Should boys play on girls; teams? Should girls play on boys' teams? Well I say equality means that all things are equal and what you give to one, you must give to the other. I'm a strong believer in Title IX,which states that there should not be discrimination when it comes to educational programs. Well that definition has stretched to sport and been enforced to let girls on a boys' team so why not let the boy on the girls' team?
The public minimizes what a girl should be able to do in sport. This leads to the mentality that girls shouldn't play with the boys because they aren't strong enough, fast enough, tall enough, physically fit enough or whatever excuse they can possibly think of. But the truth of the matter is that if a girl wants to play a sport that is not offered in her own than gender than she should be granted the opportunity to participate on the male team. The girl and/or her parents should be able to asses the possible risks and dangers that come with that. In the same respect, boys should be allowed to play on a team of all girls if the sport is not offered in his own gender. When it comes to boys, the argument completely changes. The boys have a greater athletic advantage, or it is unsafe for a male to play with a bunch of females.
Speaking of safety, why is it that when people are fighting for girls to play on a boys' team, they are not saying anything about the safety of the girl? They are just arguing her right to play. But then when it comes to boys, suddenly safety is a major issue and everyone is worried about the one boy on a team injuring the girls.
This is an issue that could go on and on because there are so many arguments that people could make either way. However, the bottom line is that what is fair is fair, and what girls can do, so can boys.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Jordan's Induction Speech - Week 4
So I have watched the clip from class and I have watched all of Michael Jordan's actual speech and I have absolutely no problem with it.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
I can see where some comments may seem a bit snobbish or that he's stuck up, but it doesn't seem like that was his intention. When he first gets on stage he is actually crying after watching the video attributing his career. It looks to me like he is touched and overwhelmed. Jordan even goes on to say that his plans were to simply say "Thank you" as his speech. Therefore he was up there on the spot trying to thank the people he needed to and make a few jokes along the way because we all know that a speech without humor is going to be criticized. I read an article that was written about Jordan after I watched the speech that completely bashes him.
MEAN ARTICLE
One of things that is definitely meant to be a joke is the part where Jordan comments about his high school coach making a mistake by putting Leroy Smith on the basketball team instead of him. Smith was in the audience during the induction and he laughs at this. It was wasn't Jordan being cruel, it was him laughing it off. I think that the clip we watching in class were people who overreacted. There isn't a problem with civility in our athletes today, there is a problem with over-criticism by people whose opinions don't really matter anyways.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Athletes & Images - Week 3
Due to the recent debate in class over Serena Williams' outburst at the US Open, I have decided to write about the things athletes do and how it really affects their images. In case you have been living under a rock, here is a clip of Serena.
One of the issues discussed in class was that it doesn't matter what an athlete does, their image won't be tarnished. I definitely don't believe this. Whether it's something they did on the court or during the off season, if it's in the news, you're going to remember it. Something that goes right along with the way we perceive athletes' images is through femininity and masculinity. If a woman has an outburst like Serena did at the US Open, does the fact that she is a woman and she is "supposed" to play into the roles of femininity make it worse in the public eye? When a male acts out, is he just being masculine and fitting into his role of being aggressive and dominant? Another example used in class was Michael Vick. His image is most certainly tainted whether you want to believe it or not. Last summer my dad mentioned something to me about the possibility of the Dolphins trying to sign Michael Vick with his return to the National Football League. I was disgusted. I love the Dolphins but I definitely didn't want him on the roster. Thankfully he is with the Eagles who just recently took him off the exempt list so he can practice with them. Another example was Brandi Chastain at the 1999 Womens World Cup. She tore her shirt off after kicking the game winning goal to reveal a SPORTS BRA. Everyone made such a big fuss over it. Really? It was a sports bra. I see girls jogging in the same attire on a daily basis. If a male had done this.. it wouldn't have even made anyone blink, but apparently a woman isn't supposed to act this way.
