Christine Ohuruogu: Reality TV culture hits push for women in sport
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Britain's "reality TV culture" is acting as a barrier to young women getting involved in sport according to Christine Ohuruogu, the world and former Olympic 400m champion.
Ohuruogu spoke out as a committee of MPs held its first inquiry into the unique problems facing women's sport. The limited number of young women participating in sport is a growing concern, especially as it has not enjoyed a significant post-Olympic boost.
"We wonder how come the Olympic Games, the biggest competition in the world, came to London and it's not gained much traction," Ohuruogu told the BBC. "[It is] because there are bigger and better images that are grabbing these young people's attention.
"It's not their fault, it's our fault – it's the media's fault, the TV, magazines, the setting out these images of what women should be like and how life is going to be.
"It's about this reality TV culture that we have, where you see girls who are perfectly dressed, perfect hair, perfect nails. I don't want to put everyone in the same box, but a lot of these young women aspire to this lifestyle: get rich, get famous, do the bare minimum and life is great.
"On the other hand sport is saying work hard, be determined. When you see who won gold at London 2012 – the likes of Jessica Ennis-Hill, Victoria Pendleton – we have a whole host of women who have been working for a long time, for years, and it's not been easy. It's been hard work."
Today the Culture, Media and Sport select committee heard evidence from the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation that 80 per cent of women are not doing enough exercise to stay healthy. A lack of media coverage for women's sport is seen as part of the problem. According to the WSFF only five per cent of media coverage is devoted to women's sport.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments