Playing like a girl is goal for boys

[demdave]

Josh and Jarrod Davis aren't trying to cause any trouble. They are not out to strike a blow for men's rights, make a statement or satisfy any curiosity about how they would look in a skirt. As the first boys in Anne Arundel County to play high school field hockey — traditionally an all-girl sport in this country — they just want to have fun.

Because of Title IX and the concept of equality that supports it, women can play on male teams if they are good enough, not just in Maryland but everywhere and at any level. Annika Sorenstam made history this year by becoming the first female golfer in 58 years to play an event on the men's PGA Tour.
Girls have been playing high school football for several years, and a few have played college football. Three weeks ago, Tanya Butler became the first woman in National Collegiate Athletic Association history to kick a field goal when she booted a 27-yarder for West Alabama. In 2000, kicker Heather Sue Mercer won a lawsuit against Duke University after she was cut from the football team, and asserted discrimination. Girls are even allowed to wrestle boys.


http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030925-115149-6790r.htm

[VelmaD]

1. Had a friend who played co-ed lacrosse

back in college. He said he was much more scared of the women he played against than the men. :-)

[GinaMaria]

2. Field Hockey is a girls' sport?

I never would have guessed that. When do we get to a point where we just let people pursue their interests and stop holding them back or forcing them into things because of gender? Go out there, live your life and enjoy it, because it is really short.

[msmcghee]

3. I love your sentiments.

But, I have to ask what would happen if there was no gender preference for some sports - even if it was only a traditional and voluntary preference.

For example, what if many boys suddernly developed an interest in field hockey. Wouldn't the team soon be almost all boys - based on ability alone?

Girls do weigh decidedly less and have smaller bones and muscles - on average than boys.

B-)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. Field hockey is a men's sport

in many parts of the world and is particularly big in India.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. mixed (field) hockey does exist

a friend of mine plays it. The teams are 5 men, 5 women in the outfield, and the goalie can be either sex. That's a 'social' league - I think the 'serious' playing is split into separate men's and women's teams.

[Chovexani]

6. Not really

It's just really popular with lesbians for some reason. :) I'm more of a volleyball person myself though...

I totally agree with you about letting people just pursue their interests. As a lifelong "tomboy" it makes my blood boil when I hear people say things like "girl toys" or "boy toys", as if there's some kind of inherent gender classification for certain activities and interests. As a kid I never played with Barbies, I thought they were boring as hell (Jem dolls were fun though, they had funky colored hair and weird outfits :P). Of course I was the same kid that made a butch/femme couple out of two of my Jem dolls and couldn't understand why Mom was so upset. :evilgrin:

It saddens me that as a society we still put straitjackets on people and force them into little boxes based on gender. I think the roots of homophobia lie in that. I'm big into figure skating, and know a lot of very straight guys who are, but they're terrified to reveal their interest in it outside of fan circles because it's considered such a "women's" (read: "fag") sport, and of course there's all the homophobic jokes about male skaters. It infuriates me. People should be able to do or like whatever they want without this kind of abuse. Life really is too short not to be able to enjoy yourself without fear.

[SoCalDem]

9. We only had to play field hockey

because the boys got the "good field" for football and they needed the gym for basketball, so the girls were sent outside in shorts & a cotton blouse to play field hockey on a rocky, uneven sparcely grassed field..IN THE WINTER.... IN KANSAS..

When it was snowing or raining, we got sent upstairs to the "mat room" where they kept the smelly old wrestling mats.. We fenced there..

We were rarely "allowed" to even USE the real gym..

[DK666]

5. I Play in

a co-ed adult ice hockey league I can tell you the women are much more vicious than the men.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. "Girls are even allowed to wrestle boys. "

I was never a jock, but this might have convinced me to become one...

[nemo137]

8. that's what got my theatre teacher into gymnastics.

and ballet. so i get what you're saying.