Chevy van Dorresteijn

Introduction

A few times per week I go to the local gym to work out. On the mirror, right above the dumbbells, there is a sign that reads: “If you are too weak to return your weights, please contact the fitness staff and the girls will be happy to assist you”. Even though it is meant as a humoristic way of saying that people should put their training equipment back, it is but one of many examples of how modern-day society still thinks and behaves according to archetypical gender norms. One just has to look around and it is visible almost everywhere. For example, media coverage often focuses on male athletes. When at last attention is paid to female athletes, it is mainly at sports that have a more gender-neutral connotation, such as (field) hockey and tennis. Therefore, attention in these sports is more equally divided between males and females. There is hardly any sports where females receive substantially more coverage than their male counterparts. Read the rest of this entry »