Single Storied Sport Superstar

Single Storied Sport Superstar

There have been multiple occasions when, (don't get me wrong, I'm no in-your-face feminist), females have stepped up to the plate in athletics of multiple kinds, and have been viewed or treated as inferior.

At the same time, the sing-story I just presented can come with a complex that convolutes that theory.
In some extremes, girls might set out to prove themselves until every man on a playing field will deem her "incredible, capable, a true champ." But, in times of adversity, those very girls may be quick to pull the "I'm a girl, no fair/go easy," card. Hold up. What just happened.

Women are capable. Men are capable. Each and all come equipped with talents. But genders may have more latitude in certain areas, what with the larger portion of testosterone distributed to the latter sex, generally speaking. So, when girls or guys on co-ed T-Ball, soccer, tennis, or Ultimate Frisbee teams set out to defend both sides-- meaning they fight for equality by means of equal ball possession, while later arguing to be cut some slack due to gender differences, it is being hypocritical.

http://www.feminist.org/research/sports/sports4.html

I'll never forget the years of glory, making my way out to the Saturday morning ultimate frisbee field. More often than not, I was the only girl who came out to play. Every other participant was a fully grown man, within the age range of 20-45 years old. There were times when I was beckoned closer by teammates who doubted my ability to catch a disk while in quick motion. Up and down the field, and all I wanted to do was contribute to the fast-paced fluidity. But then, what's this? The pity beckoning of a certain man's hand to stop dead in my tracks, and cave to his insulting summon? I think not. It was a small, quick moment, but one that wracked me at my core. How dare he assume that I was any less able than my male counterparts?

And then the second part of the story. Occasionally the game would wax a bit competitive, with the occasional body slam or two. Tackle football anyone? There were times that I would be assigned to guard a guy who was three times my size. I remember distinctly being jumbled and pushed around by this guy, and made the rookie mistake of chanting out "stop, I'm a girl!"

It must have been like nails on a chalkboard for my uncle, who swiftly corrected me.
He let me know that as I long as I made out to be equivalent on that field, with every other man who was three times my size and age, I could not allow myself to back down from that in a moment of defeated weakness. It was cheap. He was right.

I think society must be careful to not only avoid harmful single stories, but also the duplex where we decide to employ a double single-sided story strategy.