Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Still A Double Standard
Today we have a guest post from Lindsay, writer of the blog That Mutt. She's an active, outdoors-type and a sports fan. She writes about a recent experience she had:
"So, you're a lesbian?"
Apparently because I wanted to switch the TV from baseball to women's basketball, I am attracted to women.
I was sitting at the bar with my boyfriend (yes, boyfriend) and a male friend of ours. The friend obviously knew I am dating a guy, but he was serious about what he implied: Women who watch women's sports are gay.
What the?!
So men can watch other men playing sports - very attractive men - and there is nothing gay about that? Yet, if I want to watch a bunch of chicks play basketball, I am a lesbian? Hmm...
I thought people watch men's and women's sports because watching sports is fun, competitive and an excuse to hang out with friends and family members.
And yes I do prefer to watch female athletes. It's the same reason why most men prefer to watch other guys.
God forbid I want to watch other strong women competing professionally. Even worse, my boyfriend watches women's sports once in awhile (shh, don't tell anyone).
But on a more serious note, if 25-year-old men are clearly insecure about women's sports, are boys afraid to watch female athletes? Do they feel this is somehow wimpy, dumb or even "gay"?
Do girls hesitate to watch women's sports for fear that someone judges them?
Do we really need every TV at the bar turned to the Twins game when there are multiple other games going on?
Am I the only one who sees a problem here?
I've always wondered why some people have this need to classify others. I'm interested to hear what readers have to say about this. What do you think?
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9 comments:
I think it SUCKS! Unfortunately there are still jerks in the world. What are they afraid of..that you might know something about the game that they don't know?
We have a mixed (make and female) foursome scramble every Friday and many of the men won't play because "women are playing" - Yikes, where is your head buried!!!??
Keep watching and keep asking for the channel to be changed. The problem those men (?) have is not yours - it's theirs!
Yeah, I play in foursomes with hubby and two guys all the time. They (the two others, not hubby) are always afraid that I'm gonna slow them down but soon realize they should be playing the white tees with me and not trying to be something they aren't by playing from the back!
Thanks for your comment!
Ignorance is bliss...
Two guys in a grocery store, gay both 'em.
Any female past college talking, watching and especially PLAYING sports, of any type, lesbian all 'em.
and, nine-hundred other circumstances that idiots have seen or heard on TV on "Will & Grace" or "Ellen"...
Maybe the next generation of neanderthals won't be so bound by the their cave-parents and can morph into the 21st century.
Are you the same damn Lindsay that won the contest...???
Ha! I just realized that it is the same Lindsay. Very observant of you and completely coincidental.
If only it were true. Every single guy at a Lakers, Clippers, Angels or Dodgers game were gay. And what about all the men at football games. All a bunch of queers! If this were true, Prop 8 would not have passed. (Sorry for going political. This is a "sports" blog.)
So, does this make me a heterosexual because I enjoy watching men play baseball? Or a Pedophile because I enjoy watching little boys and little girls play baseball and softball?
Why don't some people just get that it's about the sport and the competition in the sport instead of the gender playing the sport. Believe-you-me, I certainly don't enjoy seeing the men adjust their "cups". You'll never see this at a woman's event!!
Ya know, I'm not a fan of watching the fellas adjust themselves either.
Your comments are great Becky, thanks!
Sometimes I feel slightly guilty for not liking the WNBA but it just doesn't do it for me, and really I only watch NBA during playoffs.
Though I do like college hoops.
Its never about gender but the game for me. As much as I love baseball I hate college baseball. Its the bats but I do enjoy Softball.
Thanks for the chance to contribute a guest post!
Thank YOU Lindsay. It sparked another guest post and much discussion. You are welcome any time.
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