There’s a huge stereotype surrounding women who love sports. As a hockey fanatic, I often hear men and even other women state (and sometimes tell me directly) that I can’t like sports because I am a girl. People come up with reasons to justify their statements, that girls only watch for the good-looking guys, to get attention from men, or to seem “cool.” To me, playing and watching sports has been a part of my life since I was young. I grew up with a love for the sports I played, and learned how other sports were played by watching them. To me, watching football on Sundays with the guys wasn’t about getting attention or fitting in; it was about my legitimate enjoyment for watching and playing sports, and it just so happened that there were like-minded people there who happened to be male in the vicinity.
Watching sports feels natural to me because of the time I spent playing sports. Growing up, I was taught how to throw a baseball, hit a golf ball, and shoot a hockey puck. This wasn’t to impress guys (I was five at the time), it was to determine my interests and give me skills that I could use in general social situations. I grew up around hockey, and so it was only natural that I began to skate and play at a young age. The more I played, the more invested in the professional game I became. I learned players’ names, picked a favorite team, and kept stats on my favorite players. None of this was done for attention, but for a serious and genuine love I had developed for the game.
Additionally, having passionate sports fans in my family meant get-togethers were centered around time together and sporting events taking place that day. On Sundays, usually someone in my family would host football parties. Likewise, during baseball season we watched Pirates games, and when the Olympics would come around, we all would be glued to every event. It was never implied that the women could not appreciate or enjoy the games, or that they were only there to appear “cool” to the men in the room. We enjoyed each other’s company, and the gathering was centered around something we all enjoyed doing together.
I’m not implying that people who do not understand sports shouldn’t watch them - there’s no better way to learn than to watch, and we all start somewhere- I’m attempting to assist people in understanding that any person can enjoy anything. Men can enjoy makeup tutorials, just as women are welcome to enjoy sports. At the end of the day, sports can bring people closer, whether they are players or spectators, superfans or casual supporters. It doesn’t matter if someone is male or female, if they know the rules or just like the idea of the game, anyone and everyone is welcome to enjoy all sorts of sports.
