You play ball like a girl: A peek at the female football fan
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November. Cider mills, doughnuts, crispy red leaves, sharp, cool air and football. Lots and lots of football. The sport and this season simply go hand in hand. However, in discussing football, I think it important to note the great gender divide that football, more than other sports, seems to bring forth.
There aren’t many gender lines that women can’t cross or blur these days. We can vote, after all. We can fish, wear pants in public, shoot a gun and become chief executive officers. Yet for all of the radical stuff us females can do, there exists one area that seems destined to remain separated by sex. Sport. More specifically, football.
If we look only at the numbers, football is a man’s sport. The number of female football players in the NFL? Zero. How about the number of female coaches? None. To be fair, there was that one female referee…but she was a replacement ref, and it’s best for everyone if we don’t talk about them.
Some of those differences can be explained by valid gender discrepancies. There just aren’t many women that are strong enough or fast enough to play in the NFL, and for every female that could there probably exist thousands (or more) men in the same physical state. My real problem lies in the fact that women are often not considered true “fans” of the sport.
We female fans may get pats on the head for watching the game, but most guys think the real reason women tune in is to appease the male sex or appreciate those tight uniform pants. While I certainly cannot complain about the NFL’s choice of attire, I, like many other women, tune in every Sunday because I simply want to watch the game.
I was born and bred as a Washington Redskins fan. I can name almost all of their usual starters, and I watch their games (with bated breath) every weekend. When the Redskins blow it in the fourth quarter, I am genuinely upset, and sometimes, in a really close game, I can’t be happy for the rest of the day. Because I feel like a traitor if I don’t, I usually tune into the Detroit Lions games, as well. Stemming from the nature of the teams that I watch (I mean the Lions fans used to wear bags over their heads for goodness-sake), I am often disappointed come Sunday evening, but I keep watching. Every week, hoping for a different outcome, because that’s what a good fan does.
All that I ask is that the fan-status of women be more accepted in society. Just because I wear Victoria’s Secret under my clothes instead of Jockey boxer briefs does not mean that I am any less of a football fan. There exist no ulterior motives here, most of us women who sit down and watch the whole game are no more and no less than your average football fans.
Go Redskins!
ccolleran@lanthorn.com
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Pictures of the Year 2012-2013
Courtesy Photo/Joe Kargula and Erik Peterson run the Marathon leg of the Ironman Triathlon
GVL / Robert Mathews Quarterback Heath Parling (12) leading the offense past Notre Dame College.
GVL / Eric Coulter Senior Jake Isaacson placed eigth in the Spartan Invitational. Isaacson's time of 25:04 was the highest among Division II athletes.
GVL/Jessica Hollenbeck Student Senate President Jack Iott speaks to the assembly during Thursday's meeting.
Courtesy / gvsu.edu President Haas and Montcalm Community College President Robert C. Ferrentino sign the transfer agreement
Courtesy Photo/ GVSU Athletic Department Sophomore Chris Cunningham lines up a putt at a past match.
Courtesy Photo / GVSULakers.com Andrew Darrell prepares to return the serve earlier this season.
GVL / Jessica Hollenbeck President Haas cooks pancakes during Family Weekend's "Pancakes with Presidents".
GVL / Jessica Hollenbeck President Haas cooks pancakes during Family Weekend's "Pancakes with Presidents".
GVL / Archive Forward Briauna Taylor (31) chases down a lose ball in a game last season
Courtesy Photo / Dean Breest Sophomore Allyson Winchester was named the GLIAC Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year after finishing first with a time of 20:48.8.
GVL / Archive GVSU's Breland Hogan rises and fires over three defenders last season.
GVL/Bo Anderson Briauna Taylor leads the fast break during a game earlier this season.
GVL / Robert Mathews Associate Vice President for Facilities Planning, James Moyer, leading a walk through of the Mary Ideam Pew Library
Courtesy Photo / GVSU DII Men's Hockey Jeremy Christopher chases down a puck during a matchup last season.
GVL / Bo Anderson Students and faculty danced under the spectacular light show in the Devos Place Ballroom
GVL / Robert Mathews Martin L�wenberg, holocaust survivor, speaking at the Genocide Awareness Night presentation in the Grand River Room.
Courtesy / Dean Breest Senior Sam Lockhart finishes her indoor career with two individual national championships in weight throw and shot put at the 2013 National Championships.
Archive / Robert Mathews Giancarlo Brugnoni (40) rounding the bases during a previous game.
GVL/Bo Anderson Seniors Christ Koppenaal, Bill Madsen, and Mitch Weber measure the exterior of the Wesley House as part of an energy audit.
GVL / Robert Mathews Senior Anthony Campanella pitching against Tiffin University during the Lakers double header.
GVL / Eric Coulter Brother Jed Smock, a member of Campus Ministry USA, speaks with fervor to a student. Many students, all with differing views, came to watch the Campus Ministry members speak.
GVL / Sean Mouton A passing walker stops to admire some recently constructed pieces of Art Prize 2012.
GVL Archive Senior Nick Gunthorpe follows through and watches his shot at the Ardenson last year. This weekend the team will be playing in South Haven.
GVL / Bo Anderson GVSU's Katie Martin points to her teammate after safely reaching second base.
GVL / Robert Mathews Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons under construction.
GVL / Archive The Grand Valley Rowing Team during Spring Training in Florida last spring.
GVL / Robert Mathews Judge Glenda Hatchett, keynote guest for Monday's King celebration, speaks in the Grand River Room in Kirkhof.
GVL / Robert Mathews Judge Glenda Hatchett, keynote guest for Monday's King celebration, speaks in the Grand River Room in Kirkhof.
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