Serbian long jumper Ivana Španović has spoken out against the sexualisation of female athletes. Photo: Sandro Halank/Wikimedia Commons.
An Albury academic is calling on Australia to follow Europe’s lead and tackle the sexualisation of female athletes through the way they are filmed.
The call comes after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), in collaboration with European Athletics, released new guidelines aimed at preventing female athletes from being sexualised during sports broadcasts.
The Raising the Bar publication encourages broadcasters to avoid voyeuristic shots, including lingering close-ups of body parts, low-angle views from behind or underneath athletes and slow-motion replays that add little to the understanding of the sporting action.
The publication includes visual examples of camera angles that should be avoided, along with alternatives that focus more closely on athletes’ technique and performance.
“Capturing athletes from below the pelvis is more likely to result in unflattering images,” the guidelines state.
“Therefore, it is preferable to stay in front of the athlete whenever possible or avoid very tight shots.”
Dr Rachael Jefferson, a senior lecturer at Charles Sturt University, says Australia has nothing similar and argues it is badly needed.
“When a visual lingers unnecessarily on a body-revealing angle, that footage is instantly captured, decontextualised and circulated inappropriately across social media platforms,” she wrote in an article published for The Conversation.
“This vulnerability is stark given nine out of 10 elite sportswomen have experienced gendered online harm.”
British Olympic bronze medallist Holly Bradshaw spoke about the impact voyeuristic coverage has had on her.
“Many athletes, myself included have been in competitive scenarios where they are more focused on the cameras instead of their own performance,” Ms Bradshaw said.
“There are so many different angles to be shown of our sport that can highlight how technical and impressive these field events and athletes are, however on too many occasions cameras are zoomed in, showing super slow-motion action replays of athletes in undignified positions.”
Holly Bradshaw at the 2020 Bauhaus Galan meeting in Stockholm. Photo: Bob Ramsak/Wikipedia.
Serbian long jumper Ivana Španović said: “Certain camera angles, combined with gender stereotypes, not only cause discomfort for athletes and unnecessary distractions during competition but how it is broadcasted can also have serious long-term effects on athletes’ mental health.”
Dr Jefferson said the European guidelines sought to modernise the way cameras captured female athletes and that Australia needed to follow suit.
“In practice, this means prioritising wider angles that capture the full scope of women athletes’ movements, or using innovative technology such as aerial views and educational graphics to explain the mechanics of a jump or throw,” she said.
“The push is about more than what viewers see on television, with the guidelines arguing that the way women athletes are filmed can affect their comfort and concentration while competing, as well as how footage is later used online.
“Ultimately, the guidelines challenge broadcasters to shift the focus away from women’s bodies and towards their athletic ability, technique and performance.”
Original Article published by Oliver Jacques on Region Riverina.
