Women's athletic events are seen as less exciting, with very few exceptions. Those exceptions include (but for the record are not limited to) volleyball, gymnastics, softball, and field hockey; these are seen as woman-dominated sports. Through discussion I found that the perception as to why men do not watch Women's sports is not based on the fact that there are women playing, rather the issue is that their abilities aren't seen as exciting enough. Let's turn to rugby for a moment, since this is an area that illustrates this point well. The first difference noted between watching a Women's rugby match, and a Men's rugby match is that the ball is on the ground more often in Women's matches. Also, there is less variety in tactical kicking which spectators find to be one of the aspects of the game that brings the most excitement. What then is the cause of this? Why don't women rugby players perform in a more exciting fashion? For argument's sake, we will ignore physiological differences on the basis of biology.
I propose that training has something to do with the performance. (Fair assessment, no?). In talking to some Women's rugby players I got a insider's view into the teaching and coaching process. The most noticeable difference in teaching the feminine player vs the masculine player lies in the very fundamental element of the game. Just holding the ball becomes an issue with the feminine player as there is greater emphasis placed on it than with the masculine. When asked of her first day experience, Alicia Wiles (a new prospect for the UNC Charlotte e\Women's team) told me of what she felt was the reasoning behind this. Her point, which was reinforced by a fellow woman rugger was that “this is a new sport, with a new ball. The ball looks like it needs to be handled differently, so I was hesitant on what to do”. This uncertainty carried over into many other aspects of performance as well.
The “ruck”, one of the key aspects of Rugby, takes will, focus, precision, technique, determination, and for the individual involved to be goal oriented. When a player is tackled, they go to the ground, present the ball to their team, and a ruck forms over them. The purpose of the ruck is to secure the ball and maintain possession(if you're in possession), or contest for possession. I bring this up because it is essential to have this in mind as you watch a player going into the ruck. Having observed from personal experience male players new to the ruck as they first attempt it, I notice that there is almost always a penalty committed. Simply put, it is done wrong (not to put down their efforts). There is the right amount of intensity, but the right technique is not there. Now according to Arlene Mehelich, a member of UNC Charlotte's own Women's Rugby Team, when teaching new girls how to ruck there is a lot of standing about. “They do everything right up until the part where they are standing above the fallen ball carrier. In an offensive ruck, the ball is secure but they stand there swaying back and forth ready to do something, but looking at each other not knowing what to do next. While watching one of their practices, I've observed that in a defensive ruck, -**this is more demonstrative of the point I'm trying to make right now**- if the ruck is set (even if the defense has won) the offense often maintains possession. How can this be? Why, when you've won the ruck, do you not regain possession? Well the inexperienced masculine player, while learning, tends to pick up the ball from a ruck even when he's not supposed to. They also tend to approach the ruck from the wrong “entrance”, push with the hands as opposed to the shoulders, and join a ruck in a standing position which renders them practically useless. The feminine player however usually is more successful in forming the ideal ruck. The technique is there, body position for the most part is appropriate, however the main objective (THE BALL!!!) is not always the point of focus. The objective of rucking is secondary to the desire to do everything correctly.
What is it that makes the feminine player so concerned with their own body position on the field to the point where the ball itself is forgotten? Why is the feminine athlete so concerned with * looking good * on the field? Nina Hobbs a runner for the UNCC Track Team believed that this was a result of an aim to please. “This doesn't really apply to me, but I notice that they're trying really hard to do everything right to get that 'pat on the back'”. Even when coaching feminine athletes, there is a difference in approach. The training is seen as less intense, and from what came up in discussion, it... kind of has to be. In analysis of Iris Young's “Throwing Like A Girl”, it appears as if there is a perpetual spiral of self doubt in the feminine individual's relationship with their own body, the seeds for which were planted at an early age. The female athlete with this internal block has to be coached with a more positive and delicate touch, so to speak (in Rugby, nothing is *delicate*), in order to avoid the perpetuation of hopelessness, and to foster the female athlete's development. Listening in on the practice sessions between the Men's and the Women's rugby team is no less than an affirmation of this claim. Let's examine some of the many motivational and inspirational sayings and mannerisms of some of our respective coaches:
Men's Motivational Quotes
-“What is that???? That Scrum looked like a Fucking ABORTION!! Do it again!”
-“Who dropped that ball?”
“I did Coach”
“Oh, so you're the weakdog?”
-“Look at this clusterfuck!! It's like watching 2 hedgehogs try to fuck a ping pong ball!”
-“Hey, Badger!” (nickname)
“Yes, Kiwi(Coach)”
“You suck, get out (of the drill)”
-“Nice knock-on, Nii. Does your husband play rugby too?”Women's Motivational Quotes
-“Ladies get in there. Keep driving this
scrum, look forward! You're doing fine.”
-“Wooo, Alli! Great run! Start heading to the inside!”
-“Don't just stand there!! Move forward as you pass!!”
-“Lisa I told you not to stand there, you're
a back line player, get out of there!”
