Powerful Girls
The rights of females have improved from what they were in the past, but in regards to girls in sports they have to question whether they can play with boys who are at their level. This issue of whether girls can play with boys has become more relevant as females have been striving for complete equality compared to males. Females, from the past, have worked diligently to reserve these rights so the younger generation do not have to experience what older generations did. The thought of girls playing with boys circles the United States, from small cities with less population to large cities with high population, because every city has talented girls who need athletic challenges. Girls and boys should play together in sports because
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Kris Lines stated, “where height, weight and skill levels allow there is no psychological reason why girls and boys should not be allowed to play on the same team (Lines).” Age also plays into a factor because girls will always have someone to talk to about sports or even life (“I was the most…”). For example, a girl is sitting by herself and a boy walks over, who is two months older or younger than her, and they have a lengthy, passionate conversation about sports. On the other hand, a girl is sitting by herself and a boy walks over, who is two years younger than her, and they have a short, awkward conversation about sports. Furthermore, the goal for women is to have “equal pay for comparable work” with men (Women Rights). On top of that, girls should not be put down simply because they are female, like a twelve year old girl who just wanted to play basketball with boys (Holl). In other words, girls should get equal benefit from sports as boys do if they allow themselves to do input the same amount of effort. Surely girls should be given the rights before a stronger issue of discrimination on females hit the …show more content…
Jessie had more skills than at least one-fourth of the boys on the team, giving her the right to play according to Title IX. In Summary, Title IX became a law to give girls the same opportunities as boys to play sports (Grady). In addition, “Title IX gives women opportunities in nondiscriminatory ways (Holdsworth).”Jessie needed the opportunity to play with boys so she did not have to play at a lower level with girls, giving her no benefit. Some benefits consist of a higher self esteem and a stronger sense of community or purpose when playing on a higher level team (Holdsworth). Girls, like Jessie, who want to play on a mix team will develop knowledge and ability at a faster rate when playing on a mix team than they do on a girls only team (Lines). Jessie is one of hundreds of girls who deserves to play with boys because of the benefits and
Boys- and more and more girls-who accept Jock Culture values often go on to flourish in a competitive sports environment that requires submission to authority, winning by any means necessary and group cohesion,” says Robert Lipsyte. In Kate Nolan’s article, boys are only allowed to play sports. Kate Nolan mentions, “A lot of people like to justify women’s supporting role in sports media by saying, “Well, they’ve never played the game, so they just aren’t qualified to speak about it.” Women are known to not play football because coaches never give them the chance to try. Another difference is Bill Stowe.
...ach step in athletics for women is a fight. Title IX did not solve all the problems as colleges and schools across the country have an equal number of sports for men and women. Over time women's athletics have acquired this image that is negative and often times drives women away from playing sports at all. We need to change this negative image so more women will be conformable doing the sports they love. Women playing un-traditional sports are a start in this process. Along with the cost of playing non-traditional sports that are sometimes harmful, there will be a benefit no matter the consequences. The benefit of women playing freely, without the fear of being judged or hurt by other people is a benefit that is superior than all the obstacle women go through. It is my hope that someday women will be able to play freely, and in hopes in having fun playing the game.
Girls are told to stay indoors and play with their dolls or bake, while boys are encouraged to go outdoors, get dirty, and be adventurous. Wade and Ferree also state “sports are squarely on the masculine side of the gender binary” (Wade and Ferree, 174). Hence, we are brought up with the understanding that playing and talking about sports is a boy’s thing, which further promotes the notion that sports are a very masculine thing. Furthermore, as playing sports is competitive and is a way to show excellence, young boys are considered as “real boys” and “real men” later on. However, when boys do not talk about or play sports, they are considered feminine or “not real men.” The same rule applies for young girls. If young girls are too into sports, they are considered to be “too masculine.” This is true for me too. When I was younger, I was told to not play too much outdoors and to behave “like a girl.” The stigma that only boys should be allowed to play sports and it is not a feminine thing needs to be erased for us to welcome a more gender-equal
Despite the struggle for success, males and females who choose to play sports that are non-traditional to their gender benefit socially and culturally. Those athletes who dare to compete are paving the way towards a society where gender acceptance and equality exist. However, for every benefit, there is generally a cost. In the world of sports, it is fairly obvious that people have experienced many costs including insults, ridicule, and lack of acceptance, but the benefits gained are much more vital to sports and the future of athletics. Competing in sports that are non-traditional to one's gender can only make society stronger, and our culture more unified.
On a more personal level, it has been my observation that up until the junior high level both boys and girls are actively engaged in sports, but once the boys start to get bigger, the adults in the society become apprehensive about allowing mixed gender play. I feel as though society has a tough time embracing the possibility that women might get hurt if they play sports. It is at this point in a student's career that a great division occurs, all of a sudden innocent games become strictly regulated and boys and girls are separated.
