Should Women Reporters Be Allowed in Mens Locker Rooms?

If you haven't seen a picture of Ines Sainz, a journalist for CNN en Espanol and for Azteca Deportes,...she's not ugly. If you haven't heard how intelligent Ines Sainz is...she's not dumb.

Proof....

Sainz graduated with a bachelor in law degree from Universidad de Valle de Mexico, masters in tax law from Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro and a graduate degree in business administration.

 
Back in September 2010, Sainz experienced one of  "the most prominent instances of harassment directed toward a female sports reporter" according to an article by Indiana University. Sainz was reportedly harassed while doing an interview in the New York Jets locker room.

The "cat calls" and "taunting" sparked a worldwide debate around the question: Should women reporters be allowed in mens locker rooms?

A few days after the event had taken place, running back Clinton Portis (currently a free agent but played seven seasons with the Washington Redskins) was on 106.7 The Fan in D.C. In an article by nbcsports.com, Portis was "was asked his opinion on the Ines Sainz situation with the New York Jets."

Mmmm is that Ines Sainz?? She's pretty

After being informed about what exactly happened to Sainz, Portis went on to say:

“And I mean, you put a woman and you give her a choice of 53 athletes, somebody got to be appealing to her. You know, somebody got to spark her interest, or she’s gonna want somebody. I don’t know what kind of woman won’t, if you get to go and look at 53 men’s packages.” (nbcsports.com)

Ohhh Clinton, I hope you were planning on hell breaking loose because that just did it. (He did later apologize).

"The Ines Sainz thing" as referred to by Washington Post journalist Dan Steinberg, blew up. Steinberg addressed the issue by replying to some of the comments they had been receiving. One of the readers commented "Female reporters shouldn't be allowed in NFL locker rooms unless male reporters are allowed in WNBA locker rooms!!!!" 


Steinberg's response:

Uh, male reporters are allowed in WNBA locker rooms. 

Looks like people need to do their research before they jump to conclusions.

A part of this case that I feel I have to touch on are the opinions of some people that Sainz has the tendency to dress in a scandalous manner. She is a model as well as a reporter (wow...rough life) so she definitely has the body to wear certain outfits that the average Jane couldn't pull off. For the day of the interview with Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets, Sainz wore a white collard shirt and blue jeans. It has been looked at as controversial because the blouse was form-fitting and a few of the buttons were undone.

One of Sainz many outfits.

Sainz is not the only case of harassment toward women reporters. Many of the little "cat calls" get ignored. Would your first instinct be to turn around and call out a 300 pound football player while you are trying to act professional? For me it would depend on what kind of day I was having, do I feel sassy today or do I feel calm? (that goes hand in hand with my coffee/caffeine intake for the day)

In a Washington Post article about the Sainz situation, sports journalist Cindy Boren quickly adds that she is a woman writing about an issue that she has experienced.

"Because the caretaker of this blog is a woman and a sports journalist...and a sports journalist who once had a blow dryer thrown at her for no good reason in a locker room, I've been getting tons of questions about how I view the Ines Sainz incident and Clinton Portis' comments."

Through the controversy, it had been expressed that some people strictly believe women should stay out of the locker room and others believe that would be like "asking if women should vote" -- something that has been around for a long time but is not always taken advantage of.

Here is what Sainz had to say on the Early Show...

The question of should I or shouldn't I enter the locker room has been evident in my line of work. For example, once I was doing a video segment that required me to get a few shots in the mens hockey locker room. I waited until all the guys were out of the room and I had one of the coaches go in and check to make sure all the guys were out. Would it have been okay for me to be in there otherwise?

From my understanding, I am only able to enter the locker room when it is open to the media, even if my reason for entering at any other time is part of something I am doing for my job.

After the mens hockey games at UMD, all the reporters wait in the hallway outside of the locker room. Last week it was the last home game of the season and the hallway was complete chaos. Some of the male reporters started going into the locker room to get their interviews. I stood outside the locker room like an indecisive child.

Do I go in the locker room? Do I wait here? Am I going to see a naked butt? Can I even see a naked butt with out laughing? Get it together Lizz, you can see a naked butt without laughing. (Internal battles and pep talks are a daily occurrence).

 One of the long time sports reporters from the Duluth News Tribune then informed me that it was okay if I went in there as long as it was open to the media. (I never did enter the locker room because my interviewee came out right at that moment -- so no I never saw a naked butt. I know you were all wondering.)

I was then wondering what the rules were for professional sports versus college sports and this is what I found: "During the regular season, NCAA institutions can make their own rules about locker room availability, but during the tournament the NCAA has a uniform policy." (Steinberg)

So for now, Sainz and I can go in as many locker rooms as we see fit. What a pair...the 5'5 college student from Minnesota and the Latina Model (that'll be the day).

