The Argument for Equality in Athletics

In the 2020 Arak Journal article “Women in Sports: Pay Up & Pay Attention”, Author Jillian Sawyer argues that women in athletics do not receive the same recognition and attention as their male counterparts. Sawyer presents her point very well using both logical and evidence-based arguments, resulting in a very effective and convincing article.

The article centers around the unequal treatment women's sports teams receive compared to men’s teams and why these inequalities result in dangerous disparities publicly and financially. Women’s sports teams, on top of receiving less screen time than male sports teams, are dealt less money for production when their events are televised. This reduction in production quality makes women’s sports less entertaining to watch because of the lack of visual elements like replays, multiple camera angles, and so on. Because of this inattention to the production value of women’s sports on television, the most popular medium for watching sports events, female athletes have access to less sponsorships and smaller salaries than their male counterparts. Sawyer argues that giving female athletes the same attention as male athletes is important for young athletes today, as well as for the future of sports.

To support and strengthen this argument, Sawyer utilizes multiple rhetorical moves. By using logos and ethos, Sawyer provides credibility to her claims regarding the underrepresentation of female athletes, and gains the audience’s trust. Through her use of kairos and pathos, Sawyer appeals to the reader’s emotions using real life examples of women being oppressed in athletics, and closes her argument by explaining to the audience why this is an important topic today. Her use of many rhetorical moves makes for an article with a powerful, convincing argument that compels readers to seek equal representation for female athletes in the media.