The Challenge of Treating Girls as Athletes
It’s not easy sometimes to think of girls in general as athletes. Popular culture doesn’t encourage them to think of themselves that way either. But if you can help your daughters to think of their athletic potential you can help them build some good lifetime habits.
I didn’t get into soccer on my own growing up, for example. My youngest sister wanted to play and so my mother signed us both up. My opinion only had so much to do with it.
But I sure had fun!
My oldest daughter is a bit more into sports than I was some ways. Not in every way. Neither of us is really into watching a lot of sports on television, but I think a part of that for her has to do with her grandfather pushing for her to watch Sooners football on TV with him. If he’d push it less hard he might have a chance.
He also really pressures her about going to OU as he did, and that’s turning her away from that idea too. I’m sure college seems like a million years in the future to her 7 year old mind.
And that’s the thing. Pressure isn’t the way to go, or at least not excessive pressure.
When my daughter came home one day early in the school year with flyers for cheerleading and karate classes, and wanting to take cheerleading, I found a way to make her want karate more. Nothing against cheerleading (aside from the cost), but I’d rather she take a self defense course. She’d had a month of it before and really enjoyed it, so changing her mind was just a matter of pointing out that her brother was just old enough to take karate with her.
She also wants to play soccer someday. We’ll have to find a way to get that done eventually for her. It’s not currently the time of year for sign ups so for the moment there’s nothing to be done for it.
I’d just as cheerfully sign her up for dance or gymnastics if she wanted them and they were in the budget. She’s done both of those, around ages 3 and 4, when there really aren’t a lot of choices.
Sure, those are more classic female sports, but to me the first step is to get girls active and thinking as athletes. There’s a lot to learn from being athletic no matter the sport.
When you think of your daughter doing sports, listen to what she wants. If you have a preference of your own, say so, but remember to respect what interests her.
But encourage them to mix it up. Have them take ballet and basketball perhaps. Let them see that there is more to girls sports than the classics. They might just fall in love with a sport they hadn’t really known they could play.
Tags: girl athletes, perspective, thinking