Which of these practices would be more entertaining to watch?
Note that the coaching style for teaching the feminine athlete has an undertone of “don't worry, you're doing fine”. As if to say, that it is understood that there are definite issues with confidence in performance. Young believes that the feminine body is seen as a burden. A “thing” that has obligations to the species but can not be trusted, by the person in control of it, to accomplish the tasks that they wish to accomplish. Through thousands of years of cultural acceptance of limitations, there aren't many high expectations placed on women in terms of athletics or other such physical activities. The expectations of masculinity set by society are to improve performance constantly by using the body as a tool. “I need to work harder because I can't do this yet”, as opposed to “ I can't do this in particular, however I can do _________...”. Another issue presented that many attribute to a lack of excitement in Women's rugby is the feminine “value” of self preservation. Alicia main concern when trying to catch a pass was that she was afraid she would get hit in the face, and that it would hurt. Watching some of the tackles in a Women's rugby match I could tell that the fear of getting hurt is a major performance inhibitor. An uncertainty and lack of confidence in one's own body is the only logical basis for this, because there is often that “I did not know I could do that, until I tried it” experience noted when a feminine athlete makes a big play. To illustrate Young's point about the phenomenon that occurs when an non-athletic man approaches a sport, we turn to the tackle, Rugby's basic common element. No matter what position you play, you have to know how to tackle. An inexperienced tackler, be they male or female, will often throw themselves at the opposition and hope for the best (often getting blown over in the process). I have noticed though, that the male player still approaches this poor tackle with arms spread, and legs wide. Essentially making themselves a larger obstacle. Spacial command is more prominent in masculinity than in femininity. Watching a member of the UNC Charlotte Women's team perform her poor tackle, I observed that she crossed her arms across her chest, threw herself at a larger opponent, and turned slightly so that her shoulder was the first thing to completely bounce off of the ball carrier. She made herself even smaller than she actually was for a task that really had little to do with physical size. This shows the dissociation between feminine physicality, and spacial command.
I respect Women's athletics for the amount of hard work and effort put into it. Admittedly I must say that to a slightly lesser extent, I enjoy watching Women's sporting events. I am more likely to watch a Men's boxing match than a Women's boxing match. There are some sports that have transcended the gender boundary. Tennis for instance (which had a major surge with the whole “Billie Beat Bobby” craze) is one, and soccer also. However I feel like Women's sports will never get the recognition it may deserve. Louise “Lu” Keefe of the UNC Charlotte Men's rugby team commented on this societal fixation. “I think that we see Women's and Men's sports in the same way we see professional and high school football. The players aren't as strong, and the action not as fast paced. I'd always watch an NFL game, but I'd only watch a high school game as they near the playoffs, or state championships. That way whoever is playing is actually really good, and fun to watch”. Lu pointed out what I've assessed to be the majority view on this. A woman athlete is viewed as having a lower level of professionalism than her male counterpart even with them both at the “pro” level. The media has taken advantage of this as well. It is for this reason that you see no WNBA video games... or any Women's sports for that matter, with the exception of Women's volleyball. Yet still, I am uncertain as to whether or not this is a testament to male dominance in society as it relates to sporting events. Why would a lot of women have the same view? Perhaps these women are also conditioned to believe this, but why with the rise in “girl power” and the female empowerment movement, would so many women maintain this stance? Perhaps we'll still change the channel when the half-phrase “Women's Professional...” is uttered. Sorry, ladies.
There had to be a kiwi quote, for he is truly a great man and a great rugby player. And yes, his comments are by far one of the best aspects of practice.
ReplyDeletewhy is female volleyball popular? Is it because the women are wearing bathing suits? Since I am not a sports fan..sometimes a panther game on a rainy winter sunday...I'm proly not qualified to say much. For me being an older person there must be a societal influence. i was told by my 6th grade teacher that i would be a good soccer player if i was a boy. this was in the 1960's. Girls do not do sports was the message I got. anyway for some generations sports are viewed differently. Some people are turned off by "macho" girls playing ball-just the way it is. We are still the roaring crowd viewing the gladiators and the girls usually just dont cut it-we want aggression in our sports (most sports)or nekkidness!!--kk
ReplyDeleteI can give 2 reasons for why I believe Women's volleyball is popular
ReplyDelete1. The sport gives its players thick, defined legs, and firm buttocks. As a result, they look good in the uniformed shorts.
2. It appears to be a female dominated sport; as in, women seem to just be better at it. (at least that's a common opinion, from what I've seen) As such, the trend of excitement is reversed.
That's really unfortunate that they didn't really support your affinity for futbol. If you don't mind me asking, was your 6th grade teacher a woman? Because that's an interesting example of the kind of lack of support from other women that I mentioned toward the end of my essay. Honestly, who says that to a kid who's good at something?? It's like saying "Hey, kid you'd make a great blonde!... if only you weren't so black"
Perhaps you should take up the world's sport now, just to say "Suck it, Teach! I do what I'm good at" :^D