I understand that many athletes make several different mistakes and can usually find themselves slipping back into their sport and going about their business with only a slightly bruised image. It's the athletes who commit crimes like Michael Vick's that make people think twice. Things like that should tarnish someone's image, not an outburst during a tennis match that didn't even hurt anyone. What's next? Serena will be gender tested because her outburst was a masculine act of aggression? Get real.
One of the issues discussed in class was that it doesn't matter what an athlete does, their image won't be tarnished. I definitely don't believe this. Whether it's something they did on the court or during the off season, if it's in the news, you're going to remember it. Something that goes right along with the way we perceive athletes' images is through femininity and masculinity. If a woman has an outburst like Serena did at the US Open, does the fact that she is a woman and she is "supposed" to play into the roles of femininity make it worse in the public eye? When a male acts out, is he just being masculine and fitting into his role of being aggressive and dominant? Another example used in class was Michael Vick. His image is most certainly tainted whether you want to believe it or not. Last summer my dad mentioned something to me about the possibility of the Dolphins trying to sign Michael Vick with his return to the National Football League. I was disgusted. I love the Dolphins but I definitely didn't want him on the roster. Thankfully he is with the Eagles who just recently took him off the exempt list so he can practice with them. Another example was Brandi Chastain at the 1999 Womens World Cup. She tore her shirt off after kicking the game winning goal to reveal a SPORTS BRA. Everyone made such a big fuss over it. Really? It was a sports bra. I see girls jogging in the same attire on a daily basis. If a male had done this.. it wouldn't have even made anyone blink, but apparently a woman isn't supposed to act this way.
I understand that many athletes make several different mistakes and can usually find themselves slipping back into their sport and going about their business with only a slightly bruised image. It's the athletes who commit crimes like Michael Vick's that make people think twice. Things like that should tarnish someone's image, not an outburst during a tennis match that didn't even hurt anyone. What's next? Serena will be gender tested because her outburst was a masculine act of aggression? Get real.
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Case of Caster Semenya - Week 2
This week I have decided to blog about Caster Semenya because of all of the controversy over her looks in class. It's because of reactions like the ones we heard in class that her sex is even in question. Semenya doesn't have very feminine features. her shoulders are broad, her chest is flat, her torso is very muscular, and her face has very tough features. Semenya is being stereotyped based on preconceived conceptions of what we think a woman should look like.
Her physical appearance along with accusations from defeated rivals because of her great improvements have contributed to the questioning of her gender. After watching the clip in class from YouTube with Zirin, it just backed up my opinions even more. It is absurd for this 18 year old girl to have to be put through gender testing because of other people's insecurities. I find it really disturbing because they are only testing certain athletes. The IAAF is discriminating against female athletes because of other people's opinions. This can cause a lot of self esteem issues for these young girls. I think that if the IAAF is going to subject anyone to gender testing, then it should be universal. Everyone should be tested.
Her physical appearance along with accusations from defeated rivals because of her great improvements have contributed to the questioning of her gender. After watching the clip in class from YouTube with Zirin, it just backed up my opinions even more. It is absurd for this 18 year old girl to have to be put through gender testing because of other people's insecurities. I find it really disturbing because they are only testing certain athletes. The IAAF is discriminating against female athletes because of other people's opinions. This can cause a lot of self esteem issues for these young girls. I think that if the IAAF is going to subject anyone to gender testing, then it should be universal. Everyone should be tested.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Introduction - Week 1
To start off, my name is Brandy Rosebrock and I am an event planning/tourism major. I'm from Hicksville, OH which is about an hour west of Bowling Green. I am taking this class because I had Dr Spencer for SM 221 and I really enjoyed the class. At first I just picked 221 off a sheet of electives, but after taking it I have found out many interesting things about sport and I'm really looking forward to taking 425. I am a big fan of the Miami Dolphins who are doing very well in the preseason and I hope they keep it up! I also love the Ohio State Buckeyes, always have. Of course I support my Falcons as much as possible too. I also like the Cavaliers, but I am more into playing basketball than watching it.
