In the professional sporting world, most of the hype is allotted to male athletes. Female athletics tend to get pushed to the back burner majority of the time.
Females endure and go through so many different challenges throughout their lives that males could never fathom, such as puberty, menstruation, motherhood and then having to raise and be the heart of their respective households.
On top of all of that, female athletes have to work out and stay in constant game-playing shape. Not an easy task at all.
Serena and Venus Williams, Lisa Leslie, Mia Hamm, Hope Solo, Skylar Diggins, Britney Griner, Gabriele Douglas, Misty May Treanor, Allyson Felix, Lolo Jones, Danica Patrick and Maria Sharpova are just a couple to name.
All of these women have won various championships, accolades and personal awards in their careers.
However, the most important factor that could never be measured and won in a game or match is the amount of influence that they have on other females, athletes or not.
Women empowerment is the strongest amongst other women.
“I know that there are so many young girls out there that look up to female athletes as role models that inspire them to play the game,” Dana Peterson, women’s lacrosse player, said.
Ask any athlete and they will be able to name a person who has influenced and inspired them the most. Chances are that the person will be male.
Female athletes have had the same, if not more of an impact on society. These women have reached heights that 50 years ago, society would have never thought was possible.
The pinnacles that Serena and Venus have achieved are almost surreal. When Lisa Leslie dunked in a game for the first time ever in the WNBA in 2002, it was heard across the world. It is remotely impossible to be human and forget Gabriele Douglas’s magical gymnastic performances in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
This is just scratching the surface of what has been accomplished by female athletes, a gender that since the beginning of time has been seen as inferior.
“They inspire me to become a better athlete myself,” Kaitlin Zisa, women’s soccer player, said. “They show that with dedication, hard work and a positive mindset, anything can be accomplished.”
Female athletes do not get enough of the credit that they have rightfully deserved.
“I think society still has this double standard of women not being strong enough or as good enough as professional male athletes,” Zisa said.
For a woman athlete, it is difficult to receive major credit consistently because society does not really look at them in the same light that they do males.
“It is hard for female athletes to get credit because they are living in the shadow of all the male athletes,” Peterson said.
There are currently 163 female athletes on a sporting team for Cabrini athletics this year.
Some were asked who there most influential and favorite professional female athlete is and why.
“My favorite female athlete and influence is Mia Hamm,” women’s basketball player Kristina Startare said. “She was the one who set the bar for female athletes and showed the world that females in the athletic world should be taken seriously.”
Freshman field hockey player Jessica Tennett chose Hope Solo for the fact that she is always following her dreams.
“Despite the hardships in her life, she is still pushing through to make sure that she continues to reach her goals,” Tennett said.
“I like that Skylar Diggins was the first female athlete that Jay-Z and roc nation signed,” Maura O’Connell, women’s basketball and lacrosse player, said. “I think it shows that women are making huge leaps and bounds into the business side of sports.”
It is objectionable to not recognize all professional female athletes for what they have done and continue to do.
These women will continue to trail blaze regardless if they are not warranted their rightful recognition.
The influence that they have on other females is much more beneficial.
“Professional female athletes are important because they are role models for all young female athletes everywhere,” Zisa said.
