Paige Williams
Mrs. Robinson
AP English III
4/13/08
You Play Ball like a Girl!
Sweat drips from my brow and catches on the cage of my softball helmet. I dig my right foot firmly into the orange-red clay in the batter’s box. It’s the bottom of the 7th inning, we’re the home team and there are two outs with two runners in scoring position-I have to get a hit. Blocking out the roaring crowd, the cheering dug-out, and the 0-2 score, my eyes narrow: I zone in on the pitcher.
Like the rushing waters of Niagara Falls, my blood fills with aggression, drive, and passion as it pumps through my veins. I love sports. Because of my tall statute, I take full advantage of the qualities I was blessed with when I run onto a court, jog onto a field or dive into a pool. Excelling in sports takes numerous qualities, but most importantly-confidence. Unfortunately, this confidence can be ripped away from any female athlete in seconds by another horrible word: “manly.”
In the history of our nation lies a plethora of examples of the traditional “woman.” The Victorian era (1800s) women displayed tight-fitting silhouettes decorated with delicate drapery, ridiculous ribbons, frivolous fringes and puffy puffs. On the silhouettes were small sleeves that restrained movement contributing to the depiction of the Victorian woman: helpless and weak. Throughout the years, females have been portrayed as “housewives” while their dutiful and laborious husband slaves away to put bread on the table. With all of these presumptions of the female role in society, it’s evident to expect some type of resistance when the characteristics of females are modified. (Nunn)
A common stereotype in America today is that most serious female athletes are “masculine,” “butch,” or even “dike.” History tells us that women are supposed to be cared for by their stronger- more athletic- man. Now, women are crossing the invisible gender line and altering typical male and female traits. Male traits such as aggression, tough-mindedness, and independence are being utilized by female athletes to excel in their sport. These same traits fall under the category of masculinity. Thus, if a female is gifted and athletic, she must be “masculine.” Why is it painful for heterosexual female athletes to be called these derogatory names when they have accomplished so much? We feel less attractive to the opposite gender.
Female athletes don’t want to discontinue participating in athletics where they feel passionate because of the discriminating names, but they don’t want to be sitting on the high school bus being told “I bet you could beat up most of the guys on the baseball team!” So, what do we do? Mary Jo Festle, associate professor of history at Elon University in North Carolina and author of Playing Nice: Politics and Apologies in Women’s Sports claims, “Female athletes are constantly having to prove they are not abnormal in some way” (Pappano). Anna Kournikova, a professional tennis player, and Amanda Beard, a professional swimmer , have both posed nude for Sports Illustrated Magazine (“Inside Game Gang”). Other professional female athletes take offense to these women and their photos. Perhaps they feel more feminine if they show off their hard worked bodies in the fold out magazine pages. Are these acts a way for the female athletes to defy the stereotype? This could be the case; however, I believe they are simply using their fame for additional attention. Whatever the reason may be, they certainly don’t appear “manly.”
Don’t assume that every strong, athletically gifted female athlete is homosexual or less feminine. It hurts. Don’t punish the women who work vigorously to perform to the best of their abilities. Clothes, Children, and Sports- in this day and age, all of these elements could describe a woman. It’s not the 1800s; it’s 2008 and the characteristics of women have changed- it’s time for the rest of the population to catch up!
