Newsflash: Some girls really, really love sports. Have you passed away from sheer shock and confusion? I mean, what kind of insane idea is that? Girls liking sports is just about as crazy as electing a reality star as the President. (Oh wait, that actually happened. Oops.) It is so exhausting to be questioned about your knowledge every time you briefly mention being a fan of a sport. It seems that society assumes that because we are female, we do not have the capacity to comprehend the difference between a touchback and a safety. What they don’t know is that despite how hard it is to find time to plan out our Stanley Cup Playoff bracket when we’re so busy juggling all these tampons and lipsticks, we are actually pretty diehard for our teams.
I’m not saying that every person believes that women cannot be sports fans, nor am I saying that every woman is a sports fan. I, myself, am a diehard Nashville Predators fan, but I also have several friends that couldn’t care less about sports as a whole. It really depends on each individual person. The point I’m trying to make is that questioning women on their ability to appreciate sports is ridiculous and pretty insulting, and honestly, we are tired of hearing about it. As a fellow lipstick juggling sports lover, here are a few things that I can’t wait to stop hearing.
“It’s so strange to meet a girl who likes sports as much as you!”
Why is it such a shocker to people that girls like sports? I can’t count the number of times that someone has been amazed that I have any interest in sports at all. Women who enjoy one of the most common pastimes in the world are not rare. There are literally millions of us. Females make up more than a third of the 14 million plus people who watch major events, such as the NBA Finals, World Series and Stanley Cup Finals. In 2011, women accounted for 45.9% viewers who were tuned into the Super Bowl, which roughly translates to 50 million women. We are not special unicorns who only appear once every other harvest moon, so don’t act so surprised when you find us.
*Having the honor of being mansplained something of which you are already an expert*
By far, my favorite thing in the world is having my favorite sport dumbed down so my tiny female brain can comprehend it. I mean, who really knew what those lines on the court were for? My mind is blown! We may not know every rule in the book, but please have enough respect for us, and don’t be condescending when explaining something of which you think you are an expert. Plus, there is a good chance we know just as much, if not more.
“You are just here for the guys in the tight pants.”
Listen, baseball pants are a godsend, but I have not dedicated my life to a team just for boy’s butts. There is a very good chance that I’m actually here for the game that’s being played, not the hottest player. Also, if a girl does comment on the physical appearance of a player, don’t let that invalidate her genuine interest in the game.
“I’m impressed that you’re so into sports!”
Why? Am I finding a cure for cancer? Did I invent something? Am I practicing rocket science? What about my enjoyment of sports constitutes you being impressed? While that might seem like a compliment, it really isn’t. What is impressive about sitting on the couch without pants on, eating chicken wings and screaming at the TV? Loving sports is no more impressive than obsessing over Kylie Jenner or one of her newest lipsticks. It’s exactly like reading a good book or cooking or any other leisure activity. Yeah, I love sports, but please don’t act like that is going to be my greatest achievement in life. Lord knows I have not reached my peak in life by screaming profanity at referees who don’t seem to know the difference between an onside and offside goal. I promise women have a lot more to give than a basic knowledge of sports.
Source: Forbes
Photo courtesy of Hailey Williford.