This video depicts a fight that breaks out between women basketball players on the court. A member from one of the teams violently attacks a member of the other by knocking her down and punching her while she is down on the ground, while a second member of the team comes up and drops the basketball on her face. There is a distinct different between violent aggressiveness between players while fighting for the ball but this instance is simply violence due to anger and personal retaliation rather than determination in the game.
When it comes to playing sports, many women are aggressive in their performance which is held in high regard as they show dedication to their sport and do not let their feminine natures interfere with their ability to play their sports. They gain more respect in the world of athletics by displaying signs of aggression and determination as that mirrors the aspects that men display, the original members of the world of sports. The issue of sports having a negative affect on women, however, can be brought up in the issue of women violence in sports. Granted attacking another player cannot be seen as position so naturally one cannot say that sports have only positive affects on women. However, these affects are the same for men as many men are violent on the field or courts they play on. No one seeks to take a step back and examine if sports have negative affects on men as that is their "natural" outlet of activity and violence among men is nothing uncommon. Why, then, should violence between women in sports evoke such feelings of concern that sports are negative for women? There is clearly a double standard existing in the arena of sports that people should consider.
There clearly is a correlation between sports and violence as discussed by Messner for men and, clearly, for women as well. It may be said that sports only create positive effects in women which is not the case as violence is not a positive occurrence. Although sports may increase the chances of women being violent with each other, as it does for men, sports are still good outlets for women to develop healthy lifestyles and prove that they are no less able to perform well in sports than men. The violent acts occur occasionally between women while playing sports are bound to happen, such as is the case with men, but that does not make sports a negative influence upon women. Whereas sports and violence are usually associated with men, it is not a surprise that once women enter the world of sports they exhibit certain masculine qualities as well such as violence.
I agree with what Ashley said that in sports, women are aggressive in their performance as they show their dedication to their sports and do not let their feminine natures interfere with their ability to play sports. Women suppress their feminine nature in a sports context and become more aggressive like men since by being aggressive they feel that they can put themselves in a higher hierarchy that is usually occupied by men. In sports, they can play the male role and be as powerful and aggressive as men. Sports is a mean for women to prove to the society that women are equally as powerful and competitive as men. As what Ashley said, women gain more respect in the world of sports by displaying aggression and determination as that mirrors the aspects that men displays, the original members of the world of sports. Same like men, women also do not want to accept defeat. We are also competitive and want to maintain our pride. Back in my high school, when I was a member of the basketball team, I always play tough and take the game seriously. I suppress my femininity and be as masculine as I could. I feel that by being tough and sometimes violent in the field, I get more respect and recognition. I think this is a common feeling that women have when they play sports.
ReplyDeleteAs for the answer to the question, "Why, then, should violence between women in sports evoke such feelings of concern that sports are negative for women? " It is because, according to the gender norms existed in the society, females are supposed to be feminine, soft, and gracious, and sports seem to have negative effects to women since they look like they rob off women from their gracious nature and made them tough and violent like men. Just like what the caption of the video said, "Why women should not play basketball. Becouse they punch and are violent."
Furthermore, in this video, the violent scenes between the two opposing basketball member were repeated over and over again. The choice of music played with the scene somehow make the scene look cool while simultaneously made it look like a joke. In the beginning of the video it is stated "Why women should not play basketball". It seems to me that the video somehow say that women are trying to imitate men and be tough but failed to do so. It is a mockery of the way the women fight against each other since women are still perceived as a feminine creature and thus seeing them conduct violence made them look like a joke to men.
Most of the public's perception on women sports seems to all tie to one factor: popularity. As Messner mentioned in his lecture, womens basketball--one of his favorite sports to watch, does not nearly receive as much recognition as much as it deserves compared to the NBA.
ReplyDeleteI find what Ashley says related to this concept of the WNBA vs. NBA. Not only are women dedicated to their sport to the extent of being liberated from their "feminine" ties to society, but they exemplify a greater sense of determination towards their passion for sports because of how difficult it is for females to become successful athletes.
I also feel that this liberating feeling women achieve through being aggressive in their sport is a drive that should be recognized and encouraged.
As far as the question being addressed is concerned, violence between women in a sport is all a part of the purpose for athleticism. The cynics of such violence are simply stuck in the frame of mind that a women should carry a sense of feminism in all of her roles (an athelete, mother, wife, girlfriend, friend, etc.)