tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6554639845764598233.post4021915267727665779..comments2023-10-10T05:11:35.359-04:00Comments on The Empty Stadium: NASCAR nobodies opine about Danica Patrick coverageUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6554639845764598233.post-49462537382682002952010-02-12T14:40:39.215-05:002010-02-12T14:40:39.215-05:00On your first point, I completely agree, using fir...On your first point, I completely agree, using first names is not always a subordinating action. Certainly you could make the same point about Venus, Serena, Annika, and so on. I would suggest that these kinds of athletes - like Tiger or Lebron - transcend because they are commodified so prodigously. For instance, I'm pretty sure Venus Williams has her own line of clothing, called Venus.<br /><br />On your second point, just because she is getting a lot of media coverage doesn't mean, to me, that she isn't being referred to as a subordinate. The key term is "referred to." The idea is that the process of naming is gendered.<br /><br />On your third point, what about using her full name? And to answer your question, no I wouldn't find it problematic to use her last name and no, I don't think it would be hiding her femininity. If the public has seen a Go Daddy commercial, I think they're fully aware of her femininity.<br /><br />At the end of the day, in this instance, Danica Patrick may or may not be a case. But it will be an interesting story to follow as her NASCAR career develops.S. Andonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06225189531860250269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6554639845764598233.post-41116142242666947412010-02-12T12:09:11.248-05:002010-02-12T12:09:11.248-05:00I agree that referring to a person by their first ...I agree that referring to a person by their first name can be seen as an attempt to place that person into a subordinate position. Unfortunately, I’ll need a little more convincing that this is happening in the case of Danica Patrick.<br /><br />First, I believe that just because you are referring to someone by their first name it doesn’t mean you are attempting to subjugate them. Many standout athletes are known by their first name. Look at players like Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Cal Ripken, Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, Rickey Henderson, and Dale Earnhardt Sr./Jr. I don’t think it could be said that these players are referred to by their first names because they are seen as subordinates. It is quite the opposite. These players are known by their first name because they are standouts within their own sport. It is for this reason, I believe, that Patrick is referred to as Danica.<br /><br />Second, how can it be said that she is viewed as a subordinate whilst fellow racers are complaining that she is receiving a massively disproportionate amount of media attention? That seems inherently contradictory.<br /><br />Third, if we assume that she isn’t being referred to by her first name for these nefarious reasons, would it be a problem to refer to her by her more feminine sounding “Danica” rather than her masculine sounding surname of “Patrick?” Would it be a bad thing to remind people that she is a woman to underscore the importance of her achievement of being the first female racer in NASCAR? If she was being referred to by her masculine-sounding last name, would you call it an attempt to assimilate her into the male-dominated sport of NASCAR and hide her femininity?<br /><br />I don’t dispute the idea that something like what you are suggesting is happening is possible and has happened in the past, I just doubt that it is happening in this instance.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708062519623715519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6554639845764598233.post-58940557162261578112010-02-11T16:41:38.337-05:002010-02-11T16:41:38.337-05:00Sure thing. From a 1993 article in Gender and Soc...Sure thing. From a 1993 article in Gender and Society, and after studying hours and hours of sports coverage, researchers found, "There were stark contrasts between how men athletes and women athletes were referred to by commentators....when athletes were named, commentators used the first name only of the women far more commonly than for the men."<br /><br />Why is this significant? The article continues: "Research has demonstrated that dominants (either by social class, age, occupational position, race, or gender) are more commonly referred to by their last names. Dominants generally have license to refer to subordinates (younger people, employees, lower-class people, ethnic minorities, women, etc.) by their first names...And research suggests that these lingustic differences both reflect and (re)construct inequality...Moreover, it is reasonable to speculate that this language is likely to be receive by viewers in such a way that it reinforces any already-existing negative attitudes or ambivalences about women's sports and women athletes."<br /><br />Now, this isn't necessarily uniform, just more of a trend. Still, is it valid today? The overall notion is that using first names keeps for female athletes keeps them in a subordinate position - comparative to male athletes. I think the coverage of Danica Patrick is emblematic of that.S. Andonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06225189531860250269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6554639845764598233.post-10707776681381622702010-02-11T15:38:41.156-05:002010-02-11T15:38:41.156-05:00I don't really know or care enough about NASCA...I don't really know or care enough about NASCAR to offer much of an opinion on Danica Patrick or the events surrounding her at Daytona. However, I am curious to learn what you are implying when you say people often refer to female athletes by their first names.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12708062519623715519noreply@blogger.com