02/02/22: Today is much more than groundhogs day it is National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). It is a day set aside for the observance held during the first week of February to acknowledge the accomplishments of female athletes, recognize the influence of sports participation for women and girls, and honor the progress and continuing struggle for equality for women in sports. Females have come a long way in our society and in sports but sadly still have a long way to go. And we should observe and honor their achievements not just one day a year but always!
Women in society were usually seen as second-class citizens, as evidenced by the fact that it took the 19th amendment in 1920 just to get them the right to vote. They were expected to stay at home, cook and clean, and do what the man said. In many countries and societies today this is still the way it is. And in the great old United States of America, there is still a vast difference between males and females especially when it comes to athletics.
As the males hit the spacious modern locker room after a football game the cheerleaders head back to soliciting friends and family for donations to be able to keep on cheering. They have to raise finances for their program so they can afford transportation and uniforms to events while the football teams have to decide which of their multiple uniforms to wear next week.
Many cynics will say, “well the football team brings in lots of money.” Well, good, they can share with other sports then. Is it the girl’s fault no one comes to their basketball games or other sports? Even when a women’s sports team is playing lights out and for championships, you don’t see many people in the crowd. It’s usually family and friends but even the students don’t support them. But a boy’s losing basketball team or average one even will pack the gym.
Female athletes don’t get the followers, the gear, the spectators, or the coverage that they deserve. And it’s not fair especially since they work just as hard as male athletes do, if not harder.
And where does this behavior come from? It is learned from parents and the media. And then as boys get older they pass their sexist attitudes down the line. Not everyone is like this thankfully but sadly many are. Many of the young men who don’t respect women’s sports couldn’t play those sports. They couldn’t handle the coordination and skill it takes to play certain sports like field hockey and others.
Many of the sexist attitudes carry over into derogatory statements where they will judge girls playing sports as all lesbians. I’ve heard it all and have seen quite a bit of this and it’s disgusting. What if the girls judged wrestlers or football players like that? What if they spoke about guys grappling and holding other guys in their sports as gay? It would not be looked upon favorably at all and I’m sure punishment would be handed down to them.
There is still a big distance between the equality of girls’ sports. In 1972 the divide was lessened with the introduction of Title IX by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Title IX 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.
This was a very good program but many have found ways around it. Many schools throughout America will let certain girls’ teams/sports compete with their school name and logo but will call it a “club team” so they have to 100% finance themselves. Many of these communities where this is done are not poor areas, they are very financially well off so there is no real legitimate excuse for this.
We should honor and respect women and girls not just in sports one day a year but always and we should always respect women and girls in our mainstream society always and support them and build them up in all they do. Always!