Gender Stereotypes in Gymnastics

It was my first day in gymnastics. I remember the smooth, worn feeling of the leather pommel horse, the smell of chalk and sweat, and the feel of the springed floor beneath me. It was my first day that I was taught that boys land from jumps differently from girls, and I didn’t think to ask why. Watching professional gymnastics, I had always noticed that the men performed skills showcasing extreme strength and power, while the women’s routines were more closely tied to dance and movement.

Historically, Men’s and Women’s gymnastics have been drastically different, arguably one of the most significant differences in a sport within sex. Anyone who has watched the summer Olympics knows the beauty, grace, and flair incorporated into women’s routine, in sharp contrast to the display of strength, power, and speed in men’s. Men compete on two extra events as well, the still rings, and the parallel bars. They also compete on the horizontal bar in comparison to women, who compete on the uneven bars. I believe the sport of gymnastics needs to be largely reevaluated, specifically the portions of it that perpetuate stereotypes regarding the femininity of women and the masculinity of men. Anyone who considers him/herself a fan of the sport, or an athlete who competes in it owes it to himself/herself to consider this reevaluation.

The reasoning behind these stark differences seem reasonable on paper; For example, the Still Rings is an event that requires extreme upper body strength that women just don’t have, an understandable reason. However, why do women not compete on the high bar? Competing on the uneven bars makes it near impossible to perform the high flying release moves that men can perform on high bar. Women are also not rewarded as well for release moves, skills that are largely seen as the most exciting in the sport.

Many male gymnasts are bullied or looked down upon by their peers, as gymnastics is largely seen as a sport traditionally “for girls”.

Women are also required to perform their floor routines to music, and include dance moves in their performances, another major contribution to the stereotypes that women should exhibit femininity, even in athletics. The women’s side of gymnastics discourages the displays of strength and power as are in men’s gymnastics, while at the same time men are restricted from performing any of the more “feminine” aspects of gymnastics, such as performing to music or including dance moves in their routines.

In conclusion, I believe the sport of gymnastics needs to be largely reevaluated, specifically the portions of it that perpetuate stereotypes regarding the femininity of women and the masculinity of men, something we struggle with not only in athletics but in everyday life as well. This is an issue not only for gymnasts, but for coaches, parents, friends, or fans of athletics as well.