ENTRY 4: Serena Williams Penalization as an Example of Intersectionality
1. Summary of article – what is article about? (brief – do not tell the entire story)
Maya Salam's article is about the resent sports episode involving Serena Williams. Williams, who was versing Naomi, was penalized for supposedly receiving coaching from the stands. She reacted in anger and smashed her racket on the ground and received another penalty. She reacted more and was penalized for what the male referee, Carlos Ramos, called verbal abuse. The abuse included the words "liar" and "thief". This reaction and therefore penalization cost her the chance to fight for a victory, she was beaten by 20-year-old Naomi Osaka. The article has a link to male tennis players have similar and far worse outrages at games and receiving various levels of punishment. The article mentions a tweet by Billie Jean King that reads “When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoken’ and there are no repercussions.” In closing, Salam cites two studies. One about women of color in the science called double jeopardy. The other about women getting angry. Both are used to back up the point that Serena faced both racial and gender oppression in the event.
Maya Salam's article is about the resent sports episode involving Serena Williams. Williams, who was versing Naomi, was penalized for supposedly receiving coaching from the stands. She reacted in anger and smashed her racket on the ground and received another penalty. She reacted more and was penalized for what the male referee, Carlos Ramos, called verbal abuse. The abuse included the words "liar" and "thief". This reaction and therefore penalization cost her the chance to fight for a victory, she was beaten by 20-year-old Naomi Osaka. The article has a link to male tennis players have similar and far worse outrages at games and receiving various levels of punishment. The article mentions a tweet by Billie Jean King that reads “When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoken’ and there are no repercussions.” In closing, Salam cites two studies. One about women of color in the science called double jeopardy. The other about women getting angry. Both are used to back up the point that Serena faced both racial and gender oppression in the event.
2. How does the story relate to oppression/discrimination?
This story relates to oppression/discrimination in that it is an example of intersectionality. Serena quite possibly faced discrimination because she was both black and female. The calls were legal and valid. Though many are saying they were extra harsh and biased.
This story relates to oppression/discrimination in that it is an example of intersectionality. Serena quite possibly faced discrimination because she was both black and female. The calls were legal and valid. Though many are saying they were extra harsh and biased.
3. Who is oppressed?
Serena Williams was oppressed.
Serena Williams was oppressed.
4. Who is oppressing?
The referee Carlos Ramos.
The referee Carlos Ramos.
5. How are they oppressed? What type of oppression/discrimination is involved (individual, organization, structural, make argument for other types)?
There was individual oppression; between the referee and Serana. The calls were valid and legal but are being called harsher than usual. One could make a strong argument that this is a case of intersectionality. In the words of the article "As a woman, she was met with backlash because she abandoned traditionally feminine behaviors: “modest, self-effacing and nice,” said the scholar Joan C. Williams, a professor at Hastings College of the Law. And as a black woman, an added trope that often befalls women of color — loud, angry or simply out of control — was applied to her." Bias plays a role in most decision it looks like it could have played a role in this one too.
There was individual oppression; between the referee and Serana. The calls were valid and legal but are being called harsher than usual. One could make a strong argument that this is a case of intersectionality. In the words of the article "As a woman, she was met with backlash because she abandoned traditionally feminine behaviors: “modest, self-effacing and nice,” said the scholar Joan C. Williams, a professor at Hastings College of the Law. And as a black woman, an added trope that often befalls women of color — loud, angry or simply out of control — was applied to her." Bias plays a role in most decision it looks like it could have played a role in this one too.
6. Explore the significance in our society. What are the implications for this oppression? What does this say about the values of our society?
This episode shows a double standard, where females receive harsher punishment than males. It shows that there is very much an acceptible standard for how men are to act and that it can include anger. And, conversely, it also shows that there is also very much an acceptible standard for how women are to act and that it should not include anger. The unfortunate implication is that females are not as free to express themselves as men are. It shows that woman are constrained to a degree that men are not.
This episode shows a double standard, where females receive harsher punishment than males. It shows that there is very much an acceptible standard for how men are to act and that it can include anger. And, conversely, it also shows that there is also very much an acceptible standard for how women are to act and that it should not include anger. The unfortunate implication is that females are not as free to express themselves as men are. It shows that woman are constrained to a degree that men are not.
7. What was your personal reaction? Explore thoroughly. What aspects(s) of your own socialization has led you to this reaction?
I sit the fence on this. The article that I read and have quoted from makes a valid case for how this is an instance of intersectionality. However, upon further research, I saw that the coach did admit he was breaking the rules with his excuse being "others were too." The referee is notoriously harsh, handing out many violations throughout his career. Someone also crunched the numbers and showed that men have received three times as many code violations as women in the past 20 years of grand slams. As is often the case with news stories, I don't know whose side to take and end up walking a tight line down the middle. It appears that Serena did act in a way that is not sportswoman like, and was not professional, she deserved some sort of code violation. It is not right that there is such a double standard, it should not be the case. My opinion would be that woman, in this instance, not suddenly be allowed to lose their temper like men, but that men are held to the same degree of professionalism as women in tennis.
I sit the fence on this. The article that I read and have quoted from makes a valid case for how this is an instance of intersectionality. However, upon further research, I saw that the coach did admit he was breaking the rules with his excuse being "others were too." The referee is notoriously harsh, handing out many violations throughout his career. Someone also crunched the numbers and showed that men have received three times as many code violations as women in the past 20 years of grand slams. As is often the case with news stories, I don't know whose side to take and end up walking a tight line down the middle. It appears that Serena did act in a way that is not sportswoman like, and was not professional, she deserved some sort of code violation. It is not right that there is such a double standard, it should not be the case. My opinion would be that woman, in this instance, not suddenly be allowed to lose their temper like men, but that men are held to the same degree of professionalism as women in tennis.
8. What did you learn?
This is the first time I saw intersectionality after reading the textbook this week. I learned about another place where it occurs; it sports. I also learned that it is becoming more known about and people are fighting against it more which is encouraging to see!
This is the first time I saw intersectionality after reading the textbook this week. I learned about another place where it occurs; it sports. I also learned that it is becoming more known about and people are fighting against it more which is encouraging to see!
9. How do you think the media represents this story?
I believe the media was fairly well rounded in their telling of the story. With minimal digging, I was able to see more than one sides of the story. I wonder if this is because it was a sporting event that many perspectives are easily accessible.
I believe the media was fairly well rounded in their telling of the story. With minimal digging, I was able to see more than one sides of the story. I wonder if this is because it was a sporting event that many perspectives are easily accessible.
10. What was your source?
I read this article on the New York Times. I Accessed it on September 14, 2018. You can view it here: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/13/sports/serena-williams-discrimination-black-women.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FDiscrimination
I read this article on the New York Times. I Accessed it on September 14, 2018. You can view it here: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/13/sports/serena-williams-discrimination-black-women.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FDiscrimination
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