What do you think about Roller Derby?

[ThirdTimesABrokenFanjo]

I went for the first time last week and had a good time. It struck me as odd that they specifically mention (this particular team) that they keep their sex appeal while being bad asses (or something to that effect)

They were doing it in short shorts but mainly you could tell no one was worrying about their hair while knocking each other down. It feels quite feminsity but the innuendos etc seem not quite right.

They were all different sizes and I didn't get the feeling they were specific about "look" at all. So wonder why they play on that at all?

Am I making sense?

[Ragusa]

Because people like playing with contradictions? I dunno but I wouldn't let it worry me too much if I enjoyed it. Men do sports in short shorts too, don't they?

[NiceTabard]

What is roller derby?

[MalenkyRusskyDrakonchik]

I know next to nothing about it - can you explain it more?

My only - totally subjective - knowledge of it is that mates of mine who seem to mention it tend to be feminists who're into stuff like slutwalk, queer theory, etc., so I don't think it would seem contradictory to talk about the need to keep 'sex appeal' and be 'bad ass', because those seem to be key preoccupations (or the key preoccupations are phrased in those terms).

[VivaLeBeaver]

I used to play roller derby.

IME most players feel quite empowered and are proud of who they are/what they look like even if not "conventionally beautiful".

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

I know two women who play rollerderby. Both are intelligent, articulate women, one a PhD, the other a qualified lawyer, currently sahm to 4 dc. Both are, erm, not exactly sylph-like, and both are late 30's/early 40's. Both love the female cameraderie most.

[MalenkyRusskyDrakonchik]

Aww, that's lovely.

So is it quite 'intellectual' as an atmosphere, you mean? I know someone who felt a bit left out but she put that down to it being London and a bit full of 'rah' types who assumed everyone went to university. I guess that can happen in any sport, no matter how feministy.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

I have no idea what the atmosphere is like, my friend nagged me to go along but I'm 12 years older than her, measure five foot in my skates socks and weigh about seven and a half stone, it doesn't look safe to me! However I heard women discussing the game this weekend, it's not about doing fabulously well, it's about fitness, it's about fun, and yes, it's about having a laugh with other women.

Not sure if it's feminist, particularly, but there seems to be an absence of "how do I look" with much more emphasis on "how much fun is this?"

[MalenkyRusskyDrakonchik]

Fair enough.

Sounds like good fun but I think I would be with you, not keen on getting hurt!

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

As for the sex appeal thing, which was really the subject of the OP... I'd risk outing myself if I said how I know this, but yes, rollerderby women do celebrate their sexuality, as vibrant, interactive human beings. But there's not fetishism over slim, blonde etc, it's more of an "I am Woman" celebration, iyswim? You don't have to be a stereotype to be sexy, it's an attitude not a shape.

Urgh, not sure I'm explaining well.