Writing & Fighting: Roundtable with Amy Kaplan & Phoenix Carnevale

Описание: Writing & Fighting, May 6th, 2020, Roundtable Discussion with Amy Kaplan & Phoenix Carnevale, Women in MMA & MMA Media

Panel:
Amy Kaplan: Journalist, Photographer, Editor for Fansided MMA, MMAViking, SCMP_Sport
Phoenix Carnevale: MMA Broadcaster, Commentator, Host, Actress
Nancy Kidder: Professor of writing studies, American University
Tunisha Singleton, PhD, Media Psychology, Fielding Graduate University
Brian Siskind, Filmmaker, Co-host of Art Fight Podcast
Milla Kessener, Junior, American University

Topics:

-Already many barriers for women in the MMA industry. Phoenix brings up the Chris Rock quote: “See, the black man gotta fly to get to where the white man can walk.”

-The pressure to be perfect. You can’t be wrong because you’re going to be critiqued more than them.

Dress pretty...but not too pretty.

-Walking the “impossible lines.” People often mistake an open rapport for flirting. But too assertive, you’re the bitch.

-People sometimes assume women are competing for spots, but not the case.

-Sometimes feel that men in the media stick together. But then women don’t want to feel they have to always be with other women. Just want to feel good about sitting at any lunch table.

-We discussed how heavyweight UFC fighter Curtis Blaydes went on social media and took issue with -certain female fighters that he believes receive preferential treatment due to how they look, rather -than how they fight. He sighted Paige Van Zant, Rachel Ostovich, and Pearl Gonzalez as prime examples. Why is he calling this point out? Why does he feel that women using their bodies is unfair, especially when many women feel like the only way they can harbor attention is by sexualizing their image. Because fighting is not a meritocracy based on pure athleticism, perhaps he’s objecting to an unfair power dynamic?

-Why are there so few women on the next three cards? Just one fight per cardl. Is this due to less training partners with closed gyms? Or is it related to a reinforced masculinity in which men should demonstrate less fear and "not be afraid of the virus" while women should stay protected and nurture themselves and/or family members? (This may also explain why some male fighters who objected to fight during COVID have been emasculated or deemed weak.)

-We talked about gender issues with men, who may feel that they have to portray certain roles.

-And much, much more!