Wednesday 26 September 2007
Women's premier Soccer League ( W.P.S.L)
This is the worlds leading most recognised women's football professional league. It is split into 7 conferences according to places where each team is situated in the country and all these teams compete on a professional level. These conferences are entitled the West conference, Southwest Conference,South Conference,Midwest conference,East conference , North division and the Mid atlantic division. All the teams from each conference are split into a division and compete amongst one another. The WPSL'S intentions are to promote women's football worldwide not merely just in the USA. Women's football is progressing immensely due to its influence.
Social Views on women playing football
Many argue that women and men playing together in a match, is a step too far as women are unable to physically compete with men, however many believe that women should be able to compete against one another at the same level that men do. However some just believe that women’s football is not at the same skill level as men’s football and don’t see women deserving enough to make it an occupation
Political Views on Womens football
Politically despite there appearing to be support for women to play football this isn't actually the case. There is a ban restricting women from playing football professionally as an occupation in the UK implemented by the F.A. Dr jean Williams from the De monfort university, argues that this is against the law of equal oppurtunities in the UK. She is urging for this ban to be reviewed aswell as the law for equal opportunity.
Historical – Women's football in UK( the 1921 F.A. Ban)
The idea of women playing football was not revived in the UK until after the first world war.Despite being more popular than some men's football events (one match saw a 53,000 strong crowd), women's football in England and Scotland suffered a blow in 1921 .The F.A. banned women from playing on the same football grounds as men due to distasteful comments. A similar decree was made by Scottish football authorities. Some speculated that these decisions may have been driven by envy of the large crowds that women's matches attracted. The ban led to the formation of the English Ladies Football Association, and women's football matches were moved to Rugby grounds and park football pitches not affiliated to the FA. The ban limited public exposure for women's football and slowed its growth, but did not stop it. Women's football continued to draw some dedicated players and fans but arguably this did greatly hinder the process.
.Despite this occurring such a long time ago it is obvious that has created a huge drift between both genders playing football. Had this ban not occurred women's football could have possibly progressed just as well as men's football in the UK and abroad. Had the ban not occurred today's society may have found that women playing football is just as acceptable and as well played as men playing football.
.Despite this occurring such a long time ago it is obvious that has created a huge drift between both genders playing football. Had this ban not occurred women's football could have possibly progressed just as well as men's football in the UK and abroad. Had the ban not occurred today's society may have found that women playing football is just as acceptable and as well played as men playing football.
Economical Factors influencing the restriction on womens football progressing
It is clear that a differentiation is being created between women's and men's football matches as the cost for a women's world cup game this year is merely priced at £5 a game for adults and £2 a game for children. Where as the minimum price you'd find for a men's world cup game would be £40 for adults at the very lowest. This obviously shows how economically why it is difficult for women's football to progress. This also links and easily shows the predominant social view, that people believe women are just not as good as men at sports.
Bend it like beckhams influence on womens football
" David really thought the football scenes were great " – Gurinder Chada- Director
It is clear and evident that this film alone played a key role in the progression of women's football in the UK. Reason being David Beckhams happiness due to the production of the film bearing his name. He stated how he enjoyed the football scenes and was happy to see women's football being glamorized. This is likely to play a key role in promoting women's football as one of the worlds most iconic sports figures is in support of the movement and believes it should be pushed forward. The other key fact is the key role the F.A. played in promoting the film , which enabled it to be so popular not only in Britain but worldwide.
It is clear and evident that this film alone played a key role in the progression of women's football in the UK. Reason being David Beckhams happiness due to the production of the film bearing his name. He stated how he enjoyed the football scenes and was happy to see women's football being glamorized. This is likely to play a key role in promoting women's football as one of the worlds most iconic sports figures is in support of the movement and believes it should be pushed forward. The other key fact is the key role the F.A. played in promoting the film , which enabled it to be so popular not only in Britain but worldwide.
Women's football in the UK
According to BBC Sport-Football has now replaced netball as the most popular sport for females across England. In 1993, when the F.A. took over running women's games in England, there were merely 11,200 players. Today there are over 100,000. However the U.S.A. is clearly the most progressing country with 7.8. million registered players, despite football originating in England. Despite clearly being under represented in the UK, women's football is progressing.Record attendances, TV Ratings , media coverage, increase in financial expenditure and a clear increase in talent all prove this. This particularly occurred after England's success in EURO 2005, reaching the quarter finals, narrowly loosing to Sweden.
Fifa’s view on Women's football
Fifa believe that women's football enjoying a boom worldwide and has shown an increase in participation, support and popularity in recent years.
Germany the women's reigning world champions in particular have enjoyed an increase in popularity, with 860,000 of its 6.2million German Football Association members (DFB) being female.
China world cup 2007- China vs Denmark-09/12/2007
This match i thought from the China world cup 2007 highlighted, some of the excellence of womens football.
A game for Rough girls: A history of women's football in Britain-Jean Williams
Jean Williams provides a clear insight into the history of women's football in the UK aswell as shows an insight into the stereotype of women who play football being of manly nature or having masculine characteristics. She provides an in depth view of the problems women face and have faced whilst trying to play football.
