Last week we saw the very refined power capacity of some very attractive women, and a beast of a dude. Obviously women have plenty of athletic capacity which is often left untapped because of societal constraints and artificial external limitations. The "I can't because I shouldn't" clause comes to mind.
Females ARE athletes; and female dominated sports are very exciting and entertaining. But like any sport, it is important to understand that these girls, like every other athlete in the world have to earn their spot on the field. In high-stakes sports there is absolutely no room for compassion; only winning.
Here's an example of women who channel their athleticism and drive to win much like guys do on the holiest of days during the football season.
This is called the LFL. Lingerie Football League. 7 vs. 7 women from opposing teams have to play the field in the same fashion the men play in the NFL. The girls are a bit more scantly clad and the hits aren't quite as bone-crunching, but the heart and mind are in the right place.
This league is only 2 years old, entering into its third season. Obviously the LFL has been pretty popular, but as you can imagine it is still quite a bit in the novelty sports phase. Maybe once Vegas gets its eye on it will it be taken more seriously and commercialized. Can't you just hear the rest of the world watching in awe as the LFL gets broadcast across the globe and simultaneously grumbling "Only in America" under their breath while shaking their heads in envious disapproval? I love this country!
Lets suppose the LFL does get picked up and becomes a prime-time event with all the beer-drinking, hootin and hollerin. Read: $$$$$ Imagine what athletic priorities the teams and women would have to constrain to. Yes, the eye-candy factor is always prevalent, but it doesn't necessarily win championships. Athleticism specific to the sport will be in demand from the women. So this commonly accepted idea that women are exempt from being big, strong, and powerful will be GONE! No longer will most misinformed women define fitness as how long one can run aimlessly whether it be on a treadmill or in clunky shoes down a busy road. The "new" demands will involve strength, power, speed, stamina, agility, resilience, and a drive to dominate your opponent to WIN! As you can imagine, training will follow to facilitate these demands and to express these traits in the athletes. It will be glorious.
Think about it though, shouldn't those demands be universal regardless of age and gender? So with that in mind, isn't it denigrating for women to confine themselves to the cardio equipment at every gym? I'm not saying that guys know "the way" in the gym (far from it if you look at most guys coming out of any commercial gym), but this prom-like-separation of priorities must end. In my perfect world, the girls of the LFL would be running around emasculating complacent men and inspiring ladies to be "more".
new hashtag: #traindammit
I've caught a few minutes of some of these games while channel surfing. If you take the time to get some of the bios of these women, a good number of them have a background in full contact tackle football in pads. Some played other contact sports. But the bottom line is that they are legit and no joke.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's part theatrics like the women of the WWE and GLOW (back in the 90s),but they are athletes. Once you get past the lingerie (which is to draw the men otherwise they wouldn't take it seriously, you see the skills they posses.
I think a lot of them come from roller derby. Those girls mean business and I would think twice or thrice before standing in their way.
DeleteUmm...not sure what to say about this post. You should come by a morning class some time, no whining and several super strong inspiring women of all shapes and sizes. I believe a couple could deadlift two of me.
ReplyDeleteRight now, I am calling broad jumping up the stairs and dead lifting while breathing for two strong. I am also restraining myself from posting pictures of beautiful strong women birthing in pools, at home, in cars and in hospitals. No uniforms required ;)
Lingerie, tutus, bikinis and football all of that is also cool. But women have shown strength since the dawn of time that makes anything done on a field with a ball or in the gym pale in comparison. We don't need new definitions, just to recognize what we have always been and what has always been withing us.
Zoe
I'm not discrediting anyone in BHIP. All I'm saying is that woment are subjugated to the cardio corner of the gym for various reasons. Some are because of misinformation and discourse, others are personal reasons. The reality is that athleticism is universal and independant of gender. Athleticism is only dependant on the rules of a game or an environment to thrive in. If it's a contact sport you want to play then you should play it by all mean, but make sure your athleticism is geared to the demands.
DeleteYou can wear whatever you want. Just win.
Thanks for clarifying, I misunderstood the direction of the critique. I don't always agree with the perspective, but I know it's lots of work to write these blogs every week and I super appreciate the effort you put into making the program awesome and am very grateful for BHIP and all the coaches. I am stronger, better and happy because of it. Thank you.
DeleteI do kind of wonder if there could be an evolutionary connection that draws women to cardio, that has to do with being in charge of the gathering half of hunting and gathering culture. Just a thought and it is sometimes just annoying when my husband can lift more than me after working out for a second and I have been training for a year. Ridiculous I know, but annoying none the less. Strength workouts without the weights and flexibility I always kick booty in though and he can barely walk the next day. So I guess it all works out.
PS I am a an unusual type of feminist who is more offended by women playing football than wearing lingerie, but that is a long discussion and would probably get people much more riled up than your post :)
Yeah the lingerie league, really? What are you going to post next, Mudd Wrestling in bathing suits?
ReplyDeleteCouldn't they just as easily wear a uniform, they are playing a sport after all, not modeling for Victoria Secret. Hey, I'm no prude or feminist but I'd like to see this league play the American Women's Football League.
YOu could have chosen to post about this women's team, http://youtu.be/EPwCFsZaVfYm or this women's team http://youtu.be/8FFjTd3_YfE, I think the Lingerie League is more a figment of the posters imagination of scantily clad women than it is a represention of strong women in general.
Nice try, but BOO on this post!
The point was female athletic potential rather than attire. Bummer that it irked you.
DeleteLooks like this one hit a nerve. There are world class track and field athletes wearing less as well as beach volleyball players. Most of the LFL players have some pretty outstanding multi-sport resumes that include track and field, soccer, basketball, softball etc.
ReplyDeleteI think the main point was to illustrate that even though they're out there in bikinis made to look like 'lingerie', they are out there hitting with all the seriousness of an NFL linebacker. If you believe the interviews are real and not pre-canned fluff for the press, these women take the game seriously along with the turf burns, knee and shoulder injuries that came with it. Some felt the league could have made better choices when it came to uniform selection. Others could have cared less. They just wanted to play football. The fact that it's 'lingerie' presents two concepts that are somewhat polar opposites when it comes to the athletic field. Just because you see a little garter clip, don't get it twisted. This ain't no Powder Puff football.
Lingerie or no, women getting out there and knocking each other around in what would otherwise be considered too masculine an activity like tackle football, ice hockey or MMA fighting is cool in my book. It dispels a lot of myths. Big ups to them.
I'm reminded of a scene in the movie 'A League of their Own' where the ball players were still taught all those 'ladylike' things like how to sit, hold a tea cup, walk and wear make up by their etiquette teacher. The culture was no man would want you otherwise. A sentiment still carried on to this day in some circles. I say later for that. Be athletically talented and athletically strong. Beats looking like a Kate Moss.
yeah. contreversy breeds progress in my book. I'll take the flak for the sake of productive discussions any day. I'm really glad that you see what I was trying to convey.
DeleteWhy do women have to act like men in order to be considered strong?
ReplyDelete