Women in golf

[furu]

I'm not the only one who finds it strange that important media sources like Golf Digest focuses on sex.

 

Paige Spiranac. Paulina Gretzky. They look better than Lydia Ko in tights, but what kind of signal does this send to young female golfers? Show of your body on Instagram while playing golf = money? 

 

A good article on the subject from Todays Golfer (UK) - http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/news-and-events/general-news/2016/february/the-sexist-golf-media-is-really-getting-on-my-tits/

 

 

[SPY ZINGER]

Completely agree Furu. And I didn't think this until I had a daughter either. Amazing how things in life change your mind.

[Undershooter]

I agree that this isn't setting a great example. With that said, Golf Digest and other companies such as that don't give a crap about any of that. They just want to sell magazines/ make $ and they think this will do that for them.

[DaveP043]

I agree that this isn't setting a great example. With that said, Golf Digest and other companies such as that don't give a crap about any of that. They just want to sell magazines/ make $ and they think this will do that for them.

I agree completely.  Their job is to sell magazines, so that they can sell advertising, so they can turn a profit for their owners, so that they can all keep their jobs.  Never expect a for-profit operation to be particularly concerned with sending the right message to kids, that's a job for their parents.

[~^~]

Golf merely reflects society itself. Early 20th century, men dominated politics and the economy and the media. Today, there is more opportunity for women. They have their own tour. Yet the number of women golfers is declining faster than men. Why? Unfortunately it's a self-image problem. If women can't look good on the course (or anywhere, for that matter), they won't show. The LPGA perpetuates the problem. The huge influx of great South Korean golfers is problematic. People don't watch because the spectators can't relate. On a national, attractiveness or any other level. The successful women have commented that they are very much aware that they are being judged on much more than their golf. Unfortunately society is holding women golfers to a higher standard. There is a polarization in their golf, between the successful on-and-off the course, and the merely successful golfers. Same thing in tennis, Anna Kornikova couldn't beat anybody, but was on all the late night talk shows and entertainment gossip shows. The media exploits them, because sex has, and always will, sell.

[The Dansome]

I can't like this thread enough. Hell I'm a social media addict, but the sex sells golf thing is getting out of control.

 

Paige Spiranac needs to go away or just play better golf.

[Undershooter]

Golf merely reflects society itself. Early 20th century, men dominated politics and the economy and the media. Today, there is more opportunity for women. They have their own tour. Yet the number of women golfers is declining faster than men. Why? Unfortunately it's a self-image problem. If women can't look good on the course (or anywhere, for that matter), they won't show. The LPGA perpetuates the problem. The huge influx of great South Korean golfers is problematic. People don't watch because the spectators can't relate. On a national, attractiveness or any other level. The successful women have commented that they are very much aware that they are being judged on much more than their golf. Unfortunately society is holding women golfers to a higher standard. There is a polarization in their golf, between the successful on-and-off the course, and the merely successful golfers. Same thing in tennis, Anna Kornikova couldn't beat anybody, but was on all the late night talk shows and entertainment gossip shows. The media exploits them, because sex has, and always will, sell.

Actually Kornikova was a great doubles player, one of the best in the world. Just sucked at singles.

And honestly I feel bad for the ladies in professional sports bc they get asked all sorts of crazy questions that the men don't just bc they are women. Is it a double standard? Of course it is. But life isn't fair. For profit companies will do whatever they can to make a PROFIT. If it means half naked Spiranac on the cover so more people buy advertising then good for them. If you dont like it then don't buy it or support it. There isn't much more you can do than that.

 

The biggest hope for women's golf was someone like Wie who was decent looking and could play well. Unfortunately she hasn't totally lived up to the hype. It's gonna take someone like that for the sport to gain popularity. It sucks that is the reality, but it is.

[revkev]

The more enlightened we think we've become the less we are. Doesn't really matter whether it's women in golf, other forms of entertainment, politics, aesthetics rule the day as the world becomes more visual. Lay political views aside, there is no chance that FDR gets elected in today's world and he was a dominant World Leader less than a century ago.