Soccer Women and Sexual Liberation- Fan Hong and J.A. Mangan
This book exemplifies how women's football is thriving worldwide. It states that the United States, Norway and China all are places where women's football is progressing much better then men's football, despite all places consisting of being hegemonies. Some would argue however that this is merely due to the fact that men's football is not progressing well and is unpopular in these countries, however others would say that this is merely due to women working hard to become good at football and taking more of a keen interest
China world cup 2007
Currently the women's world cup 2007 is being played in China and according to FIFA and Worawi Makudi, the chairman of the committee for women's football and the 2007 world cup, the stereotype of women's matches being of a lower turnout to men's is not always true.At the final of the women's world cup in 1999, 90,000+ people came to watch the game. However FIFA say that they will not merely rest on part success and that they must push the development of women's football all over the globe.
Inside sport- Gabby logan and Sven- Key concept questions
Media Representations
Who is being represented?- Women are being greatly represented in inside sport, as Gabby Logan in the show interviews many football stars that top male interviewers even struggle to get a chance to talk to.
Why is the Subject being represented in this way?
I think Inside Sport has been portrayed in such a way to encourage women to get more and more involved with sports. This hence also gives the impression that women are not being as under represented in sports and the media as often thought.
Media Language and forms
The Mise-en- Scene also emphasises on the importance of Gabby Logan particularly through the way she is seated in the middle of all those present, each time the show is aired. The professional studio setting also emphasises on Gabby Logans striking presence in the show. The close ups to her face and the low angled shots also emphasise upon Gabby Logans importance in the show.
Narrative
Thw show usually opens in a way where Gabby Logan starts of briefly mentioning the key points to be discussed in the show e.g. the weeks key sports occurances, who is going to be interviewed on the show e.t.c.
Genre
The text belongs to the sports genre. The stars of the show are usually clearly glamourised which of course are Gabby Logan and those interviewed on the show. The text does clearly conform to the conventions of normal sports chat shows such as soccer A.M. , football focus e.t.c. The only way it will differentiate itself from Soccer A.M. is that inside sport also contains quite a serious tone whilst sports topics are discussed, Soccer A.M. is a sports show also used to create humour and solely entertain its audience.
Media Institutions
The text's institution is the BBC , which is a public broadcaster. This means the text has to cater to all kinds of audiences and has to inform,educate aswell as entertain. Inside sport hence has to have some appeal to all kinds of people.
Media Values and Ideologies
The major values and Ideologies associated with Inside sport don't particularly include a patriarchal ideology as with Soccer A.M. and Football Focus. The fact that Gabby Logan presents the show and that men are included creates an ideology which promotes equality amongst genders, which many other sports show do not promote.
Media Audiences
. Despite the presenter of the show being female, i think that males are most likely to view the show and be more attracted to it, as females dont take as much of a keen interest in sports as males. However females interested in sports and football are more then likely to predominantly consist of being the secondary audience, as football has risen to be the most popular sport across England with females. The fact that the BBC is the institution makes Inside Sport accessable to everyone.
. As a viewer of the show i can say that the text is something that i find to be educating, informative aswell as entertaining. However this may be partly due to me coming from a background where many family members take a key interest in sports.
Who is being represented?- Women are being greatly represented in inside sport, as Gabby Logan in the show interviews many football stars that top male interviewers even struggle to get a chance to talk to.
Why is the Subject being represented in this way?
I think Inside Sport has been portrayed in such a way to encourage women to get more and more involved with sports. This hence also gives the impression that women are not being as under represented in sports and the media as often thought.
Media Language and forms
The Mise-en- Scene also emphasises on the importance of Gabby Logan particularly through the way she is seated in the middle of all those present, each time the show is aired. The professional studio setting also emphasises on Gabby Logans striking presence in the show. The close ups to her face and the low angled shots also emphasise upon Gabby Logans importance in the show.
Narrative
Thw show usually opens in a way where Gabby Logan starts of briefly mentioning the key points to be discussed in the show e.g. the weeks key sports occurances, who is going to be interviewed on the show e.t.c.
Genre
The text belongs to the sports genre. The stars of the show are usually clearly glamourised which of course are Gabby Logan and those interviewed on the show. The text does clearly conform to the conventions of normal sports chat shows such as soccer A.M. , football focus e.t.c. The only way it will differentiate itself from Soccer A.M. is that inside sport also contains quite a serious tone whilst sports topics are discussed, Soccer A.M. is a sports show also used to create humour and solely entertain its audience.
Media Institutions
The text's institution is the BBC , which is a public broadcaster. This means the text has to cater to all kinds of audiences and has to inform,educate aswell as entertain. Inside sport hence has to have some appeal to all kinds of people.
Media Values and Ideologies
The major values and Ideologies associated with Inside sport don't particularly include a patriarchal ideology as with Soccer A.M. and Football Focus. The fact that Gabby Logan presents the show and that men are included creates an ideology which promotes equality amongst genders, which many other sports show do not promote.
