Is today so controlled by gender norms that girls can't like sports without being accused of simply trying to impress the boys? Are all females supposed to spend our free time on shopping websites and watching "Keeping Up With The Kardashians"? That certainly doesn't sound like what I do with my free time.
True life: I'm a girl and I like sports.
I can't tell you how many times someone has responded negatively when I mention my love for sports. Many, if not most, think I'm trying to impress guys. I've been told that I need to go back to doing my makeup and gossiping with friends. News flash: not every girl likes those things. Sure, I put on makeup in the morning. However, I put on my makeup with ESPN on.
I spend more time watching sports and looking at stats and news than most of my guy friends. I can ramble on and on about three point percentages, player strengths and weaknesses, and bad play choices. Sometimes my guy friends don't even know about some of the things I know. For those that actually know me, they come to me when they have a sports related question.
I do, however, find it humorous when guys try to quiz me thinking I won't know the answers. The looks on their face when I can answer their questions correctly gives me a little fuzzy feeling in my heart.
Now, I get that there are girls who pretend to like sports and try to actively watch them for guy purposes, but that doesn't mean all of us are faking it. In fact, it's really easy to spot those that actually like sports and those that don't. I promise, it's just as frustrating to us girls that like sports to see girls pretending as it is to guys. Those girls ruin it for us too.
Being a girl who likes sports shouldn't have to be so difficult. I shouldn't have to answer questions testing my sports knowledge, but thanks to society's role on gender norms, sports are a man's domain and apparently I'm trespassing.
Well, bring on your fine or your next sports quiz because I'm that girl that wears her sports tees and jerseys more than her other clothes, screams at the TV, and never misses a game.
Energetic dance performance under the spotlight.
Taylor Swift in a purple coat, captivating the crowd on stage.
Taylor Swift shines on stage in a sparkling outfit and boots.
Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers sharing a joyful duet on stage.
