This documentary allows viewer to learn about the challenges the women face in this industry. Something we perhaps don't think about very often. One of the sportscasters says something along the lines of, I understand guys just aren't used to having a women delivering to them their play by play but I am going to do an excellent job connecting them and their teams. That's what the sportscaster is all about in it's essence and not gender.
The documentary brings to light the additional struggles women face in this industry. Despite the struggles, the documentary showcases strong women who have been tested and succeed. One of the female issues Jillian Kay explores is appearance. The sportscasters have to straddle the line of being good looking to attract viewers, yet staying professional. If they dress more attractively, the number of views goes up. However they are eventually slut shamed. If they don't look good maybe they get less viewers or perhaps they won't get hired at all. It totally reminds me of a quote from Killbourne's The More You Subtract, The More You Add, "They must be overtly sexy and attractive, but essentially passive..most girls time as painful and confusing, especially if they are conscious of these conflicting demands."(130) The film also provides a male perspective on this issue, who sympathizes with tight rope girls are asked to walk every day on the job.
"Changing who we see images is clearly one way to change the world" (Hooks 6) and it is definitely Kay's intention to do so. This film allows women who aspire to be anything in a male dominated world especially sportscasters to identify by people who are fighting for it and making some changes. The documentary redefines women sportscasters as knowledgeable and effective, and not merely a pretty face. Sportscasters can be girls who can love the sport just as much as guys do, I mean they are working twice as hard to bring you the latest information.
In Saalfield's Arts and Activism she talks about her using her art for activism. She even goes as far to say, " you can't separate your activism from your activism any more than you can sexuality from your identity."
I think it says your art can only be true to you if it reflects what you want to do. Your art and what you want to see changed in this world should go hand in hand. Jillian Kay is a sportscaster and she knows the inequality towards women in the sports world. The film she made does in fact reflect the change she wants to see and pushes for it. Jillian Kay allows us through this visual medium to peak into her vision that women can be more than competent sportscasters in the face of the current discourse.
Hooks, Bell. "Making Movie Magic" from Reel to Real"
Kay, Jillian. "Female Sportscasters: Challenging a Male Dominated Sociey" Web Link.
Killbourne, Jean. "The More You Subtract, The More You Add"
Saalfield, Catherine. "Arts and Activism"
I think it says your art can only be true to you if it reflects what you want to do. Your art and what you want to see changed in this world should go hand in hand. Jillian Kay is a sportscaster and she knows the inequality towards women in the sports world. The film she made does in fact reflect the change she wants to see and pushes for it. Jillian Kay allows us through this visual medium to peak into her vision that women can be more than competent sportscasters in the face of the current discourse.
Works Cited List
Hooks, Bell. "Making Movie Magic" from Reel to Real"
Kay, Jillian. "Female Sportscasters: Challenging a Male Dominated Sociey" Web Link.
Killbourne, Jean. "The More You Subtract, The More You Add"
Saalfield, Catherine. "Arts and Activism"
This was very interesting to read for me since I have always wanted to be in this industry. I too, growing up in a time where sports were male dominated, faced severe discrimination. My school did not have a girl’s basketball team when I was in grammar school. I begged and begged for one and my dean told me “it’s simple; girls don’t want to play basketball, find something else!” This was in a catholic school. I gathered signatures of about 30 girls that would be interested in playing and gave it to the dean. The school later agreed to have tryouts for the girls and in the end I was the only one who made it to the team…Since they could not make a team with one person, they turned the boy’s team into a co-ed team and I was the only girl on the team. The boys and most girls hated me for this. I would get harassed by my teammates and made fun of by the other schools. I lost many friends. The coaches would yell at the boys and told them to treat me like one of them, so the boys began to slap my butt as they did to themselves. It was torturous, especially that I was just 11. Anyhow, after I graduated from the school they now have a girl’s basketball team. My point is that although it saddens me that woman are a minority when it comes to this field, I am glad the few overcome and are fighting through the challenge & eventually, I will be the norm for women to have the same jobs as men. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOMG I am so sorry Lilibeth! I was a softball player. I started playing when i was I think 7 (elementary school). I continued on into high school. I played for local teams, I was recruited for traveling teams and played for my high school team. I to some extent know what you went through as I wanted to play baseball, I wanted to pitch! I tried to fight it with my local league with my father by my side as he was a coach for the league. We were told that the insurance was too high to have me play baseball? WTF?
DeleteAnd being treated like one of the guys does not entitle them to touch you! WTF is that all about. However, look what you started though. You created a petition, you got signatures from girls who wanted to play, good at the sport or not, and you submitted it to the dean! The dean then went ahead with giving you what you wanted, a chance to create a girls team. It is unfortunate that none were good enough to create an actual team but not many would then decide to make it a co-ed basketball team! And further still the school went on to create a girls team eventually. YOU MADE AN IMPACT! It just sucks what you had to endure in trying to have this accomplishment.