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Sandor Earl: why can't rugby league players model underwear? Sandor Earl: why can't rugby league players model underwear?
(14 days later)
You could be forgiven for thinking that rugby league footballer Sandor Earl is in the headlines for moonlighting as an underwear model, rather than allegedly using performance enhancing drugs. If you’ve haven’t been reading the back pages since the news of the Canberra Winger’s use of the peptide CJC-1295 emerged last week, then you’ve missed a whole lot of pictures of Earl in varying states of undress.You could be forgiven for thinking that rugby league footballer Sandor Earl is in the headlines for moonlighting as an underwear model, rather than allegedly using performance enhancing drugs. If you’ve haven’t been reading the back pages since the news of the Canberra Winger’s use of the peptide CJC-1295 emerged last week, then you’ve missed a whole lot of pictures of Earl in varying states of undress.
And why wouldn’t newspapers run pictures of the Raider in the raw? because it’s downright odd for athletes to strip down and let themselves be objectified ... unless they’re female.And why wouldn’t newspapers run pictures of the Raider in the raw? because it’s downright odd for athletes to strip down and let themselves be objectified ... unless they’re female.
The media’s stifled guffaws over Earl’s near-nude modelling (for, amongst others, gay mag DNA) offer a window onto the different ways we expect sportsmen and sportswomen to behave.The media’s stifled guffaws over Earl’s near-nude modelling (for, amongst others, gay mag DNA) offer a window onto the different ways we expect sportsmen and sportswomen to behave.
Even before the peptide scandal, Earl’s modelling was the subject of jokes. Rugby league is a boys' club, and over the years “princess” (it’s compulsory for stories about Earl to mention his nickname) has had to put up with a fair bit of good natured banter (read: not particularly subtle homophobia). Though Earl is straight, his erotic modelling is a bit much for many in rugby league.Even before the peptide scandal, Earl’s modelling was the subject of jokes. Rugby league is a boys' club, and over the years “princess” (it’s compulsory for stories about Earl to mention his nickname) has had to put up with a fair bit of good natured banter (read: not particularly subtle homophobia). Though Earl is straight, his erotic modelling is a bit much for many in rugby league.
“I might see if I can stay with Sandor. He’d want to lock the spare room,” said Andrew Johns when Earl was thought to be heading to play rugby in France – a joke so hilarious that Triple M felt the need to post all 18 seconds of it to their SoundCloud. “Google him, but be careful not to attract the attention of the IT department at work or your girlfriend,” wrote Chris Wilson for Fairfax last year.“I might see if I can stay with Sandor. He’d want to lock the spare room,” said Andrew Johns when Earl was thought to be heading to play rugby in France – a joke so hilarious that Triple M felt the need to post all 18 seconds of it to their SoundCloud. “Google him, but be careful not to attract the attention of the IT department at work or your girlfriend,” wrote Chris Wilson for Fairfax last year.
The implication is that getting your kit off in a magazine is a distraction, an act unworthy of the sport that’s best left to the sheilas. You can bet that if Earl were a woman, the reaction would be indifference, rather than friendly (if backward) ribbing.The implication is that getting your kit off in a magazine is a distraction, an act unworthy of the sport that’s best left to the sheilas. You can bet that if Earl were a woman, the reaction would be indifference, rather than friendly (if backward) ribbing.
Posing in men’s magazines is virtually de rigueur for sportswomen in a culture that values them more for their appearance than their achievements. By my count, seven of Forbes Magazine’s top 10 highest earning female athletes have modelled for near-nude shots. Only two of the top ten men, footballers David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, have ever posed for anything remotely comparable.Posing in men’s magazines is virtually de rigueur for sportswomen in a culture that values them more for their appearance than their achievements. By my count, seven of Forbes Magazine’s top 10 highest earning female athletes have modelled for near-nude shots. Only two of the top ten men, footballers David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, have ever posed for anything remotely comparable.
The focus on sporting women’s sexuality rather than their ability is well documented. The launch of the lingerie football league gets more coverage than the W-League or WNBL. In the year of the Ashes, the biggest story involving Southern Stars strike bowler (and international footballer) Ellyse Perry was her relationship with rugby star Matt Toomua.The focus on sporting women’s sexuality rather than their ability is well documented. The launch of the lingerie football league gets more coverage than the W-League or WNBL. In the year of the Ashes, the biggest story involving Southern Stars strike bowler (and international footballer) Ellyse Perry was her relationship with rugby star Matt Toomua.
Despite Perry’s own best efforts to let her skills do the talking, she’s portrayed in a much more sexual way than her male counterparts. Her cricket whites, for example, obviously didn’t reveal enough for Red Bull. By comparison, male English cricketer Stuart Broad gets to appear covered from ankle to wrist.Despite Perry’s own best efforts to let her skills do the talking, she’s portrayed in a much more sexual way than her male counterparts. Her cricket whites, for example, obviously didn’t reveal enough for Red Bull. By comparison, male English cricketer Stuart Broad gets to appear covered from ankle to wrist.
At issue is what we value women for generally. Having seen the way the media has reacted to Earl’s modelling, a young rugby league player might form the opinion that dropping your dacks isn’t the done thing. It’s unlikely he would quit the sport.At issue is what we value women for generally. Having seen the way the media has reacted to Earl’s modelling, a young rugby league player might form the opinion that dropping your dacks isn’t the done thing. It’s unlikely he would quit the sport.
A young woman in the same position would be more likely to draw the conclusion that stripping off is the only way to get ahead. Many women do quit sport and physical activity because their athletic contribution isn’t valued – half of girls aged five to 14 don’t participate in any sport outside school.A young woman in the same position would be more likely to draw the conclusion that stripping off is the only way to get ahead. Many women do quit sport and physical activity because their athletic contribution isn’t valued – half of girls aged five to 14 don’t participate in any sport outside school.
That’s a really sad statistic. If we want women to take positions of leadership across society, including in sport, then we’re going to need to stop objectifying them. It’s either that, or we start expecting footy players to wear these.That’s a really sad statistic. If we want women to take positions of leadership across society, including in sport, then we’re going to need to stop objectifying them. It’s either that, or we start expecting footy players to wear these.
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