 

Thanks for starting the thread Furu it gave me a chance to vent. I have two daughters and numerous foster daughters some would be considered physically attractive other perhaps less so regardless I've watched many of them struggle with self image about their physical appearance well into adulthood.

[alfriday101]

The most important line from the article:  "golf needs to look at what it's doing wrong when it comes to attracting and retaining females."  I agree 100%.  Unfortunately, the article does not do that.  It assumes a great many things, all from a male perspective.  Perhaps the author should do his homework and actually go out and ask women why the don't play golf and why they gave up the game if they did play.  Fact, instead of supposition, seems like the place to start.

 

​While the list of sexiest women in golf and Paige's post are clearly geared to men, do they turn women off the game?  I don't know.  I was involved in magazine distribution as my primary business for decades.  How many men here have ever read top selling women's magazines?  Vogue, Elle, Seventeen, Cosmo, et.al all have healthy doses of sex.  They list the sexiest models, the best way to please a man, the hottest hair styles, the best new looks for the beach, the sexiest outfits for a Friday night....  They sell, and they sell to women.

 

The writer admits that he doesn't cover women's golf very often.  Perhaps he should start by writing golf articles geared to women with articles about what interests women.  Or perhaps hire a woman writer and let her.  

 

The last sentence of the article:  "The game doesn't care whether you're a man or a woman. So why should we?"  Perhaps the writer should care and should write articles geared to women.  How about an article on the most welcoming clubs for women.  How about an article on the best golf attire for women. How about an article on the best make-up for playing golf in the wind or rain?  How about an article on the best ways to manage long hair on the golf course.  Are these ideas sexiest?  Probably, but they are sexist in the same way Vogue and Elle are sexiest.  

[silver & black]

I have daughters..... rather attractive daughters. Sex sells, period. I don't care how open minded you are or how "enlightened" you think you are............ if you're a man, you will look ...and you will like what you see, regardless of what you "know."

 

"They" know this too.

[Fireinthehole]

Yeah I had to unfollow golf digest because of their non stop promotion of Paige spinac or however you spell her name.

What's worse is that she took the spot of an actual LPGA pro during the tournament she played last year.

But it's tough, males don't have their looks tied to their athletic achievement or exposure. Case in point Lionel Messi one of the most talented and celebrated soccer players right now and he ain't exactly a "looker"

[JudgeSmails]

I agree....and if you're looking for eye candy, there are already plenty on the LPGA tour...we don't need the "models who found a golf club" for that

[Undershooter]

I agree....and if you're looking for eye candy, there are already plenty on the LPGA tour...we don't need the "models who found a golf club" for that

You do realize that your talking about a woman who was a former gymnast and played 4 years of college golf right? She just happens to be good looking. Not sure if you have seen her play or not but she has some game. Enough to be on the tour? We will see..

 

But she definitely isn't a "model who found a golf club."

[JudgeSmails]

You do realize that your talking about a woman who was a former gymnast and played 4 years of college golf right? She just happens to be good looking. Not sure if you have seen her play or not but she has some game. Enough to be on the tour? We will see..

 

But she definitely isn't a "model who found a golf club."

 

I was thinking more of Paulina Gretzky, back when she was on cover of GD......i guess my point was that there are already a lot of good looking girls on the tour.....Paige certainly isn't popular because she played college golf

[Undershooter]

I was thinking more of Paulina Gretzky, back when she was on cover of GD......i guess my point was that there are already a lot of good looking girls on the tour.....Paige certainly isn't popular because she played college golf

Gotcha, that makes sense. And there are a few lookers on tour who can play.

You are also correct that Paige isn't popular for her golf alone. She is famous bc of her instagram page. She plays golf at a high level and is good looking. Personally I like the girl. She seems to work hard and from the interviews I've heard with her She wants to be famous for her golf not her looks. But you know what they say... at the end of the day, What pays the bills?

 

For now it's her looks but there is game there.