Media Audiences
. Despite the presenter of the show being female, i think that males are most likely to view the show and be more attracted to it, as females dont take as much of a keen interest in sports as males. However females interested in sports and football are more then likely to predominantly consist of being the secondary audience, as football has risen to be the most popular sport across England with females. The fact that the BBC is the institution makes Inside Sport accessable to everyone.
. As a viewer of the show i can say that the text is something that i find to be educating, informative aswell as entertaining. However this may be partly due to me coming from a background where many family members take a key interest in sports.
Monday 17 September 2007
Media proposal
Independent study title- A study into how far women are represented in football and the media.
Hypothesis- I Predict that from this study I will evidently discover that there are two very key arguments to be discovered in great depth. One argument would be that females are under represented and some would argue misrepresented in sports and the media. Women are even if playing the same sports as men portrayed to be less heroic to an extent and less glorified. However a counter argument for this I predict I will find, will be that this is due to a more niche audience, watching females playing the same sports as men and also due to people feeling women fundamentally are not as good as men in the same sports.
Key concepts- Linking the key concepts to my study, I think the key point to go into depth into will be the mise en scene. This is primarily to link this point to the representation of both genders. For example in a standard premiership match for women, the stadium capacity would be clearly low compared to a male premiership match. This links to sport and the media containing a high patriarchal ideology, as many would argue. The main institutions to study will be Itv sport, BBC sport, Euro sport and Sky sports, institutions from various films relevant to the same topic and from other media texts such as newspapers in general, as from this I can evidently find out how big a distinction of representation there is for both genders in sports and the media.
Wider context- For wider context I will be able to link the study of representation for men and women in the sports and media to society in general. I will also be able to link back to historical information where I’m sure once going into deeper research I will find that women were not covered in sports at all, and in some cases did not take part at all. I will also be able to study how economical factors influence the representation of both men and women in the same sports, for example how much is invested in female football and in male football. Politically I will also try to study how different views are placed on the representation of males and females in sport and the media. E.g. the traditional conservatives would argue, that women should as a key role take care of their family and for their occupation be housewives.
Theories and Theorists- I hope to include many theories by theorists who talk of what they believe to be both men and women’s gender roles as this is a highly key factor that influences the representation of men and women in the same sports. E.G. a highly key stereotype is that women are simply just not as good as men at sports in general.
Research- For my research for this independent study I will predominantly be focusing on key sports in the UK, to see how much television coverage both genders receive. I will also be looking over the Internet to find relevant information for this topic. To add I will look at books by theorists who talk of the same topic for examples many books are likely to be published by feminists and traditional conservatives regarding the topic in general. Also sports programmes such as soccer AM, football focus and many others will play key role in research for the study. Also films such as Bend it like Beckham will also be a key focus for research and have key relevance to my study.
Hypothesis- I Predict that from this study I will evidently discover that there are two very key arguments to be discovered in great depth. One argument would be that females are under represented and some would argue misrepresented in sports and the media. Women are even if playing the same sports as men portrayed to be less heroic to an extent and less glorified. However a counter argument for this I predict I will find, will be that this is due to a more niche audience, watching females playing the same sports as men and also due to people feeling women fundamentally are not as good as men in the same sports.
Key concepts- Linking the key concepts to my study, I think the key point to go into depth into will be the mise en scene. This is primarily to link this point to the representation of both genders. For example in a standard premiership match for women, the stadium capacity would be clearly low compared to a male premiership match. This links to sport and the media containing a high patriarchal ideology, as many would argue. The main institutions to study will be Itv sport, BBC sport, Euro sport and Sky sports, institutions from various films relevant to the same topic and from other media texts such as newspapers in general, as from this I can evidently find out how big a distinction of representation there is for both genders in sports and the media.
Wider context- For wider context I will be able to link the study of representation for men and women in the sports and media to society in general. I will also be able to link back to historical information where I’m sure once going into deeper research I will find that women were not covered in sports at all, and in some cases did not take part at all. I will also be able to study how economical factors influence the representation of both men and women in the same sports, for example how much is invested in female football and in male football. Politically I will also try to study how different views are placed on the representation of males and females in sport and the media. E.g. the traditional conservatives would argue, that women should as a key role take care of their family and for their occupation be housewives.
Theories and Theorists- I hope to include many theories by theorists who talk of what they believe to be both men and women’s gender roles as this is a highly key factor that influences the representation of men and women in the same sports. E.G. a highly key stereotype is that women are simply just not as good as men at sports in general.
Research- For my research for this independent study I will predominantly be focusing on key sports in the UK, to see how much television coverage both genders receive. I will also be looking over the Internet to find relevant information for this topic. To add I will look at books by theorists who talk of the same topic for examples many books are likely to be published by feminists and traditional conservatives regarding the topic in general. Also sports programmes such as soccer AM, football focus and many others will play key role in research for the study. Also films such as Bend it like Beckham will also be a key focus for research and have key relevance to my study.
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