Lauren Silberman- Attempting to become the first professional woman player in the NFL

Lauren Silberman

Lauren Silberman was aiming to become the first woman to play in the National Football League, she was doing this in the hope that she could perhaps break down the gender barriers that had lasted since the sport became the Modern Era of the NFL in 1970.

Lauren Silberman stages pointless sideshow at regional combine

On the 4th of March 2013 Silberman did make history by becoming the first woman to try and make it into the National Football League when she took part in the regional combine in New Jersey.

She could have looked at the reporters from the 30-odd media outlets gathered at the New York Jets' facility, stared straight at the 20 television cameras filming this regional scouting combine and said:
"The NFL opened this amazing door for me. I am a young entrepreneur. I have created a product geared toward professional athletes and I would be a lousy businesswoman if I didn't seize this once-in-a-lifetime platform." - Quote taken from article on NFL.COM. The full article can be found hear along with two videos: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000146837/article/lauren-silberman-stages-pointless-sideshow-at-regional-combine

 

Lauren Silberman's bid to be NFL's first female player ends with injury

Lauren Silberman's history-making NFL tryout ended disappointingly quickly.

Silberman, the first woman to take part in a regional scouting combine sponsored by the NFL, suffered a leg injury and had to withdraw after just two kickoffs.

She pulled up after managing just 19 yards with her first kick-off and then 14 yards with her second effort. Silberman then spoke to a trainer and did not continue.

In December 2011, the barriers that prevented women from playing in the NFL were removed.

The full article can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/mar/04/lauren-silberman-woman-nfl-kicker

 

Move over Danica! Former soccer player set to make history as first woman in the NFL

Lauren Silberman, 28, will kick at an NFL regional scouting combine

It follows success of Wisconsin-born Nascar driver Danica Patrick

A 28-year-old woman from New York is set to become the first female to be given a try out for the NFL.

Lauren Silberman had never kicked anything more than a soccer ball in an organised game before she started practicing long-range field goals.

Now she has been given a chance at an NFL regional scouting combine on Sunday at the New York Jets' training facility in Florham Park, New Jersey.

 

The full article can be found here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2286432/Lauren-Silberman-Former-soccer-player-set-make-history-woman-NFL.html

The above article also clearly references Danica Patrick who is in her own right breaking down barriers within her sport, Nascar. Danica was the first women to compete within Nascar and has become successful whilst also having to face up to adversity.

 

A Football Life

I have placed these three videos here to show different images of the players to what their stereotypes are generally conceived as. Both of the above documentaries courtsey of NFL film and the NFL Network show both players doing activities outside of the sport that people wouldn't immediately think of.

The first documentary based around Ray Lewis shows him partaking in activities such as fitness classes with his daughter and visiting a terminally ill fan. The documentary shows Ray breaking down the traditional representation of gender within the sport such as that of big men who are intentionally out to hurt each other. The Ray Lewis documentary also discusses when he was charged with murder and how he had to overcome adversity to build up his reputation once more.

The second documentary shows Kurt Warner and how he has overcome adversity throughout his career so that he could play the sport he loves. The documentary also showed how he played whilst also looking after his disabled daughter which once again breaks down the original stereotype of NFL players. The documentary also highlights dedication which is something that is lacking within most sports and how he was out just to play the sport he loved.

The third documentary is based around Barry Sander who has been considered by many to be the best Running back in the history of the NFL. The documentary covers everything from his rise through high school, college and the National Football League. The documentary also highlights the relationship with his dad which was somewhat strained at times. Another feature of the documentary is the portrayal of Sanders who is portrayed as a humble man who just wanted to play the sport whilst trying to avoid the limelight as much as he could.

Introduction

I shall be looking at the representation of gender throughout American Football. I shall be doing this by looking at a variety of things such as why women have never made it to the top level of the sport on the field. I will also be going further into the sport and looking at the role of women in a variety of other reasons such as Cheerleaders. I shall also be looking at things such as the adverts that are broadcast during the Super Bowl as well as things such as the Nielsen Ratings and the costs of the game. Another feature that I shall be looking at is the difference in fans dependent on their gender. Finally I shall be looking at the Madden series of video games so that I can look at how they are marketed and whether they are marketed to attract things such as a specific gender or target demographic.