"Games like basketball and baseball are combative sports, They develop ugly muscles-ugly muscles in girls.- as well as scowling faces and the competitive spirit. As an inevitable consequence, your girls may find it more difficult to attract the most noteworthy father for their children"
-Ina Grittings, 'Why Cramp Competition'(1931)
In the early 1930's women's bodies were constantly seen as having fundamental differences from their male counterparts. Women's bodies and social needs were structured differently than a man's so that nobody could dispute the appeal of female experts molding the nations girls. All of this was done for the progress of 'democratic sports' for women. Women's sports were taught the not competition based, individualistic, victory oriented democracy that men had always learned. They were taught to have a more equal approach to opportunity and encouraged to deny of individualistic accolades.
Fast Forward to 1972 in the United States, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is a federal law that states: "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." Title IX meant more money for women’s sports, for equipment and for practice facilities. Title IX opened doors for women because it allowed her to have a career in athletics. Title IX has helped the United States to overcome some of the social taboo’s that come with women being athletic, over the years more and more young women are encouraged to step up and play with the boys.
-Ina Grittings, 'Why Cramp Competition'(1931)
In the early 1930's women's bodies were constantly seen as having fundamental differences from their male counterparts. Women's bodies and social needs were structured differently than a man's so that nobody could dispute the appeal of female experts molding the nations girls. All of this was done for the progress of 'democratic sports' for women. Women's sports were taught the not competition based, individualistic, victory oriented democracy that men had always learned. They were taught to have a more equal approach to opportunity and encouraged to deny of individualistic accolades.
Fast Forward to 1972 in the United States, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is a federal law that states: "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." Title IX meant more money for women’s sports, for equipment and for practice facilities. Title IX opened doors for women because it allowed her to have a career in athletics. Title IX has helped the United States to overcome some of the social taboo’s that come with women being athletic, over the years more and more young women are encouraged to step up and play with the boys.
Men's Vs Women's Lacrosse
Most athletics mirror each other. For example, men's and women's soccer are both played the same. They have the same amount of players on the field, same equipment, same rules. Same for tennis, basketball (minus weight of the ball), and more. In fact, they wear similar uniforms. However for women's lacrosse, uniforms are typically a skirt and a tank top, while men wear shorts and a loose top. For lacrosse, almost every aspect of the game is different based on sex.
Let's start with a brief history of the sport. Lacrosse is an indigenous sport to the Native Americans that began in the early 1600's. Over the years, the game had been modified by Europeans that had came over. It was a ritualistic styled game that honored the creators of the game. "Apart from its recreational function, lacrosse traditionally played a more serious role in Indian culture. Its origins are rooted in legend, and the game continues to be used for curative purposes and surrounded with ceremony. Game equipment and players are still ritually prepared by conjurers, and team selection and victory are often considered supernaturally controlled." It was also exclusively just a male sport. Women playing the game was controversial (and still is). Lacrosse has always been considered a mans game, does this still hold true today?
Men's Lacrosse:
Men's lacrosse is a more aggressive game, which makes players have to wear more protection, also allowing them to play more physically, essentially, changing all aspects of the game.
Women's Lacrosse:
Women's lacrosse focuses more on the safety of players, and is a game of controlled aggression and grace.
Women's lacrosse is filled with many rules that restricts players from being too aggressive because of the lack of equipment the refs are tighter on calls. This noticeable difference often has people asking if women are being considered as a weaker sex that must be protected with rules that prohibit contact. Recently in the summer of 2016, the UWLX league was established by Digit Muphy and Aronda Kirby. The first professional women's lacrosse team in the country with four teams. The league hopes to model success for female athletes. Before establishing the UWLX, Murphy stated that the newly created women's league was unfairly judged against the successes of the mens leagues. She says, "I'm calling it the IX 2.0 if you start to work in the middle space, we will incrementally make it quicker if we don't compare ourselves to the men. Let's just build a sustainable model first."
Most athletics mirror each other. For example, men's and women's soccer are both played the same. They have the same amount of players on the field, same equipment, same rules. Same for tennis, basketball (minus weight of the ball), and more. In fact, they wear similar uniforms. However for women's lacrosse, uniforms are typically a skirt and a tank top, while men wear shorts and a loose top. For lacrosse, almost every aspect of the game is different based on sex.
