Female Olympians : A Mediated Socio-Cultural and Political-Economic Timeline

This book examines women's participation in the Olympic Games since they were allowed to be included in that global arena. Using a holistic, social scientific approach, and emphasizing the rhetoric of sport mediatization, __Female Olympians__ reviews the literature relative to sexism, racism, and ageism before providing historical, political, economic, and socio-cultural perspectives such as the gendered language of Olympic reportage, religious considerations, women’s bodies relative to their training for the Games, drugs and doping, and female Paralympians. With numerous critical case studies, never-before assembled data, and personal interviews with athletes, this volume offers insights that both investigate and celebrate female Olympians’ successes. Preface 6 Notes 10 Contents 12 List of Tables 14 Chapter 1: An Introduction to Female Olympians 15 Reflections and Realities 15 Theoretical Perspectives 20 Hegemonic Masculinity 21 Gendered Critical Discourse Analysis 22 Sport Mediatization 24 Literature Review on Female Olympians 25 Sexism, Racism, Ageism 26 Sexism 27 Racism 29 Ageism 32 Female Olympians Going Faster, Higher, Stronger 34 Notes 37 Chapter 2: A Brief History of Women and the Olympic Games 38 Ancient Olympic Games 39 Modern Olympic Games 40 1900 Paris 41 Golf6 42 1904 St. Louis to 2014 Sochi 44 Notes 68 Chapter 3: Political/Nationalistic Concerns Relative to Female Olympians 72 Operationalizing Olympism 72 The International Olympic Committee 73 Case Study: The 2008 Beijing Olympics Torch 74 Gendered Politics 77 The Politics of Gender 80 Uniforms9 81 Sex Testing10 84 Ideology and the IOC (www.olympic.org) 91 Notes 97 Chapter 4: The Gendered Economics of the Olympic Games 100 Amateurism Versus Professionalism 101 Commercialism 103 Media Matters 107 Historical Perspective 108 Media Audiences 113 Sportscaster Commentary 115 Social Media 119 Olympics Movies and Documentaries 120 Technology 121 Notes 123 Chapter 5: Sociocultural Considerations Relative to Female Olympians 125 The Language of Olympic Reportage 126 Case Study: Beach Volleyball 129 Religious Considerations 132 Anti-Semitism 133 Islamophobia 134 Women ́s Bodies, Trained for the Olympics 139 ``Our Cathy ́ ́ Freeman 141 Homophobia 141 Drugs and Doping 142 Women in the Paralympics10 146 Jessica Young 151 Paralympian Ambassadors Programme 151 Paralympian P/R 152 Concluding Thoughts on Sociocultural Considerations 153 Notes 154 Chapter 6: Concluding Thoughts on Female Olympians 157 Sport/Gender 158 Sport Communication 161 Olympism/Gender 162 Olympics Ethics 164 Notes 167 Appendix 1: Acronyms 168 Appendix 2: Olympic Games Participating Countries 171 Appendix 3: Notable Female Olympians 173 Appendix 4: Timelines for Female Olympians 178 Appendix 5: Olympic Studies Centers 185 Bibliography 188 Index 222 This Book Examines Women's Participation In The Olympic Games Since They Were Allowed To Be Included In That Global Arena. Using A Holistic, Social Scientific Approach, And Emphasizing The Rhetoric Of Sport Mediatization, Female Olympians Reviews The Literature Relative To Sexism, Racism, And Ageism Before Providing Historical, Political, Economic, And Socio-cultural Perspectives Such As The Gendered Language Of Olympic Reportage, Religious Considerations, Women's Bodies Relative To Their Training For The Games, Drugs And Doping, And Female Paralympians. With Numerous Critical Case Studies, Never-before Assembled Data, And Personal Interviews With Athletes, This Volume Offers Insights That Both Investigate And Celebrate Female Olympians' Successes. Chapter 1. An Introduction To Female Olympians -- Chapter 2. A Brief History Of Women And The Olympic Games -- Chapter 3. Political/nationalistic Concerns Relative To Female Olympians -- Chapter 4. The Gendered Economics Of The Olympic Games -- Chapter 5. Sociocultural Considerations Relative To Female Olympians -- Chapter 6. Concluding Thoughts On Female Olympians. Linda K. Fuller. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 181-214) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xv An Introduction to Female Olympians....Pages 1-23 A Brief History of Women and the Olympic Games....Pages 25-58 Political/Nationalistic Concerns Relative to Female Olympians....Pages 59-86 The Gendered Economics of the Olympic Games....Pages 87-111 Sociocultural Considerations Relative to Female Olympians....Pages 113-144 Concluding Thoughts on Female Olympians....Pages 145-155 Back Matter....Pages 157-220