athletes are who are typically seen as either whores or man-haters.
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Pizza!Pizza!Pizza!
07/08/09

@Andalucía: If women went on and on about the hotness of Nadal, Federer and other male tennis players, you know what would happen? They'd be considered crappy sports writers, proof that women don't really like sports, just cute boys and pretty outfits.
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laureltreedaphne
07/07/09

In reply to "Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
Here's the thing. I hate the idea that women athletes need to fit into men's molds of what is considered "sexy." And I hate the idea that a more conventionally attractive woman would be more valuable as a star.

But I understand it. The reason Wimbledon puts the more "attractive" players on center court is because they are more likely to fill all the seats. And it's not JUST something that happens to women. Andy Roddick became a big star BEFORE his rank was very high because he was considered attractive.

And though I hate this idea, I think that unfortunately sometimes the sexualization of players does actually help women's sports. Sharapova and Kournikova and even Hingis did help raise awareness of women's tennis. And I think that if we got someone in women's basketball who sports writers deigned to find attractive, it would bring the sport more attention, and maybe more funding, more ticket sales, etc.
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SunburnedCounsel
07/07/09

@laureltreedaphne: But the research in the article shows it's not true. People (in this context it seems like they mean men) may be "aware" of Kournikova, they may wank to her poster, but that doesn't mean they're tuning into Wimbledon or buying tickets to Spain.
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Devonna
07/07/09

In reply to "Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
I never really made the connection between the sexualization of female athletes and desperation to prove athleticism isn't just a homosexual phenomenon in women.

I am naive sometimes, I guess.
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whynotshesaid
07/07/09

@Devonna: You should check out The Frailty Myth by Colette Dowling. This whole "only gay women play sports" shit is ENDEMIC.
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heavysyrup
07/07/09

In reply to "Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
Where is Sir Mix-a-Lot's comment on this matter?

I'm sure he has a differing opinion.
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ImDatNinja (loves her Red Sox)
07/07/09

@heavysyrup: LA face with an Oakland booty ftw.
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Penny
07/07/09

In reply to "Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
And how is this honesty "refreshing"? It's like patting a hiring manager on the back because she only hires hot dudes while muttering, "yeah, it's the reality, but I appreciate your honesty." It's totally ridiculous.
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Penny
07/07/09

In reply to "Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
Williams is NOT the only player who grunts on the court. Really, I don't know many casual or flighty tennis fans. The tennis fans I know get up at 2am to watch a match halfway across the world, and they don't give a shit about looks.

Really, I am just glad that there are women like S. Williams who show girls it's no big deal to NOT look like the standard-issue beauty. I think she's a great role-model.
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scarletbegonia
07/07/09

In reply to "Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
OT - Serena looks absolutely gorgeous on Letterman. And on the court, for that matter.
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RainbowBrite
07/07/09

@scarletbegonia: She does! I've always thought she was attractive! She's got beautiful features.
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mama_t
07/07/09

In reply to "Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
Ladies, pay attention: Be thin, with slight muscle, but not too much! And don't forget to wax your bush. And have straight hair. And sleep with a few boyfriends, but don't be a whore. And wear makeup every minute of every day, but not too much. And be trendy, but don't be a slave to trends. And wear heels. Unless you shouldn't. And be one of the guys, but don't date girls. And cook. And clean. And swallow.

And don't forget to be healthy. Geeze. Nothing worse than a bitch with hangups about their bodies.

Got it?
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Porcelina
07/07/09

@mama_t: Don't forget: Have babies, but don't look/act like a "mom". Dress sexy, but dress for your age. Get cosmetic surgery, but don't look like you get cosmetic surgery.
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Skellatrix
07/07/09

@mama_t: @Porcelina: Of course, and there's: Have big boobs, but not tooo big.
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tscheese
07/07/09

@Porcelina: Oh, and you have to have small tight little muscles when you're supple and young, but after a certain age, you have to stop exercising, lest someone see your veiny veins and say "OMG YOUR VEINS ARE GROSSSSSS." So you better stop, y'know, having circulation, because that's icky to look at and your tissues don't DESERVE oxygen, so there.
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CloudsInMyCoffee
07/07/09

In reply to "Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
The grunting "controversy" took me back to the '90s when Monica Seles was one of the first female players to grunt when hitting ground strokes. And I don't remember anyone talking about it being sexual or masculine (though I was young and may have missed some of that) --- mostly people, including my tennis-lovin' family, thought it was incredibly annoying. Now, though, almost every player does it... I don't even notice it anymore.

Which is all to say, I think some sports controversies are manufactured by people who are casual viewers, not invested fans. It's simplistic and puerile to decry something you aren't used to or don't understand.

I'm not a big fan of the Williams sisters, but I watch Serena play mostly because she's awesome, and also because she's not the typical thin, blonde, and tan player.
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queenieinmanhattan
07/07/09

@CloudsInMyCoffee: I love tennis; hate the grunting. Men, women, whoever. It's annoying. But I try not to dwell on it.
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SarahMC
07/07/09

In reply to "Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
Why must the casual, straight male fan be catered to?
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Ailanthus-altissima
07/07/09

@SarahMC: I'm doing this!: Because they own basically all media outlets.
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Penny
07/07/09

@SarahMC: I'm doing this!: Seriously. I am baffled by this "casual" fan excuse, most certainly because it's restricted to men. It's really sad.
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Joy_Rebar
07/07/09

@SarahMC: I'm doing this!: Because marketers are mediocre, lazy thinkers who assume that beer companies and fast food chains are the only surviving advertisers. Because heaven forfend that anyone should spend any time or money doing research about who tunes into sports and what they might like to buy.
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whynotshesaid
07/07/09

@SarahMC: I'm doing this!: Were you not aware? The entire universe revolves around their penises. (Or is that penii?)
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Rooo sez BISH PLZ
07/07/09

In reply to "Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
*covers eyes*

I could have sworn we did this yesterday.

[jezebel.com]

Or was it ... last week?

[jezebel.com]

Or was it ... Satan?

*heavy sigh*

*backs away from thread*
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CurtCole
07/07/09

@Rooo sez BISH PLZ: still an issue.
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hortense
07/07/09

@Rooo sez BISH PLZ: Oh, that's right, sexism has gone away. I forgot.
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Anna
07/07/09

@Rooo sez BISH PLZ: "we"?
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Rooo sez BISH PLZ
07/07/09

@hortense: Not meant that way. And I think I'm a little surprised you'd think I'd mean it that way.

But I'm not supposed to be here right now anyway.

*backs away from thread again*

@Anna: Um, "we" as in "the Jezebel community"? Or is that just presumptuous?

*backs away from thread final time*
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save jinger
07/07/09

In reply to "Sex Appeal" Doesn't Sell Women's Sports, Just Sex
To be honest, there aren't a lot of tennis players playing today that aren't sexually appealing. It's a sexy sport.
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CurtCole
07/07/09

@save jinger: Balls and rubber-lined handles...I have to agree.
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Skellatrix
07/07/09

@save jinger: And it's one-on-one... unless you're feeling kinky, then it's two-on-two.
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