Let's start with a brief history of the sport. Lacrosse is an indigenous sport to the Native Americans that began in the early 1600's. Over the years, the game had been modified by Europeans that had came over. It was a ritualistic styled game that honored the creators of the game. "Apart from its recreational function, lacrosse traditionally played a more serious role in Indian culture. Its origins are rooted in legend, and the game continues to be used for curative purposes and surrounded with ceremony. Game equipment and players are still ritually prepared by conjurers, and team selection and victory are often considered supernaturally controlled." It was also exclusively just a male sport. Women playing the game was controversial (and still is). Lacrosse has always been considered a mans game, does this still hold true today?
Men's Lacrosse:
- Deeper pocket on the head of their stick. The stick can be 40-72 inches long depending if they're a long stick or a short stick
- The field is shorter and narrower, 60 yards wide and 100 yards long.
- The game is started by doing a face off. Both men start on the ground in the center circle in order to push the ball out.
- Fouls are usually called after the scoring play has ended, players can move freely without the whistle
- Equipment includes: helmets, arm pads, chest pads, mouth guard, and hockey style gloves.
- For high school, there are four 12 periods, for college, there's, four 15 minute periods.
Men's lacrosse is a more aggressive game, which makes players have to wear more protection, also allowing them to play more physically, essentially, changing all aspects of the game.
Women's Lacrosse:
- Sticks have to be between 35.5-43.25 inches long, shallow pocket, if illegal goals are disallowed and a new checked stick has to come in.
- A lacrosse field is 110 yards long and can be from 53 1/3 to 60 yards wide. The goals are 80 yards apart with a playing area of 15 yards behind each goal.
- Protective gear is a mouth guard, eye goggles, (goalies are fully padded) optional head gear.
- Sticks are checked before every game for length, diameter, and a legal pocket. Sticks are checked after each goal.
- Many rules differ such as: not being allowed to move on the whistle, position of stick on defense, dangerous plays (following through on a shot, check to close to the head) being 4 meters away from player when the ref calls a foul, proper checking technique, and more.
- For high school, there's two 25 minute halves, for college, there's two 30 minute halves.
Women's lacrosse focuses more on the safety of players, and is a game of controlled aggression and grace.
Women's lacrosse is filled with many rules that restricts players from being too aggressive because of the lack of equipment the refs are tighter on calls. This noticeable difference often has people asking if women are being considered as a weaker sex that must be protected with rules that prohibit contact. Recently in the summer of 2016, the UWLX league was established by Digit Muphy and Aronda Kirby. The first professional women's lacrosse team in the country with four teams. The league hopes to model success for female athletes. Before establishing the UWLX, Murphy stated that the newly created women's league was unfairly judged against the successes of the mens leagues. She says, "I'm calling it the IX 2.0 if you start to work in the middle space, we will incrementally make it quicker if we don't compare ourselves to the men. Let's just build a sustainable model first."
"Athletic contests help define what we mean in America by “success.” By keeping women from “playing with the boys” on the false assumption that they are inherently inferior, society relegates them to second-class citizens. In this forcefully argued book, Eileen McDonagh and Laura Pappano show in vivid detail how women have been unfairly excluded from participating in sports on an equal footing with men. Using dozens of powerful examples–girls and women breaking through in football, ice hockey, wrestling, and baseball, to name just a few–the authors show that sex differences are not sufficient to warrant exclusion in most sports, that success entails more than brute strength, and that sex segregation in sports does not simply reflect sex differences, but actively constructs and reinforces stereotypes about sex differences. For instance, women’s bodies give them a physiological advantage in endurance sports, yet many Olympic events have shorter races for women than men, thereby camouflaging rather than revealing women’s strengths."
-Laura Pappano, Eileen McDonagh 'Playing with the boys: Why Separate is Not Equal in Sports'
Since title IX has been in action (1972) immense progress has been made. Most sports teams follow the principle of “separate but equal”; meaning that men and women do not play on the same teams or play with each other, but they are still considered 'equal'. In respect to equality, sometimes it is required that there be acknowledgement of differences. Although the separation of men and women in sports may appear to some as discrimination, women’s separation from men can be beneficial and can encourage equality among athletes. Men trump women in most physical aspects, but that doesn't mean women don't have the same strong desire to win and work hard. Separation in sport is not a bad thing. However the reaction to the 'separate but equal' claim is.
Positive:
The most common argument against gender integration in sports; integrated sports teams shouldn’t exist because men are 'stronger than women'. As a culture we expect gender segregation to be fought against, weather it be the work place, educational spaces, or social spheres. So why is that every space is evolving but sports? Women and men different anatomical, obviously. Different hormones impact height, weight, muscle mass, and aerobic capacity. However, over the years, women's performances have increased while men's have stayed the same. The gender gap has in some aspects stabilized since 1983 because women have been given access to better coaches, opportunities, equipment, and training facilities designed specifically for them. Women's sports has gradually allowed access to social privileges which have made them better athletes, and there could yet be undiscovered factors at play that could make the gap even smaller.
