Just a few weeks ago, headlines went viral about the undeniable success of “Dennis Rodman’s daughter,” and her athletic prowess. At 18 years of age, Trinity Rodman, a name all her own, became the youngest player to be drafted in the National Women’s Soccer Leagues (NWSL).
On merit alone, her accomplishment is worthy of attention, especially in a league rich in outstanding athletic talent. However, as Trinity is the daughter of NBA champion Dennis Rodman, her lineage has the potential to overshadow her personal accomplishments. In fact, when asked to remark on her own feelings about being recognized as “Dennis Rodman’s daughter,” Trinity stated that her father was “an amazing athlete, and I got those genes from him, but I’m excited to be known as Trinity Rodman and not just (Dennis) Rodman’s daughter.”
Some might argue that the price of having a famous parent is that your accomplishments are not solely your own. Rather they are a reflection of their talents. Others may argue that the children of famous parents who follow in their footsteps should be grateful for the clout that comes from their name as it can boost their reputation.
On the surface, such comments seem innocuous, and even reasonable. After all, who doesn’t enjoy an added benefit?
Unfortunately, the ways that certain types of language are deployed to describe women athletes are often steeped in subtle sexism and/or misogyny. Sexism, of course, refers to the prejudice, stereotyping or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex. Misogyny refers to the dislike/contempt/ingrained prejudice against women.
Some might say that I am making a “mountain out of a mole hill” in regards to the media referring to Trinity Rodman firstly as “Dennis Rodman’s daughter,” and an outstanding athlete second. But hear me out.
Modern sports in the U.S. were originally created for white, heterosexual men. Over time, sports slowly evolved and allowed others, often reluctantly, to participate. This participation, we must remember, was often facilitated by struggle. African Americans combated racism for acceptance in sports. Women battled sexism, and of course Black, Brown and other POC fought both.
Sports has long mirrored society and the culture it exists in. The ills that plague American culture (i.e., racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, etc.) also run rampant within sports. When it comes to sexism in particular, this is often reinforced by the various ways in which women athletes tend to be referred to by their proximity to the men in their lives rather than their given names. The multiple news sources that discussed the tremendous accomplishments of Trinity Rodman—who plays a completely different sport than her father—is but one example among many.
During the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszu dominated the 400-meter individual medley in record-breaking fashion. Yet rather than using her name (some outlets referred to her as the ‘Iron Lady,’ but that’s an issue for another op-ed), NBC announcer Dan Hicks commented on her victory by noting that “the man responsible” for the record-breaking performance was her husband/coach. While it’s undeniable that coaches, spouses, supporters and the like contribute to an athlete’s success, Hosszu’s husband/coach was not the one in the pool breaking records.
She was.
Similarly, while Dennis Rodman was an all-star NBA athlete in his prime, he most certainly wasn’t the youngest woman to be recruited to NWSL. WWE wrestler Charlotte Flair, who, per wwe.com, “has won more Women’s Titles than any other athlete in WWE history”, is much more than simply Ric Flair’s daughter.
Coded Language
Women athletes are responsible for their successes. Their efforts should be recognized as theirs, rather than diluted by crediting the men in their lives with their success. Referring to sportswomen as wives, mothers, and daughters is coded language, sexist, and operates to reinforce heterosexism.
With the introduction of women into modern sports, the common refrain was that they would lose their womanhood and become more like men by playing the games that were once meant only for boys/men. Coded language is deeply embedded within our society. The media’s tactic of using loaded wording reinforces misconceptions of race, gender, class, and sexuality. Their deployment of words like “thugs,” and “urban area violence,” conjures up images of Black men in inner cities. When it comes to women, their attention is focused upon social roles (wife, daughter) and physical attributes (body type) rather than athletic achievement.
We live in a society that continues to primarily privilege the narratives and experiences of men, heterosexuals, cis gender, and oftentimes, white individuals. Despite the shift in sports demographics and the implementation of laws such as Title IX, the marginalization of those who are perceived as “other” remains intact.
Sportswomen deserve to live outside of the shadows of the men within their orbit. Their success should be attributed to them and not defined by male influence.
Trinity Rodman deserves to “pave her own path and get better throughout [her] journey,” because she is a star on her own merit. She understands that her father will always be a topic when it comes to her success. She doesn’t deny that. But she also makes sure everyone is aware that, as she told The Guardian, her mother is actually her role model.
So, when reflecting on the success of a sportswoman, do the right thing.
Call them by their name.
