¶ … Heather Hundley (2004) states that determining what is naturalized in our culture can be difficult. She chooses to examine the game of golf as an expression of that and look at how the scorecards and tee markings address both men and women. It is argued that women, regardless of their ability, are treated much differently than men, for whom ability is a key issue in how they proceed on the course. In other words, women are expected to tee off from the forward or red tees, like junior golfers, regardless of the abilities that they have. Men are not given this same request, and are to tee off based on ability, not on their gender (Hundley, 2004). Hundley (2004) makes the assumption that golf is controlled by men and based on gender rather than ability (i.e. women are assumed not to be as good, regardless of whether a particular woman has proven or disproven this on the course), and that golf and the signs and words surrounding it indicate the presence of this same opinion and belief in other areas of society, as well. It becomes the classic 'women are the weaker sex' argument from many years ago.

The gist of the argument that Hundley (2004) makes is that men still spend much of their time in this 'gentlemen's game' of golf making derogatory comments to other (male) players in ways that are inappropriate and actually derogatory to females. These include comments such as suggesting that men who do not hit the ball well 'hit it with their purse,' and requesting that they 'put on a skirt and hit from the forward tees' (Hundley, 2004). While many believe that these forward tees are designed for golfers who are not yet as skilled, most scorecards and course information mark them as the 'ladies' tees.' It could be argued that this is done as a courtesy to women, to treat them fairly because they are typically not as strong as men. However, Hundley (2004) clearly feels that this is one more example of the way that Semiotics are used by a largely male-dominated society to keep women 'in their place.'

Bibliography

Hundley, Heather L. (Winter, 2004). Keeping the score: The hegemonic everyday practices in golf. Communication Reports, 17(1), 39-48