“When girls like football, I think it’s OK. But I think that the level of women’s football is too low to take it seriously.” — Andrey Arshavin, professional soccer player
“Women should be in the discotheque, the boutique, and the kitchen, but not in football.” — Ron Atkinson, former soccer player and manager
We want our women to be more successful in sports, and give them more opportunities to succeed, however, when a woman wants to take her abilities to the next level the reaction from the public can be very negative.
-Laura Pappano, Eileen McDonagh 'Playing with the boys: Why Separate is Not Equal in Sports'
Since title IX has been in action (1972) immense progress has been made. Most sports teams follow the principle of “separate but equal”; meaning that men and women do not play on the same teams or play with each other, but they are still considered 'equal'. In respect to equality, sometimes it is required that there be acknowledgement of differences. Although the separation of men and women in sports may appear to some as discrimination, women’s separation from men can be beneficial and can encourage equality among athletes. Men trump women in most physical aspects, but that doesn't mean women don't have the same strong desire to win and work hard. Separation in sport is not a bad thing. However the reaction to the 'separate but equal' claim is.
Positive:
- recognition of hard work through achievements
- faithful fan base
- compares men and women
- less revenue for women
- because of this, women are paid less
The most common argument against gender integration in sports; integrated sports teams shouldn’t exist because men are 'stronger than women'. As a culture we expect gender segregation to be fought against, weather it be the work place, educational spaces, or social spheres. So why is that every space is evolving but sports? Women and men different anatomical, obviously. Different hormones impact height, weight, muscle mass, and aerobic capacity. However, over the years, women's performances have increased while men's have stayed the same. The gender gap has in some aspects stabilized since 1983 because women have been given access to better coaches, opportunities, equipment, and training facilities designed specifically for them. Women's sports has gradually allowed access to social privileges which have made them better athletes, and there could yet be undiscovered factors at play that could make the gap even smaller.
“When girls like football, I think it’s OK. But I think that the level of women’s football is too low to take it seriously.” — Andrey Arshavin, professional soccer player
“Women should be in the discotheque, the boutique, and the kitchen, but not in football.” — Ron Atkinson, former soccer player and manager
We want our women to be more successful in sports, and give them more opportunities to succeed, however, when a woman wants to take her abilities to the next level the reaction from the public can be very negative.
When women do show athletic ability in sports, they are stripped of their feminism, or told to 'get back to the kitchen' . If you follow ESPN on twitter yo know when they tweet about women's sports it is far and few. (Espn actually has ESPNW, the W is pink, just for women's sports) A lot of the comments from these posts are negative, some replies 'I'd rather watch professional lawn mowing than a women's match'. There was once a post of a women's basketball game, and the thread of comments mostly read 'That doesn't look like a kitchen' or 'irrelevant'.
Women are criticized just for doing their job. Sports are just for men, women are simply an outside spectator to the realm. Even though this video focuses on female reporters in the sports field, it still reflects women athletes. For some athletes, reporters after games will focus on the athletes love life, the outfit they are wearing, or how they looked while they played. All of these unimportant aspects are highlighted, rather than the obvious athletic talent the individual or team had. Yes, men and women are separate, but they don't have to be treated as so.
#covertheathlete is a campaign set out to show the blatantly sexist questions women are asked surrounding sports. They aired this video showing professional male athletes such as Michael Phelps and Sydney Crosby getting asked questions female athletes get asked frequently. As seen by the men's reactions, these questions are quite ridiculous and take away from a women's hard work. the reaction of the men is typically one with surprise, laughter, or they are aggressively taken back. As they should be. These questions take away from a women's talent and refocuses it on unimportant information. If we want to take women's sports seriously, then they should be given serious questions. If we want to progress physically, we have to progress socially too. Just as the campaign suggests, cover the athlete.
“It’s not our fault that we were born girls. We just want to play too,” said Lisa Leslie, former professional women’s basketball star. Leslie believes the discussion of Title IX and women’s issues needs to be inclusive of men. Due to social and cultural norms, men have the power to make decisions that can improve the status of women. Leslie emphasized this in her speech, saying, “We have to make a social change together.”Even though Title IX was passed over 40 years ago, there is much more that has to be done.