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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

...to be really pissed off with the sneering mysogyny around women's football?

91 replies

NiniLegsInTheAir · 06/08/2012 19:54

Not so much from the commentators in these Olympics, but from people (particularly men), that I talk to.

I enjoy women's footy (used to play) and think the standards in this country are coming on in leaps and bounds - bearing in mind most teams in the UK are unpaid part-timers and still working back from the FA ban on women's competitive games for 50 years.

I've got tickets for the Olympic final and really looking forward to it. If I had a penny for every time someone's sneered at me something along the lines of "Why waste your money", "they can't defend/kick/score/dribble/perform anything like men", "it's like watching the men's lower leagues" (I also support a lower league men's club and would never compare the two, completely different). It's not like the men's national team has won anything lately either yet they're treated like gods!

You don't get this with other sports involving women (mostly), so why is this still acceptable to some people? It makes me very .

OP posts:

Denise34 · 06/08/2012 21:15

Yeah the game is good, but some of the defending has not been good. The tackles are really flyign in now!

Krumbum · 06/08/2012 21:30

I always think that the argument that top sportswomen don't play sport to the 'standard' of men Is in particular more ludicrous when talking about football because the majority of people who watch football follow a particular team and watch all their games. That team is not necessarily particularily good. They can be quite shit and in second or third division but people will still go in their thousands to watch them. So the excuse doesn't stand, people don't want to see 'the best', they just don't want to see women play football..

yellowraincoat · 06/08/2012 21:33

I agree Krumbum .

It's nice that there's been a focus on women's sport for the whole of the Olympics without too much sneering, but it seems football is still something that some see as a sacred thing for men only.

LizzieMint73 · 06/08/2012 21:35

Its not just football OP, the mysognistic men just want to put women down, whatever they do, don't they?

The men I work with have spent the last month making 'well they just all look like men don't they/they must be lesbians' 'jokes' about women weight lifters/judo players/footballers/boxers/anyone but the gymnasts and syncro swimmers really .

I just try to ignore their sad little comments and pity them - it must be really stressful feeling so threatened and angry all the time.

The sad irony is that many of the female athletes taking part in the non traditionally female sports are extremely fit and attractive women that don't look like blokes at all.

DP and I laughed at the opening ceremony cos the commentators pointed out the flag carriers/attractive women athletes, like they do, and almost without exception, they were all really attractvie and really fit and tough, ie they were the weight lifters/judo players/shooters/boxers [girl crush emoticon]

ClaireRacing · 06/08/2012 21:35

DH took DD to see GB women play a couple of weeks ago. He was really looking forward to it, and really enjoyed it.

He did note the difference in standard but was not criticising or belittling - just s fact.

WorraLiberty · 06/08/2012 21:43

And yet when they admire the beautifully attractive volleyball players, that's somehow wrong too

I think you'll find it definitely works both ways when you read some of the threads on here by women...talking about the male participants.

It kind of evens itself out really.

geegee888 · 06/08/2012 21:59

Things change, progress is made. Women have only been "allowed" to run the marathon since the '80s. 20 years later, Paula Radcliffe was the fastest British marathon runner, male or female, in that year.

Tell the critics to move with the times!

LizzieMint73 · 06/08/2012 22:04

I think you'll find it definitely works both ways when you read some of the threads on here by women...talking about the male participants.

But but but... all the posts about muscles and tight shorts have been entirely complimentary

squeezed · 06/08/2012 22:13

I've watched the men's and women's football live at the Olympics and I've enjoyed the women's games much more. There has been better feedback and comments from people (mostly men) that I have spoken to about the women's teams. Many armchair fans don't really understand the game and it is easy to make comments about gender. After following women's football for 20 years I've seen the improvements in terms of skill levels, but also the slowly increasing appreciation of the women's game. The mostly positive recent coverage will certainly help with changing attitudes.
I met some of the GB women's football team in Cardiff after a match and they were so friendly and happy to talk to fans. Not really relevant to the discussion but it added to the experience for me.

landofsoapandglory · 06/08/2012 22:19

We're going to watch the Women's football bronze medal match on Thursday. My 2 football mad, teen boys suggested it. They said it will be a good match. DS1 has watched all the women's footie games, he said they have been better than the Men's!

TeWiDoesTheHulaInHawaii · 06/08/2012 22:20

Canada V USA - fucking brilliant.

I defy anyone, anyone at all to watch that and say the average men's game is somehow magically more entertaining.

WorraLiberty · 06/08/2012 22:23

I watched earlier on and it was a brilliant game (France V Japan) My DH and 3 DS's thoroughly enjoyed it too.

But I totally agree with whoever said the pitch should be smaller to keep the fast pace of the game.

Original poster

NiniLegsInTheAir · 06/08/2012 22:25

Interesting you mention the marathon geegee - I found out something the other day. The president of the IOC presents the winner of the men's marathon with his gold 'in respect to the ancient Greeks' but doesn't do the same for the winner of the women's marathon.

OP posts:

Denise34 · 06/08/2012 22:26

Did women compete in the original Olympics in ancient Greece? It's probably to do with that.

StewieGriffinsMom · 06/08/2012 22:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WorraLiberty · 06/08/2012 22:32

But people will always comment on other people's looks...especially when they're in the public eye.

And women are by far the most guilty culprits!

Though again...it's normally men who get the blame for it.

yellowraincoat · 06/08/2012 22:34

Do you have some statistics to back that up Worra?

Original poster

NiniLegsInTheAir · 06/08/2012 22:35

Only in the Heraean games or in Sparta, denise

OP posts:

yellowraincoat · 06/08/2012 22:37

Yeah, but just cos women didn't compete then (you know 1000s of years ago) doesn't mean they can't be presented with a medal in the same way as the men.

You know, women being human beings and all.

WorraLiberty · 06/08/2012 22:38

Do you have some statistics to back that up Worra?

I don't bloody need them!

Just look around Mumsnet especially when the Oscars are on and see the criticism of perfectly beautiful women...the bitchy, catty remarks about their hair, nails, dresses, weight, bums, legs, boobs etc...

Look at the readership of the 'Celeb' magazines and the gossip magazines...mainly male?

Nope!

yellowraincoat · 06/08/2012 22:45

Those comments are directed at women though, which is really the problem more than which gender is slinging the insults.

If you're going to make sweeping statements, you do need some statistics, otherwise it just sort of looks like you're spouting shite.

WorraLiberty · 06/08/2012 22:48

I'm sorry but I don't need anything yellow

This is a chat forum and I'll 'spout' whatever I like.

Those comments are directed at women though, which is really the problem more than which gender is slinging the insults

They are directed at women by women...and that was my point so at least you accept that.

yellowraincoat · 06/08/2012 22:51

I accept that some women make comments about other women. I don't accept it's majority women making these comments because I've never counted.

You can say whatever you like, obviously, but if people don't take you very seriously because you're just making generalisations, you're not going to be taken very seriously.

WorraLiberty · 06/08/2012 22:54

I have no problem with 'people' not taking me seriously yellow

Not people without their own agenda anyway.

If you don't accept it that's up to you and your agenda but it doesn't mean that women are not by far the more critical and bitchy sex when it comes to the appearance of women.

Many people agree with me on this and a couple don't but that's their perogative.

yellowraincoat · 06/08/2012 22:55

Yes, I have an agenda, if having some sort of principles is an agenda.

"Many people agree and a couple don't" - ha ha ha ha. That is one of the funniest things I've ever read.

Anyway, sorry for the derail OP.

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