“You Play Like a Girl!” Summary and Analysis

        Throughout the chapter “You Play Like a Girl!” the idea that females playing or even being allowed to play games on the same level as males is very difficult and has many different implications. There are many different obstacles that women face, whether not being allowed to play a sport with men or the perceived limitations of women. These perceived limitations include that men don’t think women are strong enough, they are not their equals, they are too masculine, and also limitations that women put on themselves. Women that play sports often are criticized for not being feminine and not being sexually desirable. These societal ideas make certain women not want to expose themselves to that scrutiny. An interesting idea brought up in this article was that years of “cultural conditioning” have made it difficult for women to play on the same level as men in the same way that men play with each other (493). Men are told they are supposed to never hit women, and this concept can take out of the competitiveness because men are thinking about this and not about the game. There is just so many different sides to why women should and should not play on the same level as men, which leads to as the book describes “a lose/lose situation” (495). If a man loses to a woman, he defeated a “weaker” opponent, but if the woman wins, the man is given the shame of being defeated by someone he should have easily beaten. Also women may be taunted if they win against a man, so there is the possibility of no one being happy in a situation like that.      
      This chapter truly highlighted the obstacles women face in competing on the same level as men and also the reason why men may be more reserved or even completely opposed to women competitors. There are so many different perceptions and stereotypes that are involved that take away from the competition. It is difficult to break down the “cultural conditioning” and many people don’t even want to try, which is a shame. It takes awhile to change a whole society’s viewpoint, but the article gave some options for improvement. I think the best way to improve this situation is definitely have cross-gender play be “frequent, routine, and enjoyable” (499). Making cross-gender play normal can help break stereotypes and preconceived notions because it’s what people think about women playing on the same field as men, not the actual competition that causes the most issues. Also the chapter mentions reinforcing “emerging perceptions of physically strong, competitive, aggressive females as sexually desirable” (499). Breaking down the barrier and the belief that athletic women are “masculine” and less attractive is the next step to making women more open to cross-gender competition. In turn if more women are willing to participate, the more “normal” it becomes. I believe that the chapter has given some great options and I don’t believe they will work overnight, but people need to start with being more open-minded and supportive of cross-gender play.