Our reading this past week and topics we have discussed in class lately have related to the ideal women's body as an athlete and the desire to look a certain way and portray a certain image without losing their femininity, but when reading Pat Griffin's march 21st blog about the Lingerie Football League and relating to one of the participants coming out as as lesbian really struck my interest.
As Griffin stated in the blog, "that it seems clear that these players are chosen for their appearance and heterosexiness as much as their football skills. Everyone of them on the LFL website has large breasts and small butts. Not one has muffin top or love handles. This is easy to see because that is what the photos focus on: lots of skin." And i have to agree that this seems to be a logical technique of the league to gain more fans and viewers, especially for the easy possibility of a wardrobe malfunction while the game is being played. But as our readings discussed it happens with women's sports where they are required to unrealistically thin for their participation, a main sport that would be included would be gymnastics, where the women basically have no fat, no hips, but are well set on their upper half. With the LFL they are required to demonstrate a certain body image as a sole purpose for circulation of the league. When it comes to women's sports it has a lot to do with how the media reinforces the bodies of these athletes. And when these women's sports are finally given the representation that they have worked so long to gain recognition for the media does not entirely show their athletic abilities but instead focus on their sex portrayal as athletes, which is not fair.
And this is exactly what has happened with the Lingerie Football League, these women are not seen as athletes but as sex symbols wrestling and fighting with each other, apparently what everyone is dying to see these days. Is this used as a cover up so that it is almost acceptable to be seen watching a female sport and being interested in it? Maybe.
With the player of the LFL coming out as a lesbian, it may seem controversial for this specific sport as these women are playing football in very little skimpy clothing. But I feel as it is a step forward in women sport as they are already expected to have a certain body image that is almost unattainable to most women as it seems unnatural and now with her announcing her sexual preference she is allowing others to see that this sport does not have to be so sexually oriented but instead a sport that women do enjoy and should be given the respect and credit they deserve.
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