Feminism Vs Football: An Existential Conundrum
Skol, Vikings! Let's win this game!
Skol, Vikings! Honour your name.
Go get that first down, then get a touchdown!
Rock 'em , sock 'em - fight, fight, fight, fight!
Go, Vikings, run up the score - you'll hear us yell for more!
V-I-K-I-N-G-S! Skol, Vikings! Let's go!
And with that being said - I have a problem.
I feel compelled, as a privileged Canadian white girl, to say something about my current existential conundrum - can I be a feminist and love the NFL? Does that create a juxtaposition? Does it make you uncomfortable? Good. Cause it has done a doozie on my brain so far today.
We know there is racism at play in the organization - the black balling of Collin Kaepernick is a bonafide example of this. We know that the NFL has legal troubles - domestic assault, substance abuse...murder - Aaron Hernandez' story is heartbreaking to me. To concuss or be concussed, that is truly the question.
I first became disillusioned with the NFL after watching the documentary The Hunting Ground, about sexual assault on US college campuses. I won't spout stats, that's complicated and speculative. But I was completely blown away that Jameis Winston was drafted by the NFL after the alleged rape allegations against him had been brought to trial. He is playing right now - one of nine men of colour holding that complex title of starting quarterback.
For the record, as of right now, there are thirty two NFL teams - there are twenty three white quarter backs. This includes my team's current starter, Case Keenum - the second white guy to hold this spot after Teddy Bridgewater tore his ACL in 2016 and missed the entire season. First, Sam Bradford, who was touch and go, to be honest; now, we have Keenum; we have won our last two games.
On the other end of the spectrum, however, as I learned this morning from Jonathon, of the sixty four corner backs currently active in the NFL, they are ALL men of colour. 0 to 64. WHAT. This makes me want to research ALL the different roles on the team, but, I won't. Not right now, at least.
So, why would a white girl, or any human really, be so invested in a sport to actually think about them out loud, as I am doing now? My answer, Steph helped me understand, is that loving professional football is part of who I am. Now, my issue is that I cannot sit idly by while the things that are happening continue. My issue is that as a...lazy feminist, and a...democratic socialist, for lack of a better (read: Canadian) term, I hate this league now.
Boys club, football, right? Always will be, to me. Why, as a female, do I care so much? I think its because I know there are other girls like me out there who love this game, who love this league and want to see it succeed without the multiple misdemeanors. Once a year, we have the breast cancer awareness uniforms. Cool. Good try, Rog. Ben Roethlisberger makes twelve million dollars a year. Still.
I don't want the game to end, but we need to do two things. First, we need more research into the traumatic brain injuries these guys are getting all the time. And secondly, to quote Jeri Lee, "we need to change the way we raise our sons. If they respected women, they would not abuse them. They need to know women are not entertainment objects."
I feel compelled not to support the organization with my money until some of the issues get addressed. No tickets, no merch. I will wear my Teddy Bridgewater jersey with pride, but underlying embarrassment....but all Vikes fans know that pain, am I right?
Skol, Vikings! Honour your name.
Go get that first down, then get a touchdown!
Rock 'em , sock 'em - fight, fight, fight, fight!
Go, Vikings, run up the score - you'll hear us yell for more!
V-I-K-I-N-G-S! Skol, Vikings! Let's go!
And with that being said - I have a problem.
I feel compelled, as a privileged Canadian white girl, to say something about my current existential conundrum - can I be a feminist and love the NFL? Does that create a juxtaposition? Does it make you uncomfortable? Good. Cause it has done a doozie on my brain so far today.
We know there is racism at play in the organization - the black balling of Collin Kaepernick is a bonafide example of this. We know that the NFL has legal troubles - domestic assault, substance abuse...murder - Aaron Hernandez' story is heartbreaking to me. To concuss or be concussed, that is truly the question.
I first became disillusioned with the NFL after watching the documentary The Hunting Ground, about sexual assault on US college campuses. I won't spout stats, that's complicated and speculative. But I was completely blown away that Jameis Winston was drafted by the NFL after the alleged rape allegations against him had been brought to trial. He is playing right now - one of nine men of colour holding that complex title of starting quarterback.
For the record, as of right now, there are thirty two NFL teams - there are twenty three white quarter backs. This includes my team's current starter, Case Keenum - the second white guy to hold this spot after Teddy Bridgewater tore his ACL in 2016 and missed the entire season. First, Sam Bradford, who was touch and go, to be honest; now, we have Keenum; we have won our last two games.
On the other end of the spectrum, however, as I learned this morning from Jonathon, of the sixty four corner backs currently active in the NFL, they are ALL men of colour. 0 to 64. WHAT. This makes me want to research ALL the different roles on the team, but, I won't. Not right now, at least.
So, why would a white girl, or any human really, be so invested in a sport to actually think about them out loud, as I am doing now? My answer, Steph helped me understand, is that loving professional football is part of who I am. Now, my issue is that I cannot sit idly by while the things that are happening continue. My issue is that as a...lazy feminist, and a...democratic socialist, for lack of a better (read: Canadian) term, I hate this league now.
Boys club, football, right? Always will be, to me. Why, as a female, do I care so much? I think its because I know there are other girls like me out there who love this game, who love this league and want to see it succeed without the multiple misdemeanors. Once a year, we have the breast cancer awareness uniforms. Cool. Good try, Rog. Ben Roethlisberger makes twelve million dollars a year. Still.
I don't want the game to end, but we need to do two things. First, we need more research into the traumatic brain injuries these guys are getting all the time. And secondly, to quote Jeri Lee, "we need to change the way we raise our sons. If they respected women, they would not abuse them. They need to know women are not entertainment objects."
I feel compelled not to support the organization with my money until some of the issues get addressed. No tickets, no merch. I will wear my Teddy Bridgewater jersey with pride, but underlying embarrassment....but all Vikes fans know that pain, am I right?