Whether a sports fanatic or casual observer, pretty much everyone watches or at least admires athletes attending the Olympic Games. The sheer athleticism, talent, American spirit and ambition — the combination is fun and inspiring for adults and kids alike. What’s even more inspiring, to an ‘average Joe’ like me than Michael Phelps winning his bazillionth medal? Watching some of the female athletes — and their children cheering mom on from nearby. Except not everyone agrees. Salon claimed heralding females for being both Olympians and moms is sexist and antiquated. Not so. If anything, it’s that much more incredible.
Oh, Salon
Granted Salon is, well, Salon, but even for them, I thought this tweet seemed exaggerated.
Women are taking home medals, but many reports still focus on them as wives and moms
https://t.co/sfVsrugzSc pic.twitter.com/B2umPi71Kz— Salon (@Salon) August 8, 2016
In the piece, the author remarks that “the media is still failing” women because several stories remarked on a particular medalist’s husband or the fact that she balances a career as an Olympian and mom.
When Corey Cogdell-Unrein took the trap shooting bronze over the weekend, eight years after earning her first medal in Beijing and four years after competing in London, the headlines noted her achievement by placing her in context. The Chicago Sun-Times announced, “Corey Cogdell-Unrein, wife of Bears DE Mitch, wins bronze…” [D]id anybody stop for a second before writing that headline to ask if the story here really is about this woman’s identity as a wife? (It is not.)”
Is it sexist to mention Cogdell-Unrein’s win in conjunction with her husband’s career as a professional football player? Perhaps. Could it be that the Chicago Sun-Times was simply placing Cogdell and her husband in context, marveling, here’s two successful athletes, married to each other? And you thought your marriage was hard!