ipl-logo

Why Are Women Allowed In The Ancient Olympics? From Inclusion To Exclusion?

1169 Words5 Pages

Sophia Zhang
Professor Crofton - Sleigh
Cultures and Ideas 1
6 March 2023 From Exclusion to Inclusion
The Olympics have been a unifying event since the very first games which captivated audiences with the spectacle of sports. These games originated as a religious festival with strong connections to ancient gods— these games were characterized by nude competitions with an emphasis on physical appearance. However, the most significant difference between the ancient and modern Olympic games is the exclusion of women. The growth of women in the modern Olympic games is representative of a major shift in our cultural perception of gender equality. In the ancient games, women were not allowed to compete, let alone assist athletes. This …show more content…

The only women allowed near the games were unmarried women. Married women were not “allowed anywhere near the sacred rites of the Olympic games” (Pappas). They were considered to be a part of the “oikos” which means “the property of the house.” This in a sense is saying that women were “owned” by men. Women at this time did not have any legal or political freedoms and because the Olympics were a religious festival honoring Zeus, women were not allowed to participate in religious events let alone watch. The role that women played in the ancient Olympics was very small, as there was a lot of gender inequality. The discrimination against women because of their gender showed the patriarchal nature of ancient society. The exclusion of women in sports, especially during the ancient Olympics, shows that women were not valued as members of society and therefore did not have the opportunity to show their athletic abilities. The severe restriction on women’s access to the games is just one example of gender inequality in ancient …show more content…

Now in modern games, women are participating in more events than ever before. In 2022, there was a new record of 174 women’s events in the summer games compared to just 2 women's events in the 1900 summer games (Statista). We have come a long way in society from the ancient Olympic games to now when it comes to gender inequality, especially in sports for women. It is significant that women are getting more events in the Olympics because it is not just an improvement of sports for women, but it also shows the shift in societal attitudes toward gender equality in today's world. The inclusion of women in the modern Olympics is beneficial for the future of society as well. As the Olympics provide more media coverage and attention towards women's sports; it allows women to be seen as valued members of society compared to the ancient games. The media coverage also influences younger generations to be able to see fellow women participating in sports that are typically known to be played by men to pursue their athletic dreams. While there is still more to achieve fair treatment for women, the progress that has been made is encouraging. It represents a huge leap forward for women's rights not just in sports but in society as

Show More
Related
240 Words | 1 Pages

In the article “I won. I’m sorry.” , Mariah Burton Nelson shows viewers how tough to be female athletes in our society since many people still believe that sports are for men but women. They claim that femininity is about beauty, weakness, and uncompetiveness. Therefore, to be accepted as a real winner in sports games, besides wining the games, female athletes also have to win the audience approval in which female athletes has to present both strength and elegance.

Read More
965 Words | 4 Pages

However, when Title IX passed, Women´s athletic teams went from 3 hundred thousand to 1.8 million girls who played on competitive inter scholarship teams. (Hanmer 84). For example, women believed that they were supposed to watch the boys play their sports, but when they got the chance and the self-esteem they showed their strong athletic side and joined the game. Women have overcome many challenging obstacles to get the equal rights they deserve, so girls having the right to join whatever team or sport they want should be a

Read More
748 Words | 3 Pages

The cost of such a great event is much greater than it initially seems, the ecological and economic impact is huge. But even with this, there are ways we can change this for the better. The Tokyo Olympics in 2020 show the clear connection and importance of the Olympics to many athletes. There, it was the first time that trans athletes were allowed to compete, with a record breaking number of women with them. It is clear that these games are important to humanity, pushing through great

Read More
457 Words | 2 Pages

In Athens, women were treated poorly because they didn’t go to school, couldn’t go out of the house without their husband, and couldn’t own land. Often they got taught at home by their mother and were taught how to sew, cook, and run a household. Men were often fed more than women in Athens. “Being a women in Athens, to say the least, was not a lot of fun nor was it in anyway an equal society.

