In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed Title IX, a law that states discriminating against the opposite sex in any federally funded education program or activity is not allowed. This law is still in use to this day. That same year, 15.6 percent of college athletes were women, and it grew to 34.8 percent by 1993.
The total amount of women college athletes has grown in the last 10 years. According to the NCAA, in the 20120-2011 school year, the number of women participating in college sports were 191,131, while the number of men that participated in sports were 252,946. While it is wonderful that women are given the opportunity to play the sports they love, they still face the occasional double standards and difficulties that come with being an athlete, which can happen all the way back in middle and/or high school, so you have to wonder how the women who play feel about this issue.
I decided to interview athletes Camyla Hernandez-Meneses and Emily Farrow, and they talked about the sports they love, how they began, their triumphs, their losses, and the sexism they have faced along the way.
Camyla Hernandez-Meneses; Wrestler at McKendree University.
So, let's go back to the beginning: how did you get started with wrestling?
Hernandez: I was recruited by the coaches at Freedom High School. They said they saw me playing flag football and weightlifting and thought I would be great for wrestling.
What was your first practice like? Were you nervous? Tired? Annoyed?
Hernandez: I was super nervous. There was one other girl and 50 something boys. So yeah, I was super nervous for honestly the first couple months. I was dead the next day and never felt so sore in my life. I knew wrestling was going to be hard, but it was on another level; a different kind of course from what I was used to.
When did you start wrestling? And what made you want to continue in college?
Hernandez: I started wrestling at the end of my junior year, even though it was little time compared to others, wrestling since [they were] young. I decided I loved the feeling of getting my hand raised, and putting in lots of hard work was the best feeling too; the hard work was always worth it.
Have you broken any records while in high school or in college?
Hernandez: I was the first female placer; I went undefeated my senior year season. Pretty sure I broke all the records for girls in high school, but there was never any girls to set them before me, and so I was never taken seriously when I said they should pay more attention to [my] accomplishments.
Really?
Hernandez: Yes. I won first at three tournaments senior year as well. The guys have accomplishments for most pins, most take-downs, most wins, most everything, and the girls nothing. I tried to leave a print behind as best as I could for the next girls to have some motivation to beat something.
Which brings me to my next question: what are the disadvantages of being a female athlete? If there are any.
Hernandez: Everything about being a female athlete is a disadvantage! There's tons of stuff. For example, I had to fight to get my picture up in the wrestling room, when every single guy who does anything even below me gets a picture up. Your achievements are never as good as the guys'. Everything you do is compared to the guys, and it never amounts to be enough. You have to work harder, not to beat out the girls, but the boys.
Do you believe there is a sexist/misogynistic issue in sports?
Hernandez: Yes, I do.
Was it worse in high school or college?
Hernandez: High school, for sure. College women's wrestling is on the come up, and it is highly respected.
How did it feel to win the athletic award at Senior day?
Hernandez: I was just more focused on working my ass off all year to get to where I wanted, and even though the season was over, I was more focused on college next. So while they were handing out the awards, I was on my way to work out.
Do you plan to train for the Olympics?
Hernandez: As of right now, I'm focusing on catching up and working harder than ever to catch up to the girls who have years of experience on me, but maybe sometime in the future I will make that choice.
What was that moment that made you fall in love with the sport?
Hernandez: My first time getting my hand raised and seeing the smile on my parents' faces.
I love that. Is there any advice you have for female wrestlers who are just beginning?
Hernandez: I'd say no matter who or what knocks you down, there's always going to be bumps in life, and especially in this sport. Even if you lose 100 times, do it for yourself. Do it because you know you're leaving it all out there, be proud of yourself first. Do it because it makes you happy, not because you are forced, or because you only want to win. Follow your heart and I hope you fall in love this sport as much as I did.
Emily Farrow; Played Lacrosse for Grand Valley State University.
So, you played Lacrosse. How did you first start and get into the game?
Farrow: When I was in middle school, I was on the basketball, soccer, and track team. I always loved playing sports. I had friends who were in high school who got me into playing lacrosse.
