Why is it that women sport is never really taken seriously by the media?

Question

You never see women's football world cup on the BBC

Answer 1

It would be if as many women competed in sports as men.
For a lot of women, taking part in sport is un-cool, un-glamorous, un-ladylike and seen as butch.

Besides if you asked the modern female if she'd like to represent her country in sport after years of constant training and strict diet, or marry a top rich sportsman and have a glamorous life style.
Which do you think she'd choose?

Answer 2

Supply and demand. Believe me, if there were any sizeable demand the feminists at the BBC et. al. would be falling over themselves to provide it.

Men created practically all sports. It is an extension of their masculinity and helps them get rid of pent up aggression in a relatively safe way. ( There could be a seperate debate about what constitutes sport )

Looking at it from a spectators point of view, men, almost always achieve a higher standard than women, particularly when speed and strength are involved. Who would you prefer to watch?

Moreover, lets face it, those women who do achieve a decent standard are very much in the minority. Unfortunately, also, they generally display more of the male attributes than the average woman.
Hardly a desirable objective for most women.

In any event, why, in this world of so called equality, is there a seperate arena for female sport. If they are good enough, let them compete with the men. I say this, even though it will do no good at all for the male ego and will help undermine the very reason they play sport.

The way you have put your question, suggests that the lack of interest is the medias' fault for not showing, eg. womens world cup football. Isn't it the other way round, ie. they don't show it because there isn't sufficient interest.

Much of the female sport that is shown on television piggy backs on the back of male sport eg. Tennis, Athletics, Olympics etc.
It isn't possible to gauge, therefore, how much interest there would be if only the female element was shown.

Similarly, disabled sporting events tend to be included with major sporting events.
There seems to be an element of politics involved. You can't order people to be interested and you shouldn't try to make people feel guilty for not been interested.

Answer 3

Firstly more men watch sports, so when the media play sports on TV they try to attract thew largest number of viewers as possible, so they play mens sports for men.

Second women sports havent reached the level of mens, theyre not as competitive.

Thirdly, Women sports havent equalized in skill as mens sport have, for example hockey, Canada trashed through everyone in women hockey (GO CANADA !!!), there was no competition, the same thing would happen in most sport, not necessarily canada, but one country or a few countries would completly dominate.

Fourthly, the infrastructure for womens sports is just not as developped as mens sports, which is the cause of lack of competition, skills, and therefore Fans.

Eventually women sports will catch on as theyre skills get better, and the sport more competitive, but dont forget that almost half the worlds countries, which have mens teams in the olympics and other international sports, will not have women athlets, because it is either taboo for a women to play sports, or the fact that the country is poor and women are taking care of the familly, and dont have the time to dedicate to a sport.

Answer 4

Its because most women dont watch sports. Most men watch footie and everyone knows the names of the really good players, if i asked my dad right now to name some famous female footie players, he wouldnt have a clue.if more women watched sports then i think BBC or ITV would consider it. but at the moment i dont think many women are that concerned with watching football on the telly.

Answer 5

most women do not like to watch sports on TV therefore it would not be cost effective for anyone to sponsor a lot of these sports since they would not get enough ratings to justify staying on the air.

most men would not watch womens sports since they lack what men like about sports "showing what men can do". thats the number one thing that guys really like about watching sports.

i would never say never when you mention that "you will never see women's football world cup on the bbc.

look at the poularity that has grown in the past 10 years in womans basket ball... ya never know

hope this helps,
ss

Answer 6

I think people need some time to get used to it. If it was the other way around, like women playing league football for over a hundred years and not men, then men suddenly started playing, it would take some time getting used to.

Also, they do televise it sometimes, it just doesn't get enough publicity, and sheepishly, I do prefer watching men's football.

Answer 7

Men won't watch unless it is beach volleyball. Men do have expectations: Machoism from men, sexiness from women.

Women dont watch sports of women as they wont ignore everything else and spend money while watching sports on beer and junk food.
Also they wont buy things just because the manufacturer is a sponsor of the sport or they saw a goofey ad.
Simply put, there is no money in it.

Answer 8

I think it is probably because the target demographic for sports is predominately male. Men probably prefer to watch men's sports. So the men's sports now have a large audience, which means that the networks can charge advertisers more for commercial time.

So you see, it all comes down to money. :)

Answer 9

Its because the camera work is all wrong. If the camera spent more time aimed at their arses or boobs the viewing figures would go up by most of the straight male, gay female and bisexual population. (including pensioners)

At the moment its mostly gay men that watch sport.

Answer 10

Because maybe no one watches it. Perhaps that will change in time. We now have excellent woman golfers and a few race car drivers. I myself love to watch women's basketball, but alas, I am just a lowly woman and don't make the rules.