Read More
727 Words | 3 Pages

Some men were still upset by this idea, but women proved themselves with “Hélène de Pourtalès of Switzerland became the first woman to compete at the Olympic Games and became the first female Olympic champion”, (BRITANNICA). Women have been competing in the olympic games ever since and making

Read More
477 Words | 2 Pages

Women started to join the olympic games as well.

Read More
569 Words | 3 Pages

Women’s roles has changed dramatically throughout history. By looking at the lives of women, it would be possible to tell how the civilians at that specific period of time were living. In this paper, women’s lives in mainly three civilizations would be discussed, the Sparta, the Athens, and the Hellenistic era. In Sparta, women were needed to live at home, while their husbands remained in military barracks until the age thirty.

Read More
752 Words | 4 Pages

Thousands of women have competed in the Olympic Games since women were first allowed to compete in 1900 (Olympic.org). When women first earned their right to compete in the Olympics, they still had to fight and regulate the games to be allowed to compete in all sports. 2012 was the first year that women competed in all event types offered in the games (Olympic.org). Almost 150 athletes participated in the Women’s Figure Skating events alone in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Figure skating was originally the first and only sport opened to women in the Winter Sports (Timeline: Women in Sports).

Read More
1212 Words | 5 Pages

The modern Olympic torch relay had been first selected at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. The Olympic Oath was introduced in the year 1920, along with the athletic contests held in Olympia, there had been a separate festival in honor of Hera, the wife of Zeus. This festival had included “Foot races” for unmarried women. Although it is not known how old the festival was, it is seemed to estimate it may have been almost as old as the festival for boys and men. Unmarried women had a various number of advantages in Olympia.

Read More
1059 Words | 5 Pages

Women athletes and women workers do not get the recognition they deserve. Men especially, look down upon women when it comes to their appearances, their knowledge and a women's physical and mental strength. In certain cases, a woman loses out on a job in the sports industry because she is exactly a woman. A male trainer can refuse to train women because of the parts her body has. Men and women have grown up in a world with the mindset that women know less than men when it comes to sports.

Read More
1006 Words | 5 Pages

Also in the Olympics, women Track and Field were also successful by winning in their first time ever. This was significant because it showed that women could do the same sports men can do. Women effectively defied expectations of men and were very successful in what they

Read More
1413 Words | 6 Pages

Sadly, most of how women lived away from their husbands’ world and how they interacted with other female companionship remains a mystery. Even the Olympic Games were under a males only policy, with the exception of a small event women held in honor of Hera in Olympia . Contrary to most ancient cities and popular belief, some women in ancient Greece were actually able to hold more than just the title of housewife. Although they were still secondary to men, in some Greek city-states, such as Sparta, women held much more freedom and a larger role in society .

Read More
779 Words | 4 Pages

(Managan, 2017) Although sport engagement and aid of women athletes has grown increasingly, future improvements are not a given fact. It is a well known certainty that even in the current 21st century, the reality is that women in general still experience difficulty and discrimination from the conventional gender norms that hinder with their engagement in sports. In order to make sure that gender equity in sports is maintained, the gender ideals that are correlated to sport must be examined thoroughly and effectively before any succeeding action takes

Read More
1069 Words | 5 Pages

Gender Inequality in sports is an issue as old as sport itself. I choose this topic because we as a society seem to sweep it under the rug time after time. Women in sports however, try to address the issue only to have it go on deaf ears, leaving them to continue in the sport hoping something will change. Over the last few decades, strides have been made, but he sport remains an institution dominated by men. These women, whether they are in sport or in the business world, want a fair chance to be on the same level as their male counterparts.

Read More
799 Words | 4 Pages

“Female discrimination in sports is a common occurrence all around the world, women are seen as less than males.” (Ladrea) Equality in sports is unequal. In the 1800 women got very little attention and did not get the opportunity to play in any sport in America and all around the world. Men could go and try out for different sports teams and workout but for women they were only allowed to stay home to cook and clean. There were some events women could participate in but it could not be competitive, it was focused on getting active and staying active.

Read More

More about Why Are Women Allowed In The Ancient Olympics? From Inclusion To Exclusion?

Related Topics

Open Document