The NBA’s first (and only) female scout

posted by One Sport Voice
Friday, April 22, 2011 at 7:12pm EDT

Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi: This blog reflects my critical eye and voice on all things sport. I am a critical thinker, scholar, and researcher in girls & women in sport, youth sport, and coach & sport parent education.

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Bonnie Jill Laflin

Okay…here you go readers….

A graduate student sent me breaking news this morning (thanks EH!) about a picture and article of the first and only female NBA scout. She is pictured here in a PETA ad.

I’m not 100% certain, but I’m guessing PETA has not featured any naked male NBA scouts.

The question constantly comes up and I’m beginning to think about this more seriously, “Why would Ms. Laflin choose to let herself be portrayed like this?” What is her motivation to pose or be featured in this particular way? Why be naked? Can she get her message across with more clothes on? Why do we really need a sexuliazed image of a female to encourage people to become a vegetarian? This is definitely an example of how sex can “sell” just about ANYTHING!!!….or at least we perceive it does. The double meanings behind the text and image are rich.

Other questions to consider. Does being featured like this as the ONLY female scout for the NBA pave the way for future female scouts to be perceived as knowledgeable and legitimate? Did Laflin think about how this picture might undermine her credibility as an NBA scout? Will this encourage little girls to want to go into professional sport scouting as a career? So many questions….

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There is 1 comment on this post. Join the discussion!

hoopfeed says:

She is not the first female NBA scout. Jenny Boucek, who is now an assistant coach for the WNBA Seattle Storm, was a scout for the now-defunct Seattle SuperSonics.
http://www.wnba.com/coachfile/jenny_boucek/

Friday, April 22, 2011 at 7:29pm EDT

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The NBA’s first (and only) female scout

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