Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: angry

Let the Sexists Forfeit

In order to keep a girl from playing football, two opposing teams threatened to forfeit if she was allowed to play.  There's a petition against this. 

Better idea?  Don't give in to the fucking sexists by benching girls.  LET THEM FORFEIT.  If all the schools with mixed-sex sports teams did this, the sexists would either have to play them, or substantially get shut out of sports.  Catering to that kind of nonsense is utterly unacceptable.
Tags: activism, education, entertainment, gender studies
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  • 20 comments
...go 3 levels up... Expand
msstacy13

msstacy13

January 17 2012, 18:22:15 UTC 9 years ago

I don't know about North Carolina,
but...
Well, let us suppose the woman in question is pregnant,
and miscarriages subsequent to a tackle.
In some states, the players who tackled her
could be charged with a felony.

If I were a coach, I would be hesitant
to expose my players to that risk.
ysabetwordsmith

Well...

ysabetwordsmith

January 18 2012, 08:47:29 UTC 9 years ago

Boys who want to play football may also conceal a health condition which would make such activity risky. Sometimes it gets them injured or killed. This does not make most people say that boys should not play football.

msstacy13

Re: Well...

msstacy13

January 18 2012, 15:02:26 UTC 9 years ago

I don't mean the risk to the woman,
I mean the possibility of other players
being sued for things they would normally do.

I'm repeating myself here,
but I think I should:
I'm not opposed to women playing football,
either in this instance or in general,
but I think anyone who supports the idea
must be aware of the two concerns I've raised,
because they are possible, and if they did occur,
it would be a serious setback.
But more imporantly, they are legitimate concerns,
and so long as prejudiced people can raise legitimate concerns
to support their prejudices, it lends legitimacy to their prejudices.

In the name-calling example,
I chose the word "pussy" because it IS something football players call each other,
and it's something a female player might construe as sexual harrassment.
So, other than reminding us that we knew playing football
involves risk, how do you intend to address this concern?
Likewise, if a few players find themselves facing felony charges
in a spontaneaous miscarriage case,
what consolation will you offer them?

You mentioned the Red Tails recently.
When Eleanor Roosevelt insisted that they be given combat assignments,
she knew that if they failed, she, personally, would have to explain
to the parents of the lost bomber crews, to the War Department,
and to the Republicans in Congress, why she had thought it was a good idea.
She didn't simply say that black men could fly,
and didn't simply circulate a petition to that effect.