Just Once

My roommate left her Sport specific psychology of gender text book out in the living room last night, so, of course, this morning I had to spend forty minutes reading it. I was intrigued with what I found.

I am fascinated by the way in which specific behaviors of women have been perceived over time. I read pages of evidence illustrating that "mannish" behaviors exuded by women (participation in sports such as basketball as opposed to golf or tennis)where once viewed, as you can tell by their use of the modifier "mannish" as abhorrent, ghastly, disorderly, unrighteous, and even homosexual. (The book said it, and the 1920's magazines, newspapers, and yearbooks).

Wouldn't it be nice, I thought, if I didn't have to serve a volleyball directly in someone's face and knock them out, to impress a boy? Wouldn't it be nice if "soft" was cuter than "defined" was cuter than "ripped"?

OK, so body builder woman are still viewed by the masses as a subspecies of mankind, but wouldn't it be nice if someone would pay you attention if you were NOT the fastest girl playing intramural Frisbee?

So, I say, give it a thought. Its OK that some women are gifted that way. AND, its almost OK that some men think they are attracted to these women only because they can play sports. But, have a second look at those of us who have got talent in other ways. Give those of us who are compassionate, understanding, patient, interesting, brainy, quick, optimistic, friendly, thoughtful, hardworking, or levelheaded a chance. Give those of us who are determined, gracious, grateful, detail-oriented, lively, listening, artistic, or music-minded a chance.

Get off your high horse and throw us the ball even though we've dropped it once. Give us a chance. We're forgiving. We're willing to give you a chance. Why not think about it? Just once.