As for sports I have participated in, I used to play soccer when I was in elementary school for about 4 years, softball from t-ball all the way up to my sophomore year in high school, and basketball from Jr. High to my senior year. I would have continued playing softball, but for some reason I became uninterested in it. I have always loved playing sports, being part of a team, and of course winning. Basketball has always been my favorite sport to play. It's exciting from the second you start to the very last shot. I was the team co captain my junior and senior year. I even coached 4th, 5th, and 6th graders throughout high school because I love helping them understand the game and I love seeing their excitement when they master a layup or hit their first jump shot.
As for my sports interests, being a Miami Dolphins fan wasn't really a choice in my household. I was dressed in Dolphins gear since I was a baby. My dad is a huge Dolphins fan so it just sort of fell into my lap. That's okay though because I love them! I have only seen them play in Miami once but someday I would love to go back down there for a game. Football is my favorite sport to watch and is really the only one I do so consistently. I did get to go to a Cavaliers game last year for the final regular season game; however I was very disappointed that Lebron James didn't play. I was so excited to go watch him and I didn't even think about it being the last game and the Cavs saving their best players for the playoffs.
Let's see, I'm going to go ahead and say Lebron James for the male I would like to see compete in their sport. It only seems fitting since I didn't actually get to see him when I tried last season! I think it would be a great experience to watch Lebron play because he has a lot of potential and he is a great basketball player. I believe Lebron is one of the greatest athletes of our generation and watching him play is something I've wanted to do for a long time. As for a female athlete I would pay to see, I think I would choose Venus or Serena Williams. I am not a big fan of tennis, however I do respect the sport and I think that the Williams sisters have a lot of talent. Also I would like to watch them play because not only are they great athletes, but they have also had to deal with a lot of ridicule and I really respect the way they handle those situations.
In taking this class, I am hoping to gain a broader knowledge into the world of sports. I've taken a women's studies class and a history/philosophy of sports class, so I think that this class on sport and gender will be a good one for me to take. I don't really have any concerns or issues but as for goals I am hoping to do well in this class. I expect to learn a lot of new things and see sport and gender issues from a new perspective.
As for sports I have participated in, I used to play soccer when I was in elementary school for about 4 years, softball from t-ball all the way up to my sophomore year in high school, and basketball from Jr. High to my senior year. I would have continued playing softball, but for some reason I became uninterested in it. I have always loved playing sports, being part of a team, and of course winning. Basketball has always been my favorite sport to play. It's exciting from the second you start to the very last shot. I was the team co captain my junior and senior year. I even coached 4th, 5th, and 6th graders throughout high school because I love helping them understand the game and I love seeing their excitement when they master a layup or hit their first jump shot.
As for my sports interests, being a Miami Dolphins fan wasn't really a choice in my household. I was dressed in Dolphins gear since I was a baby. My dad is a huge Dolphins fan so it just sort of fell into my lap. That's okay though because I love them! I have only seen them play in Miami once but someday I would love to go back down there for a game. Football is my favorite sport to watch and is really the only one I do so consistently. I did get to go to a Cavaliers game last year for the final regular season game; however I was very disappointed that Lebron James didn't play. I was so excited to go watch him and I didn't even think about it being the last game and the Cavs saving their best players for the playoffs.
Let's see, I'm going to go ahead and say Lebron James for the male I would like to see compete in their sport. It only seems fitting since I didn't actually get to see him when I tried last season! I think it would be a great experience to watch Lebron play because he has a lot of potential and he is a great basketball player. I believe Lebron is one of the greatest athletes of our generation and watching him play is something I've wanted to do for a long time. As for a female athlete I would pay to see, I think I would choose Venus or Serena Williams. I am not a big fan of tennis, however I do respect the sport and I think that the Williams sisters have a lot of talent. Also I would like to watch them play because not only are they great athletes, but they have also had to deal with a lot of ridicule and I really respect the way they handle those situations.
In taking this class, I am hoping to gain a broader knowledge into the world of sports. I've taken a women's studies class and a history/philosophy of sports class, so I think that this class on sport and gender will be a good one for me to take. I don't really have any concerns or issues but as for goals I am hoping to do well in this class. I expect to learn a lot of new things and see sport and gender issues from a new perspective.
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