Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 10/26/09 Section: Opinion

I am guilty of eavesdropping.

I overheard a male student complain about women's sports, and he doesn't agree that women can play sports.

I am sure he is not alone in his way of thinking.

Like the student, many other men are overwhelmed by a powerful woman, so in these men's defense they rely on their muscles to do the rationalizing.

Women's sports are not as popular as men's sports, because many of the games are not broadcast on TV.

Women's sports aren't broadcast on television as much as men's sports, which give society the illusion that women athletes are not accomplishing anything significant.

Women on the court have removed the testosterone and still play with the same determination as men, but they still aren't as idealized as men athletes have become.

This is not male athletes' faults.

Few female athletes have the opportunity to become as famous as Serena Williams.

A woman who is endorsed and watched by millions must work twice as hard as a male athlete to gain recognition for her accomplishments.

Sue Bird from the Women's National Basketball Association earned a maximum of $87,000 from 2005 to 2006, compared to Shaquille O'Neal from the NBA who earned $20 million, according to the Ask Men Web site.

A woman athlete is not only competing against competitors during games, but she has to combat the entire male dominated sports media to receive its respect and get adequate coverage.

I have experienced this first hand.

I began playing golf when I was 10 years old. I was surrounded by older men who were more than a little skeptical of my presence on the course.

Today, when I go to the driving range I still receive awkward looks as I set up on my mat.

Male golf players stare at me as if I should have spent my Saturday afternoon shopping.

Annika Sorenstam for the Ladies' Professional Golf Association earned $2.5 million in prize money in 2005, compared to Tiger Woods who earned $11.9 million in prize money, according to the Ask Men Web site.

The reason for the gigantic gap between both salaries is because the U.S. Golf Association gives more funding to the PGA tour in allotted prize money, according to the Ask Men Web site.

The standard for female athletes is incredibly low, which results in a negative stigma that men can do it better and women are not as strong as men.

Until closed-minded individuals crawl out of the small box that they live in, women will always be in the background.

It is important to understand that female athletes who make a significant stance in the world of sports deserve the respect that male athletes receive.

Female athletes have the ability to be as influential as male athletes if given the same opportunities that male athletes have been given. In the 21st century, it is time to open our minds and get over the primal idea that men are the dominate source of physical strength.

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