How did tryouts go for you? Were you nervous?
Farrow: I was really nervous trying out because I was new at the sport and had never played on an official team before. The girls were pretty welcoming and helpful though, and soon became family to me! I really miss my high school years of lacrosse. If I could go back, I would definitely tell my coaches and team mates how much they meant to me and how they made my high school experience something positive that I'll always remember
That's really nice. Would you say that your coaches and team mates inspired you to continue in college?
Farrow: Yes! My freshman year, one of my coaches told me that if I kept up the hard work, that I could get a scholarship to play in college. That night, I looked up club teams to play on in Orlando and found a team that was specifically meant for college recruiting. By the end of my junior year, I had multiple offers to play in college! Without my coaches believing in me, I definitely wouldn't be where I am today.
Speaking of college, you attended GVSU and were part of their lacrosse team, correct?
Farrow: Yes. I had a scholarship to play lacrosse at GVSU. I still currently attend GVSU, but am no longer a part of the team.
May I ask why?
Farrow: My first semester was hard. I battle every day with ADHD and depression, and the whole transition to college made it a million times worse. Waking up for a 5 a.m. practice, then going to night practice, and then having the motivation to do homework for all of my classes was near impossible. I also had some differences with my coach. Looking toward the future, I made the right decision for me. Participating in a college sport my freshman year allowed me to make lifelong friends and really learn how to manage my time and deal with my stress better for sure.
That can be difficult, especially with depression, and so much to balance can be overwhelming. What school are you transferring to?
Farrow: I am really hoping to transfer to Florida State University! I haven't heard back yet, but I will be taking classes at Tallahassee Community College over the summer. I'm hoping to play lacrosse at FSU as well, but the club instead of actual NCAA lacrosse.
You actually answered my next question! So, I'll ask you this; have you ever thought that women who play sports don't get the recognition they deserve?
Farrow: Definitely not. There's not even a professional women's lacrosse league, but there is a men's. At my college, we were treated pretty equally, but I have friends at division 1 colleges who say that they barely get recognized.
For your sport, especially in college, do you believe that that you or any other female athlete did not get the recognition they deserved?
Farrow: There are significantly fewer scholarships available for my sport than there are for other sports. I do think that GVSU is pretty fair in recognizing all athletes. I even had professors that would come up and ask me for my game schedule and have been asking how the season has been going. I know that this is not the case at every college though.
How about for high school?
Farrow: High school is definitely unfair. People barely knew we had a lacrosse team. At most we would have five people in the stands. But at football or basketball games, the gym and stadium are packed.
That's true. Female athletes work just as hard as the guys.
Farrow: Yup! Especially if the female athletes are trying to get recruited because most women's college sports programs have fewer scholarships to give out compared to men's sports.
Did you ever think that you would get a scholarship for Lacrosse?
Farrow: No way. Especially because I was competing with girls up north who have played since they were five, and I had only a year of experience when I was trying to get recruited. However, hard work always pays off! I'd go from school practice to club practice, go home and do homework almost every night! In the end, it was worth it.
Not to mention you were VP of SGA. You had so much going on and you still made it to practice?
Farrow: And wrestling team, weightlifting team, and the golf team! I think because I was able to juggle so much in high school that I thought I could in college, but that wasn't the case. College classes are just so much harder compared to high school.
So, if you could give advice to any female athletes, what would you say?
Farrow: Work hard! Don't let anyone tell you that you can't get a scholarship, because you can. Even if it's your senior year, try out for the sport you've always wanted to try, because why not? Don't let anyone EVER discourage you from a sport because it is "too manly." I had my friends tell me that all the time when I decided to wrestle and joining the wrestling team, and it was one of the best parts of my high school career!
Female Athletes today do deal with the downfall of not being as recognized as male athletes are, but as long as we have women like Camyla Hernandez-Meneses and Emily Farrow, who are making their mark and paving the way in their respective sports for other female athletes who would want to join a sport, women can work hard to reach personal goals, and receive the recognition they deserve for all their accomplishments.