Since 1972, sports have slowly undergone major changes that prove well today. Title IX has helped girls and women have more of an advantage on the athletic fields. “The Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 says that no person in the United States, based on gender, can be excluded from participating, denied benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any educational program.” (Athletics). It allows for both men and women to play sports whether it is a girl on the football or wrestling team, a boy cheerleading, or even gymnastics. Title IX builds confidence, has helped women have a chance in sports, and has equal opportunities for both sexes.
Gender in sports has been a controversial issue ever since sports were invented. In the early years, sports were played only by the men, and the women were to sit on the sidelines and watch. This was another area of life exemplifying the sexism of people in which women were not allowed to do something that men could. However, over the last century in particular, things have begun to change.
In the world of sports it started off that girls could never play sports and then in 1972 a public law called Title IX came to existence which allowed girls to play sports but not with boys. Today the question is asked should girls play on boys’ sports teams? One would think that girls should not play with boys on a sports team because boys are just naturally taller and stronger than women and they would dominate the girls in a fully contact sport. Another may think that if a girl is truly capable to play on an all boys’ sports team, then she should not be denied the opportunity to try out for an all boys’ team. Some other people may believe that sports at younger ages should remain co-ed because boys and girls body types are still similar, but once boys and girls are in high school sports should separate based on gender. Females and Males are equal but not in physical stature, having a girl on an all boys team will negatively change the dynamics/flow of a game, having the best girl player on an all boy’s team will hurt the girls’ sports teams. So sports should strictly stay separated between males and females.
Giving women an equal opportunity to play against men will change the norm of women in sports and this can be seen as better because both genders will truly be viewed as equals. Women will also have more opportunities to play various sports that are exclusive to men, such as football and baseball. Brake also included numerous reasons why sports should be gender segregated.
The role of women in society is often debated. In many ancient cultures, women were not granted the same rights that men had. When it comes to Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, women had very similar roles yet vastly different influences on society. The myths of these cultures helps us to see exactly what those differences are. This paper will examine the role and perceptions of women in Greek society and Roman society as exemplified by the mythology that guided these societies.
For most of human history, athletic competition has been regarded as an exclusively masculine affair. Women weren't aloud to watch most sporting events let alone participate in them. Not till late 19th century did women really begin participating in sporting events. Although women were permitted to participate in many sports, relatively few showed interest, for a variety of social and psychological reasons that are still poorly understood. Title IX declares: "No person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal aid." Therefore sex should not deem females athletic ability as inferior in comparison to men. Women are physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of playing any sport just as men are.
Gender inequality in the United States is a serious problem, and it is often overlooked. It is a big issue, especially within sports. We live in a society where our culture prefers men 's sports over women 's. Labeling activities as feminine and masculine is a social construction based on stereotyped expectations regarding gender and perceived gender differences (McCullick, 2012). In 1972 Title IX was passed stating that, no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. This opened up athletics to women and girls (Education Amendment Act of 1972, 1972). Although
The type of sport adolescents choose to participate in can be considered masculine, feminine, or neutral which causes stereotypes among peers. Society has set the stereotypes for competitive sports based on gender. According to Alley & Hick (2005), “despite legal and social changes, sexist ideology still pervades sport” (p.273). Sports are seen as masculine, male dominated, and males receive higher media coverage and pay than the majority of female sports. The gender stereotype is learned through socialization and “for certain sports appear to be learned by grade school” (Alley & Hicks, 2005. p. 274). Gender role conflicts may appear in some athlete depending on the sport(s) one chooses to participate in, but this can alter by demonstrating acceptance for the opposite gender in sports. It is important to indentifying the social effects of sports participation in both genders and how beneficial it can be to the adolescent. Through sports participation adolescents learn those gender roles are based on self-perception, and not social interactions.
It would appear, from the outside, that men's sport will forever have all of the advantages, all of the rewards, all of the prestige, while women's sport is left to perpetual inequality. Yet, not only are there sports that are considered "non-traditional" for both sexes, the obvious majority of these sports are "traditionally" recognized as women's sports. While there may be a very small number of teams of male synchronized swimmers or synchronized ice-skaters, there are virtually no integrated teams. Of the number of sports considered non-traditional for women, among them football and wrestling, women have gradually opened the door into these sports. In most states, girls even have the right to participate on boys' sports teams if there is no girls' team or even a girls' team which plays by the same rules because of the historical limitations on women's sports.
Ann, 2007, pg. 57), however this is not true. This mentality causes males to resent the female athletes, thus rendering it even more difficult for them to succeed. Without a shift in gender ideology, females will continue to face adversity, regardless of the amount of change that has occurred over the last 30 years. There does not need to be equality between the genders within sports, however equity must be seen, with the perception of the abilities that female athletes possess not being compared to that of males. This would aid males to not feel as threatened by females participating in sports and physical