by Culley Schultz

Recently, Danica Patrick seems to have more attention on her clothing than on her extraordinary racing career. As the first woman to win the Indy 500 and a female athlete who has made a name for herself in a predominately male-driven career, this is disappointing. Even more dissatisfying is that this is not all that shocking.

First, there was the Sports Illustrated photo spread from 2009. Here, Patrick was scantily clad in bikinis or was shown taking off her racing suit without a racetrack in sight.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe Patrick is a great role model for girls aspiring to careers primarily dominated by men. She has made her mark on the racing world as one of the most powerful drivers around, female or otherwise. And on Wednesday, it is rumored that she will announce that she is moving full-time to the NASCAR Nationwide Series after racing IndyCars since 2005.

But these photos seem to call her power into question. I don’t know a single person who would think to drive a racecar in high black heels and a bikini. The photo shoot seemed to use her career as a prop to make her bikini bod look better rather than showcasing her talent behind the wheel.  The magazine is called SPORTS Illustrated. Why are Patrick’s athletic talents not the main focus in the photo shoot? A nice shot of her in her racing suit behind the wheel of her car would be more accurate and more inspiring to women. Clearly, however, this was not the main focus of the magazine.

I understand the importance of watching the magazines fly off the shelves in order to keep business booming, but the photos of Patrick, which are now all over the internet, are playing into the idea that only athletes worth attention are those who wear bikinis. If her Sports Illustrated spread wasn’t enough, her job as a spokesperson for Godaddy.com sexualizes her even further. For a website claiming they have “never been prouder” to be her sponsor, GoDaddy.com certainly takes advantage of their spokesperson’s fit figure. The lastest video features Patrick working on a car in short shorts and a tight tee for about nineteen seconds. Then, the ad suggests she ride a bull in a bikini, be a “sexy cheerleader,” or wear a sequined bikini top to advertize GoDaddy.com. There is no emphasis on her sport. Everything is focused on her looks and putting her in skimpy clothes to project a certain image.  Sadly, the GoDaddy.com videos do nothing to bolster her racing career or make her the role model she should be for girls and women everywhere.

A great video from News Distribution Network calls into question why the top grossing female athletes with the greatest number of endorsements are the women considered “sexy” by the media. Funny enough, these women–while amazing at their sports–fit into a category of body types comparable to models.  The video raises an important concern regarding the sexualization of female athletes and challenges why these women are portrayed only in certain settings with the focus rarely on their sport.

I believe more emphasis should be put on how these women are breaking down barriers in male-dominated sports and are harnessing their power so they can become the greatest in their fields. Unsurprisingly, this does not seem to be the concern of magazines such as Sports Illustrated. I applaud Danica Patrick and all female athletes for their will to succeed in their sport and their dedication to their careers and to fitness.  However, I think this should be the focus of the magazine spreads, not their bikinis.