Reflection 08: I Want to Play!—Crossing Gender Lines in Sports

It can be challenging to break through sports' gender barriers

Sometimes, a girl just wants to wrestle. Other times, a boy just wants to cheer. But American sports are still largely separated by gender lines. Athletes and fans alike often have trouble accepting men and women entering sports traditionally played by the opposite sex. And yet, all across the country, boys and girls are challenging gender stereotypes in sports everyday. Against sometimes great odds, girls are donning hockey gear and boys are becoming synchronized swimmers. Still, why is America so resistant to athletes crossing the gender lines? Why do questions of these players' sexuality invariably arise? Will gender divisions ever be a thing of the past? Finally, are you comfortable when traditional gender roles in sports are challenged?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• 'The Curious Case of Niklas Stoepel" (ESPN)
• "Boy Cheerleader Tyler Wilson Won't Quit Despite Arm Broken by Bullies" (ABCNews)
• "Girl Football Player Sits Out Game After Foe Threatens Forfeit" (Yahoo! Sports)
• "Girl Wrestler Makes History in Iowa" (CBS News)

Required:

• MLA Style
• Must be exactly two pages in length
• A Works Cited page 

Due: We 5.08

Sporting News 05.02.12

Former NFL linebacker Junior Seau has been found dead

• An NFL legend found dead: Junior Seau dies in apparent suicide Huffington Post
• SJSU, Utah State joining Mountain West ESPN
• Troy Dumais trying to become the first U.S. male diver to compete in four Olympics USA Today
• Sharks coach Todd McLellan's future with the team unclear San Jose Mercury News 
• The NFL makes an example of the New Orleans Saints Sports Illustrated 
• MLS representative: Female superfans are a "turn-off" ESPN

 

Week 15: Serena Williams, Tennis

So far, Williams has earned 27 Grand Slam titles and 2 Olympic gold medals

Mo 4.30
Class: Watch—Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team (2005)

We 5.2
Class: Lecture—“Speed Dates: Thesis Statements”
Due: EDITORIAL ESSAY

Upcoming:

Week 16: Lance Armstrong, Cycling
Mo 5.7
Class: Final exam prep; Lecture—“The Final Exam: Thesis Strategies”

We 5.9
Class: Final exam prep
Due: REFLECTION 8

Sa 5.12
FINAL EXAM: 8 AM, LOCATION TBD

Week 17: Wayne Gretzky, Ice Hockey
Mo 5.14
Class: Course review

Assignment: Editorial Essay

The AAGPBL paved the way for women's pro leagues, like the WNBA

It's no secret that women's professional sports leagues in the United States face an uphill battle. For example, the country's most established female sports league, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), trails the National Basketball Association (NBA) in both popularity and profitability. Meanwhile, America's other large league, Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), has cancelled its 2012 season and may not return. And aside from a brief run in the late 90s, women's professional baseball hasn't existed in this country since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. To be fair, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and Women's Tennis Association (WTA), two non-team sports leagues have thrived for years. But team-sports leagues have struggled. Why? Why is it such a challenge to establish women's professional sports in America? What can be done to help one succeed on a grander scale? In a concise editorial, explain how you believe a women's sports league can flourish when so many have failed. What would you do to ensure a prosperous future for these talented athletes? How would you increase visibility? Lure in big-name sponsors? Secure lucrative television contracts? Finally, what does the struggle of these leagues say to us about American society? Use at least four of the following articles to support your plan:

• “Why the WNBA Isn't—and Will Never Be—a Popular League” (Sports Illustrated)
• “Has Women's Soccer Gained Any Respect?” (Baltimore Sun)
• “Women’s Professional Soccer Fights to Keep Its Top Status” (New York Times)
• “Why Women’s Sports Struggle to Gain Popularity” (KPBS)
• "How Media Affects Our Perception of an Athletes Race and Gender” (The Sports Digest)
• “Women Athletes Have a Reason to Celebrate” (GPhilly)
• “Can Women Play with the Men?” (espnW)
• “State of Uncertainty for Women's Sports” (ESPN)

Requirements:

• MLA Style, including parenthetical citation
• 3-page minimum
• Cite from at least four of the above articles
• Include a works cited page 

The best papers:

• Stay within the parameters of the subject matter
• Have a concise thesis which clearly outlines a plan for a successful women's sports league
• Are written in a voice that is casual, yet informed
• Clearly support their thesis with solid evidence and a logical structure, citing from at least four articles above
• Conclude with a summation of the argument
• Properly cite evidence using MLA's parenthetical citation method
• Are in compliance with MLA Style

Sample editorials from various national newspapers:

• "Rain, Snow, Sleet, and Congress" New York Times 
• "Why wait to get troops out of Afghanistan?" Chicago Sun-Times
• "Obama, the Happy Drug Warrior" San Francisco Chronicle 
•  "Problem Children" Las Vegas Sun
• "Public Education Deserves Respect" Kansas City Star
• "Dalai Lama Proves an Endearing Icon" San Diego Union-Tribune 

Due: We 5.2

Week 14: Michael Phelps, Swimming

To date, Phelps has won 16 Olympic medals

Mo 4.23
Read: eR—“Can Women Play with the Men?” (espnW), “State of Uncertainty for Women's Sports” (ESPN)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

We 4.25
Class: Lecture—“Sports on TV”

Upcoming:

Week 15: Serena Williams, Tennis
Mo 4.30
Class: Watch—Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team (2005)

We 5.2
Class: Lecture—“Speed Dates: Thesis Statements”
Due: EDITORIAL ESSAY

Week 16: Lance Armstrong, Cycling
Mo 5.7
Class: Final exam prep; Lecture—“The Final Exam: Thesis Strategies”

We 5.9
Class: Final exam prep
Due: REFLECTION 8

Sa 5.12
FINAL EXAM: 8 AM, LOCATION TBD

Week 17: Wayne Gretzky, Ice Hockey
Mo 5.14
Class: Course review

Sporting News 04.21.12

• 25 games: Number of games Phoenix Coyotes’ Raffi Torres is suspended from after brutal blindside hit Hockey News
• Tweet by the Athletics' Brandon MacCarthy: They put two guys on the 'Kiss Cam' tonight. What hilarity!! (by hilarity I mean offensive homophobia). Enough with this stupid trend. NBC Sports
• A tribute to women's basketball legend Pat Summitt, the winningest coach in NCAA history USA Today
• The new 49ers' new stadium in Santa Clara breaks ground CBS News
• Marc Cuban wonders why NBA stars aren't being paid for the Olympics FOXSports
• The MLS' ratings on NBC off to a decent start Yahoo! Sports

 

Week 13: Mary Lou Retton, Gymnastics

Retton won 5 gold medals at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles

Mo 4.16
Read: eR—“Women’s Professional Soccer Fights to Keep Its Top Status” (New York Times), “Why Women’s Sports Struggle to Gain Popularity” (KPBS)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY (FINAL DRAFT—ATTACH: A. ONE COPY OF DRAFTS 1 & 2 AND B. A TWO PARAGRAPH RATIONALE FOR YOUR FIRST AND SECOND REVISIONS)

We 4.18
Read: eR— “How Media Affects Our Perception of an Athletes Race and Gender” (The Sports Digest), “Women Athletes Have a Reason to Celebrate” (GPhilly)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 7

Upcoming:

WEEK 14: MICHAEL PHELPS, SWIMMING
Mo 4.23
Read: eR—“Can Women Play with the Men?” (espnW), “State of Uncertainty for Women's Sports” (ESPN)
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations

We 4.25
Class: Lecture—“Sports on TV”
Due: EDITORIAL ESSAY