Volleyball Analytical Essay
Beach volleyball is widely regarded as one of the most popular and exciting outdoor sports in the modern world, and has experienced a massive increase in participation in recent times. There are various worldwide tournaments for both men and women that carry millions of dollars in prize money and are sponsored by large multi-national companies such as Coca-Cola, Swatch and Nissan. The darker side of this glamour sport resides around the widespread debates and controversies regarding the risque nature of the uniform, namely that worn by female competitors and the self-esteem problems related to it.
Body image is “The subjective concept of one’s physical appearance based on self-observation and the reaction of others.” (The American Heritage Dictionary 2000) Body image – an idea closely related to ‘self-concept’ is something that is usually generated through comparisons between one’s self and others, and in today’s world the media plays a large part in generating and influencing these ideals. “Media Stereotypes, advertising ploys and the fashion industry have all lead to the introduction of the unrealistic “ideal” body shape that we mortals often compare ourselves to.” (Body Image, Page 20) This ideal body image, is the body type that is often portrayed by the media as being perfect, whether it be through advertising, sporting coverage, the fashion image or magazines.
Negative body image and self-concept often leads to poor self-esteem (“Pride in oneself; self-respect” American Heritage Dictionary 2000) and severe health problems including eating disorders. Those who develop these self-esteem issues rarely have any physical health problem. These people often believe they are overweight because they hold a misconstrued or out of proportion assessment or opinion regarding their body (Body Image, Page 20). In bad cases, there can be various physiological and psychological disorders stemming from poor body image, such as Anorexia Nervosa, Depression and Bulimia. “Women who foster a positive self-esteem and body image are less likely to turn to alcohol, drugs, or harmful behaviour to escape self-loathing, or to try to lose or control weight.” (Hazelden 2002)
Beach Volleyball players are often healthy, tanned, athletic young people with well toned and muscular bodies. The uniform worn by both male and female athletes shows off their desirable bodies, but the female uniform is far more revealing than that of their male counterparts (Borrie J. 2000, Sexploitation). At the highest level of beach volleyball competition women are required to wear a skin-tight, Lycra uniform, whilst men are allowed to wear loose fitting singlets and shorts.(Beach volleyball rules, 2003 www.fivb.com )
The risque nature of the women’s uniform has been a widely debated topic for several years now. Many strong critics argue that female “players should not have to worry about how they looked in a uniform that seemed more suited for the gym or for sunbathing than for playing a game” (Kirk D. 2002 Human Kinetics). Links between revealing uniforms and poor body image are not hard to come by. It is obvious from watching a beach volleyball game that even women with athletic good-looking bodies feel somewhat [next page]