The Late Emergence of Eve

Now I would like to try and connect the idea that sportscaster are "barbies on air" (as Lou Schwartz joked) to themes or trends of the late 1990's and early 2000's that followed the idea that "sex sells".

Popular '90's trends:
- E! Television sees an audience surge in late 1990's glamorizing celebrities like Madonna and turns Marilyn Monroe in iconic figure throughout photos and quotes.
(Photo from Eonline.com)
- By 1997, the thong has gained nationwide acceptance and popularity among women.
- and finally, the fact that the number of teens and adults who have received breast augmentation since 1997 has tripled according to the National Research Center for Women and Families.
Now I am sure you are all saying that these trends have no direct correlation to the necessity of female sideline reporters today, however I feel that they do. Each of these trends shows that Americans have (through the media) gained a much greater acceptance of women expressing their sexuality.
Fore example, when Marilyn Monroe was still alive, her work was enjoyed by many, but it also faced serious criticism for her use of beauty as a "marketable commodity", as June Sochen said. When E! became popular, she was made into an instant icon of beauty and sexuality, thus making it okay for other American women to aspire to be like her.
I now believe that the emergence of accepted female sexuality in the 1990's and the early part of this decade has enabled sports productions to use the female sideline reporter as the staple for balance between competative intensity and sexuality (both of which draw a great deal of interest from viewers). Here lies the Eve of the sports broadcast system today.

Much more later on,
Blog Master Nilsen