"Shiwen smashed the world record in the women's 400 individual medley by more than a second: all the more remarkable because she swam the last 50 meters in a faster time than the new men's 400 I.M. champion, Ryan Lochte, swam his last 50 meters."
In the summer of 2012, young chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen took home the gold medal in one of the most notoriously difficult events of the swimming portion of the Olympics. Even more impressively, she smashed the world record and in the process turned heads to the fact that her last lap of the event was faster than popular American male swimmer, Ryan Lochte.
What does this mean for equality when it comes to women in sports? It is important to note that this is all from the 2012 Olympics which is on a world wide scale. Most allegations were of cheating and use of drugs, but having passed all drug tests it is becoming more and more difficult for sports enthusiasts to ignore the capabilities of women in sports.
In research performed by Christine Mennesson the gender norms of women and men are analyzed through a comparison of the success of a woman in a male dominated sport. One part in particular that is analyzed is the connection between gender norm socialization and the effect of this on their sports career. Reworking a gender disposition is something that takes years to do, but this research helps show that it is not impossible for a woman to succeed in the sports world, even if the sports world is male dominated.
In the summer of 2012, young chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen took home the gold medal in one of the most notoriously difficult events of the swimming portion of the Olympics. Even more impressively, she smashed the world record and in the process turned heads to the fact that her last lap of the event was faster than popular American male swimmer, Ryan Lochte.
What does this mean for equality when it comes to women in sports? It is important to note that this is all from the 2012 Olympics which is on a world wide scale. Most allegations were of cheating and use of drugs, but having passed all drug tests it is becoming more and more difficult for sports enthusiasts to ignore the capabilities of women in sports.
In research performed by Christine Mennesson the gender norms of women and men are analyzed through a comparison of the success of a woman in a male dominated sport. One part in particular that is analyzed is the connection between gender norm socialization and the effect of this on their sports career. Reworking a gender disposition is something that takes years to do, but this research helps show that it is not impossible for a woman to succeed in the sports world, even if the sports world is male dominated.