Standing Upright
Definition: Athlete has both feet firmly on the floor with no knee bend in his or her knee and back (Only includes individuals in static display).
Athlete: Dwight Howard, NBA Basketball Player
Photographer: Year of Photoshoot: 2009 Source: ESPN Body Issue
Expectations: Male
Findings: Men: standing upright in 25% of photos Women: standing upright in 7% of photos
My findings are consistent with Goffman’s theory as men were portrayed standing upright nearly four times more often than women. Goffman theorizes men would be displayed in a standing upright position as opposed to lying down/seated, showing that men are powerful and in control. This portrayal conveys a sense of dominance and connection. The fact that women were portrayed standing upright in only 7% of photos reinforces traditional gender roles in which women are expected to be submissive and passive, while men are expected to be dominant and active.
Lying Down/Seated:
Definition: An athlete is seated or lying down on his or her back or chest (Only includes individuals in static display).
Athlete: Swin Cash, WNBA Basketball Player
Photographer: Carlos Serrao: Year of Photoshoot: 2013: Source: ESPN Body Issue
Expectations: Female
Findings: Women: lying down in 25% of the photos. Men: lying down in 3% of photos
My findings support Goffman’s theory that women are often depicted in a position of vulnerability and submissiveness in advertisements. In the photos analyzed, women were shown lying down or seated in a vulnerable position nearly 9 times more often than men. According to Goffman’s gender display theory, this type of portrayal reinforces traditional gender roles in which women are expected to be passive and submissive. The prevalence of women lying down or seated reinforces the societal expectation that women should be soft, delicate, and in need of protection, while men are seen as strong and dominant.
Bashful Knee Bend:
Definition: Athlete appears unstable or off balanced knee bend, i.e knee in air (Only includes individuals in static display).
Athlete: Daniela Hantuchova, professional tennis player
Expectations: Female
Women: Bashful knee bend in 5% of photos. Men: Bashful knee bend in 0% of photos
My findings align with Goffman’s gender display theory as women were portrayed with a bashful knee bend almost five times more than men. Goffman theorizes that women are often displayed in poses that suggest submissiveness, vulnerability, and passivity. The bashful knee bend is a pose that emphasizes femininity and vulnerability, and it is often used to convey a sense of shyness, appeasement, and off balanced.
Photographer: Jeff Lipsky Year of photoshoot: 2012 Source: https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/27400369/the-body-issue#!daniela_hantuchova
Grounded Knee Bend:
Definition: Balanced knee bend with athlete having two feet firmly on the ground with a little to slight knee bend in leg(s).
Athlete: Evander Kane, NHL Hockey Player
Photographer: Eric Lutzens: Year of photoshoot: 2019: Source: ESPN Body Issue
Expectations: Male
Men: Grounded knee bend in 27% of photos. Women: Grounded knee bend in 25% of photos
My findings are consistent with Goffman’s theory as men were grounded on two feet with a slight knee bend slightly more than women. This conveys a sense of power, control, and stability. Also it creates an impression of strength and readiness for action, which is consistent with traditional masculine ideals of assertiveness and dominance.
Submissive:
Definition: Athlete is seen submitting or yielding to the authority or control of another person. Athlete is seen in a position that can be taken advantage of, often times lying down or seated without any attention to anything going on around them. Can be seen in postures conveying either respect to someone/thing else or how they are being controlled by someone/something.
Athlete: Elena Delle Donne, WNBA Basketball Player
Photographer: Carlos Serrao, Year of photoshoot: 2016, Source: ESPN Body Issue
Expectation: Female;
Findings: Women: Submissive in 11% of photos. Men: Submissive in 0% of photos.
My findings are consistent with Goffman’s gender display theory as women were portrayed as submissive in 11% of photos, compared to 0% for men. Goffman theorizes that women would be displayed in submissive positions to reinforce traditional gender roles in which women are expected to be passive and submissive. This portrayal conveys a sense of submissiveness and powerlessness, and reinforces the notion that women are expected to be in positions of lower power and agency than men.