In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set || First feminist blog on the internet

World Cup Woes?

Jill

Save me.

Apparently the little ladies are having some trouble weathering the World Cup season, and are in dire need of over-priced spa packages to alleviate the pain of being football widows.

Perhaps I’m primarily irritated with this tired old “girls don’t like sports” thing because I’ve been watching the World Cup religiously, and I know I’m not the only vagina-owner doing so. I was the sole USA supporter last weekend in a room full of Italians, Greeks and Turks (more than half of whom were women) during the USA/Italy match, and was thoroughly upset when Eddie Pope was kicked out of the game (but gloated when we tied). I was punching my pillow when those damned Swedes tied with England last night. And I was really happy when Ghana beat the Czech Republic.

Is anecdotal evidence all that convincing? No. But nonetheless, it seems that other women aren’t exactly enthusiastic about “escaping” from sports:

For the price of $238, “women who want a break from their World Cup-fanatic husbands or boyfriends” can enjoy a two-night resort stay and daylong spa visit. But it seems the demand might have been overestimated. Christiane Martin, whose hotel offers this girlfriends retreat, said, “Unfortunately, we’ve only had two women here yet and so far we have only one more reservation for the rest of the World Cup.”

Ha. Can’t say I’m surprised.

13 thoughts on World Cup Woes?

  1. And of course, I may be male, but I developed a love of soccer from watching approximately a million of my sister’s matches over the years.

    And I can assure you that she’s watched far more of the cup than I have.

  2. “Unfortunately, we’ve only had two women here yet and so far we have only one more reservation for the rest of the World Cup.”

    LOL! That was lovely.

  3. In NYC at least, there seems to be no gender division when it comes to World Cup watchers. Everyone, everyone is OBSESSED.

    And, by the way, to people of any gender who don’t want to watch – there are libraries.

  4. Blah, more women-are-sports-clueless propaganda. Although I harbour a deep disinterest in american football, I was pissed off for days when I saw posters for a “women’s guide to football” lecture* around my college dorms superbowl-time. I understand the game very well and just can’t get myself to give a damn.

    Mexico v. Portugal on the other hand….

    *they claimed to explain the game in “terms women could understand”. barf.

  5. Phooey on the officiating in the World Cup this year.* I honestly try not to blame officials for doing their job poorly and missing some calls, because i have officiated YMCA football (i refuse to call it s*cc*r) and it’s tough to see everything, but goddamn. Several takedowns inside the 18-yard box have been let go (including two in the Italy-Ghana match that would have given Ghana a chance to at least earn a draw), and FIFA’s mandate that shirt-tugging is an automatic booking has led to insane numbers of yellow cards.

    And i’m not even going into the insanity that was the U.S.-Italy game.

    On the other hand…wow was that goal by Joe Cole yesterday something special. That is why i watch football.

    *Really, phooey on all officiating this past week. Yes, Dwyane Wade is a special player, but last i checked breathing on a player is not a foul, and taking more than two steps without dribbling the basketball is a violation. Yes, i’m from D/FW, and yes, i’m bitter.

  7. The Treble

    Three women who combine serious, in-depth analysis of the game with discussion of the hot players (Luca Toni and Raul Gonzalez are favorites) and the bad haircuts. High-quality entertainment.

  8. I was in England for the past couple of weeks, and there were ads and promotions everywhere for “World Cup Widows.” Restaurants offering set menus for groups, a cable movie channel with “chick flicks”, all kinds of stuff.

    The worst, though, was one World Cup run-up program in which they had short segments before the commercial breaks where they’d ask women randomly grabbed on the street about obscure football slang. And of course they only showed the interviews where the women had the most confused or “amusing” answers. Hurrah for perpetuating tired old stereotypes.

  9. Lovely post, and so well-timed, coming as it does, in the run-up to American Football season (my own sports obsession).

    The “women don’t ‘get’ sports” meme is so old and over-played that it really is beyond the point of needing a proper burial. It’s not dead; it’s a freakin’ fossil, and like all of its kind belongs no where but in a museum.

    Thank you for voicing something that, in my opinion, really can’t be voiced too often. And for giving me a springboard for a mini-rant for my own blog.

Comments are currently closed.