I grew up playing multiple sports and being part of a family where sports were always on T.V. and held to the highest importance. So, it was only natural that I grew up to be a lover of sports. Cheering on your favorite team amidst fellow fans is one of the best things anyone can experience. Yes, even as a girl.
When I went to college, I learned that not many people share my love for sports, and I've found that it's truly hard to be a girl sports fan. Here are some of the struggles female sports fans know to be true:
1. Being excited to watch the big game while your friends have no interest
My excitement of an upcoming OKC vs. Golden State Warriors game is very different from most girls in college. When your friends finally give in and watch the game with you, you are constantly asked " What's going on?" and given strange looks when they see you screaming at the T.V.
2. Having to constantly prove you're a fan
People automatically assume because I am a female that I don't know sports. I get asked the classic question: "Name 5 people on the team." Meanwhile, a male would never be asked this question or have to prove that he was a sports fan. Maybe one day us female sports fans can live without double standards.
3. Having a sub-par sports apparel selection
Apparently being a female means we want sports gear pink and bedazzled. Most clothing is super unauthentic and often times not very attractive.
4. People thinking you're a bandwagon fan
Constantly dealing with people thinking you like a sports team because LeBron is playing or because Steph Curry's family is incredibly cute. This is often followed by a detailed description of why you actually like the team and a list of statistics of the team and players.
5. Dealing with other girls pretending to know sports
Most girls who are pretending to know sports are doing it to either get attention or impress a guy. In my opinion, this just makes the females that know sports have to prove themselves even more. If you don't know sports, just be up front about it and learn if you're interested.
6. Never feeling like your opinion is valuable in a heated sports debate
Always feeling like your opinion is being disregarded in the middle of a male dominated sports debate and getting those crazy stares when your point is valid.
7. Feeling pressure to keep up with every obsolete stat and piece of trivia
Oh, you watch football? "What was the blood type of the NY Giants coach in 1997?" SERIOUSLY?!
8. "Oh, so you must love the WNBA?"
Yes, I watch the WNBA sometimes and I also love to watch women's college sports. But, I also watch men's games as well. Being a female sports fan doesn't mean I only watch women's sports
9. Thinking we only watch to check out the hot players...
We don't only watch sports because Odell Beckham is attractive. To most people's surprise I actually enjoy watching the sport not the men playing it.
10. "Did your dad teach you to like sports?"
In my case, my dad did teach me sports and we bond over our love of sports, but this is not the case for all females. Passing on the tradition of being a sports fan doesn't only come from the male gender.
