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Pressures Faced By Female Pressures Faced By Female AthletesAthletes

Amy Van DongenAmy Van Dongen

AnorexiaAnorexia- “a serious eating - “a serious eating disorder characterized by a disorder characterized by a

pathological fear of weight gain pathological fear of weight gain leading to faulty eating patterns, leading to faulty eating patterns,

malnutrition, and usually malnutrition, and usually excessive weight loss” excessive weight loss”

““13 percent of female athletes suffer from eating disorders 13 percent of female athletes suffer from eating disorders verses 3 percent of the general female population.”verses 3 percent of the general female population.”

Due to the following unfair pressures, female Due to the following unfair pressures, female athletes are more susceptible to developing an athletes are more susceptible to developing an eating disorder:eating disorder:

Pressures from the mediaPressures from the media Pressures from coachesPressures from coaches Pressures from the athlete themselvesPressures from the athlete themselves

Pressures from the mediaPressures from the media Athletes today have now evolved into celebrities, facing the same pressures Athletes today have now evolved into celebrities, facing the same pressures

from the media as a movie or television star, this means they are being from the media as a movie or television star, this means they are being watched 24/7watched 24/7

With the media keeping track of athletic performance and also every detail With the media keeping track of athletic performance and also every detail of an athlete’s life, it causes the athlete to now be more conscious of their of an athlete’s life, it causes the athlete to now be more conscious of their body because they are being watched all the time. The extra attention they body because they are being watched all the time. The extra attention they receive, pressures athletes, especially female, to look their best at all times receive, pressures athletes, especially female, to look their best at all times and watch their weightand watch their weight

Instead of them fulfilling their purpose to be an athlete, they’re “main use is Instead of them fulfilling their purpose to be an athlete, they’re “main use is to sell track shoes or expensive tennis rackets” to sell track shoes or expensive tennis rackets”

This type of media is exactly what makes athletes question their bodies This type of media is exactly what makes athletes question their bodies because instead of paying attention to their athletic performance, the media because instead of paying attention to their athletic performance, the media makes the public pay attention to their looks (see links from Perez Hilton)makes the public pay attention to their looks (see links from Perez Hilton)

The athletes now also are forced to look their best at all times because in The athletes now also are forced to look their best at all times because in thee sponsor world, your appearance can determine how big your pay thee sponsor world, your appearance can determine how big your pay check will be check will be

Pressures from coachesPressures from coaches Coaches are a huge issue in an athlete’s life, if their coaching strategies Coaches are a huge issue in an athlete’s life, if their coaching strategies

aren’t for the athlete’s best interests. aren’t for the athlete’s best interests. The biggest problem is that male coaches who coach female athletes are The biggest problem is that male coaches who coach female athletes are

coaching them as if they were males. “The coach, unused to woman in coaching them as if they were males. “The coach, unused to woman in sport, wants them to look like boys. Or failing that, like little girls” sport, wants them to look like boys. Or failing that, like little girls”

This will often result in eating disorders because women are not meant to This will often result in eating disorders because women are not meant to have a male frame. Women have hips and curves, well men do not. have a male frame. Women have hips and curves, well men do not.

The male coach thinks this is the ideal shape for endurance sports, like The male coach thinks this is the ideal shape for endurance sports, like running. In reality it is, because less curves on the body makes for a longer running. In reality it is, because less curves on the body makes for a longer stride and less pressure being put on your legs. However, unless a woman stride and less pressure being put on your legs. However, unless a woman is built that way to begin with, for her to change the shape of the body and is built that way to begin with, for her to change the shape of the body and lose the fat on her body will result in an unhealthy amount of weight loss. lose the fat on her body will result in an unhealthy amount of weight loss.

The esthetic sports especially are one’s where coaches put unfair pressures The esthetic sports especially are one’s where coaches put unfair pressures on female athletes because they are often judged by thinness and on female athletes because they are often judged by thinness and appearance. In these cases, coaches push their athletes to make these appearance. In these cases, coaches push their athletes to make these requirements. requirements.

Uneducated coaches create dangerous situations for their athletes and also Uneducated coaches create dangerous situations for their athletes and also will take any risk in order to get a great performance out of them. In the will take any risk in order to get a great performance out of them. In the worst situations, coaches pressure a female athlete which often leads to worst situations, coaches pressure a female athlete which often leads to them to develop an eating disorder. them to develop an eating disorder.

Pressures from the athlete Pressures from the athlete themselvesthemselves

Athletes are usually known as perfectionists and after all, second place isn’t Athletes are usually known as perfectionists and after all, second place isn’t the same as first and you will not hear athletes saying, “It’s just a game.” the same as first and you will not hear athletes saying, “It’s just a game.” They are in it to win. They are in it to win.

Female athletes are at a high risk of developing an eating disorder because Female athletes are at a high risk of developing an eating disorder because of the fact that woman as a general population obsesses about their bodies.of the fact that woman as a general population obsesses about their bodies.

In one case found an athlete said that, “The pressure to be lean and the In one case found an athlete said that, “The pressure to be lean and the emphasis of being under 12 percent body fat, often felt more important than emphasis of being under 12 percent body fat, often felt more important than the actually performance” the actually performance”

Some female athletes will go as far to do anything for their best Some female athletes will go as far to do anything for their best performance, “Since there’s a growing conviction that what goes into the performance, “Since there’s a growing conviction that what goes into the body has a direct effect on athletic performance, they’re always looking for body has a direct effect on athletic performance, they’re always looking for the food, pill or potion that will bring a gold medal”the food, pill or potion that will bring a gold medal”

Some female athlete is more focused on the gold medal than their personal Some female athlete is more focused on the gold medal than their personal health and what is best for themhealth and what is best for them

ConclusionsConclusions Woman athletes are faced with unreasonable pressures.Woman athletes are faced with unreasonable pressures.

Whether its from the media, where their every moved is being watched, Whether its from the media, where their every moved is being watched, from their coaches, who make unhealthy and uneducated decisions for from their coaches, who make unhealthy and uneducated decisions for them or from themselves, where an athletes strives for perfection may get in them or from themselves, where an athletes strives for perfection may get in the way with what is healthy for their body. the way with what is healthy for their body.

These pressures then directly relate to a female athlete being These pressures then directly relate to a female athlete being more susceptible to developing an eating disorder. This sad more susceptible to developing an eating disorder. This sad truth is becoming more real and common in today’s society truth is becoming more real and common in today’s society and talking about it is the first step to solving the problem. and talking about it is the first step to solving the problem.