 \

Here's to you Mary Garber

Do you remember recess as a child when the boys would be playing football and there was always that one girl that got to play with them? It was always a mystery as to why she got to play with hot Johnny while you played four square and hoped that the football would be thrown in your direction and hot Johnny would be the one to retrieve it. With your luck it would probably be stinky farts Frank anyway so you should be thankful that ball was never thrown your way.

Stink Farts Frank

If you are still wondering how that lucky lucky girl got to be the one to play with the boys it's because she took the chance. While you and Susie sings a lot just accepted that your place was on the black top with the jump ropes and the variety pack of sidewalk chalk, that girl decided to walk onto unknown territory and find out how far the skills she knew she possessed would take her. You go girl. Mary Garber would have been proud.

Who was Mary Garber you ask?

She was living proof that women can succeed in the world of sports journalism.

 

Lookin' good Mary

According to American History t.v, Garber played football for the Buena Vista Devils in Winston-Salem, North Carolina as a young girl. That was back in 1924 when Garber was only eight-years-old. Can you imagine? Hot Johnny getting schooled by a girl. He would definitely lose some playground credibility.

Garber grew into a young lady who had a passion for sports as well as journalism. She attended college in Virginia and in 1940 became the society editor at the Twin City Sentinel. World War II gave Garber her big break. It was her time to leave the jump ropes and step onto the big boy field. With many of the men away, Garber had the opportunity to do general assignment reporting. Then the high school sports reporter graduated and the five-foot ninety pound lady stepped into his over sized shoes. When the war ended Garber was sent back to general assignment reporting. She was back on the metaphorical black top playing four square with the other little girls and she wanted badly to be back on the football field. A year later, after loads of persistence, Garber was back on the sports beat. For good.
In an article published by the New York Times, Garber started writing about sports when "the craft was essentially a man’s domain."

" Coaches often treated her with condescension, fellow sportswriters ignored her and professional associations kept her out."




“When I first started, in the ’40s, I went to one of the local colleges and I had press credentials, and they wouldn’t let me sit in the press box because women were not allowed to sit in the press box,” Miss Garber told National Public Radio in 2000. “And while I was talking with the sports information director, there was a little boy hopping up and down in the aisles in the press box, and he could sit there, but I couldn’t.”

This didn't stop Garber. She kept reporting and eventually recieved the recognition she deserved. Today The Association for Women in Sports Media (AWSM) has the Mary Garber Pioneer Award. The award "annually recognizes those who have paved the way and serve as role models for women in sports media."

Garber's role in the world of sports journalism has helped aspiring journalists like myself. Reading stories like hers adds fuel to my flame of dreams.

If you are happy singing "Down by the Valley where there green grass grows" while throwing your body into two ridiculously fast moving ropes then stick with it; be the best double dutcher out there. But, if you are sick of getting hit in the face because you can't figure out how to anticipate that second rope getting added to the mix and you want a change of pace, take a page out of Mary's book. Take a chance.

This will never be me.

When in Rome...do as the Roman women do

You're all set for the big game. You have you're big man beer, and your big man bag of chips, a jar of dip way to large for one man to ever think of finishing, but, you will do it because, you're a man. You turn on your over sized t.v and there she is, long blonde hair, sparkling white teeth, glowing skin; oh you know who I'm talking about. Erin Andrews. You settle back into your lazy boy and thank God for College Game Day on ESPN.

"Basketball? That's the one with the helmets right?"

For years women have been breaking barriers to become established in a world where men have been tyrants and flexed their muscles to save countries. More recently, women have been working to break into another world where men also have always been in control, the world of sports. How could a woman possibly talk about sports in a group of men and still keep up? In the mid-1940's this was a serious question that was thrown around while men drank a whiskey (or seven) after work and talked about the newly founded "sports on t.v."

Barbie finds her brain

When the Romans started the Olympic games and were passing the time throwing heavy things and running in circles, the women thought this looked like fun and that they should develop their own sort of "Games of Hera" or the Heraean Games. Because women couldn't develop their own sports broadcasting station alone back in the 1940's, they had to learn how to play along with the men. In 1974, Phyllis George, a beauty pageant winner was invited by CBS to become a sportscaster. She ditched her crown and heels for a sport coat and a microphone. Sure she was still blonde, still had a smile that could knock your socks off, and probably didn't eat too much McDonalds, but she was also quick-witted and knew what she was talking about. A dream for most men and an envy for some women.

I bet I could kick that football farther than you...in high heels.

So how has women in sports evolved in time? What struggles have they overcome and what are they still dealing with today? I ask these questions because I am an aspiring sports journalist. I work for the football and hockey team at my school. During the good days, I feel like my little black pumps are owning the world and the sports industry is exactly where I belong, during the bad days, I feel like my little black pumps could give a good swift kick in the rump to any man who treats me like "just a girl." My competitive edge and 0-60 temper gives me the personality of a man (attractive, I know) but my emotions and bubbly personality remind everyone that I am still a girl, unfortunately, this can be a disadvantage. I would like to know why.

In closing I would like every girl to watch this video and find a way around these "sayings"