A great read about Mo'ne Davis, and another one about why she matters to girls in sport. While this story is a bit old, I think it's a great example of a change maker, a trendsetter. Do you think Mo'ne's performance is a sign of more girls and women playing baseball? Do you think this is just an anomaly? Share your thoughts.
I want to say that I recognize this might be a touchy subject. My intention is not pit people against each other or set someone up to say "women don't belong." I do think accessibility at early ages is hugely important for girls, and I think this is a complicated issue.
Mo’ne is a key figure in extending what it means to be a baseball player to women. Mo’ne has worked hard to get to where she is and clearly has a talent, and she shows that girls can be just as good as, if not better than, boys. I think she also serves as a perfect heroine for young girls aspiring to be baseball players but who might not have had a role model to look up to before. Despite these positive things, I don’t think America is ready to see baseball as a mixed gender sport. Because more boys play than girls, there are no teams solely for girls, and our society believes in the idea that baseball is a boys sport, I think Mo’ne unfortunately will be an anomaly for a while. Until our society stops believing in rigid gender roles, girls more often than not will not pursue their baseball passions due to lack of opportunity or society telling them not to. So, though Mo’ne’s story is a huge step in the right direction by opening dialogue and showing the world that girls have just as much potential, I think it will take a lot more from society before more girls and women make it as far in baseball as they want to and as far as boys do.
ReplyDeleteReading this prompt/article made me think of a seemingly unrelated instance, but bear with me. I was with three friends and we were speculating about jumping off a high cliff into a shadowy lake that may have had rocks. It was sketchy and I was not able to build enough confidence to leap off. Before either of my friends had jumped, I would have said there is no way. After one jumped, and laughed from his place in the lake, I proceeded to jump with very little fear. In my opinion Mo'net is equivalent to that friend who allowed me to follow him, and hopefully female athletes will be equivalent to me in that instance and take the leap. She raised the level of what is perceived by young girls as their athletic "ceiling", in the same respect that Jackie Robinson was a trailblazer for blacks. This piece, and Mo'net being a dominant female pitcher among malesm is ironic in that one of the most common sayings that perpetuates a gender hierarchy in sports is "you throw like a girl". Because of Mo'net, being told you throw like a girl might someday be a damn good compliment.
ReplyDeleteI think that there are definitely more girls playing baseball in the past couple of years. A couple of the teams in our league have girls on their teams and a bunch of other schools we play have girls too. Also, one of the best prospects from France happens to be a female infielder. I think that more girls will be inclined to play baseball now after watching female ball playing role models. Also, softball has been becoming much less popular I think, so girls might be pushed to play baseball instead sometimes. I think that the number of girls playing baseball will continue to grow little by little, but I think that there might a low ceiling on the percentage of female baseball players as America's pastime is tied so closely to masculinity.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sofia in saying that I do not think America is ready for complete integration between men and women in baseball. But I think that Davis' talent level shown on a big stage is a huge step forward in coming to this point. I think what Mo'ne has shown is that women should have there own professional baseball leagues instead of just softball. As Isaacson talks about in her article, softball is losing its popularity and is much different than baseball. Instead of trying to make two completely different sports for men and women, why not just make different leagues. Although this still means separation between men and women, this would update the game of baseball to the same place that many other professional sports are at. I think what Mo'ne Davis also showed is that a women's baseball league would not fall flat but instead bring lots of fans, giving a potential money incentive for a WMLB. Davis could have helped break another huge barrier in the game of baseball.
ReplyDeleteAs our society becomes more tolerant of fluid gender roles, I think the widespread participation of women in stereotypically “male sports” will increase. Mo’ne is simply one publicized example of this change occurring. She is receiving a lot of attention for playing baseball on all boys team, yet this is happening everywhere. For example, a friend of mine at MA played on an in an all male water polo league, and I used to go to basketball camp that was 80% boys. I remember that when I was young, it didn’t seem like a big deal to play with the boys; I was taller than all of them anyway. However, now, I could not imagine playing basketball with boys. Since hitting puberty, they have grown much taller than me and, in general, have different physical capabilities. I wonder if as Mo’ne gets older her gender will become more apparent on the field. I hope it will remain a non-issue, because she clearly loves the sport as much as any boy and should be able to continue to grow as a player. In all, I believe that the participation of women in sports like baseball and football will help bring about gender equality in our society.
ReplyDeleteI am inspired by Mo'ne's desire to continue competing against boys and certainly do not think that her participation is an anomaly. I agree with Ian, it only takes one to break the pattern and open up an opportunity for others. Mo'ne's talent is inspirational and the attention she has received will spread her story and allow others to follow her footsteps. I think that it is important for boys and girls to play sports with each other. It fosters a mindset of gender equality within children, which will hopefully transition into other aspects of life. On another note, I believe that the MLB will be the first gender integrated professional league, if one is ever to exist. Baseball is does not involve a lot of physical contact, which is often what deters males from competing against females. As toddlers we are taught to never hit a girl, it is engrained within our society, which makes it difficult for guys to play contact sports against girls. Additionally, there are practically no female baseball leagues, opposed to basketball and soccer. I hope that baseball continues to grow in the female demographic and am excited to see the progression.
ReplyDeleteEven though Mo’ne was dominant in her team’s LLWS run, I would have to say that I believe her dominance is kind of an anomaly. Mo’ne has a strong advantage over other 12 and 13 year old girls because of her large physique. Her physical advantages allow her to throw the ball very fast, something that other girls her age do not have the natural ability to do. Additionally, as girls grow older, the physique of teenaged boys increases rapidly, and eventually, men have much more muscle mass and physical advantages in their structure over that of women. While Mo’ne definitely has the same love of the game as other boys her age, in the long run, she is at a significant disadvantage because of the natural makeup of girls’ bodies vs. boys’ bodies. I still believe that a lot of girls could be inspired by Mo’ne’s performance and that could increase the amount of female little leaguers. However, as girls grow older, it could be difficult for them to be at the same level as that of men.
ReplyDeleteWhat Mo'ne Davis did during the LLWS was absolutely amazing and something that as americans we have not seen very often. When I was in Pre-K and early years in school I played tee ball which then progressed into machine pitch and then coach pitch and so on. Over the years the number of female participants continued to drop until finally it was all boys. There was no rule that stated girls could not play, they all just stopped over time. Mo'ne is an example of a girl who stuck with baseball and due to her natural athleticism was able to thrive. However, unfortunately I feel that what Mo'ne Davis did was an anomaly. Little League baseball is dominated by guys and the maturity of middle school students often does not result in an environment where a girl would really enjoy a team of all boys. This is the same reason why a ballet class for middle school students is almost always predominately female, young kids do not want participate in an activity that is not stereotypically tied to their gender out of fear of looking different. There is also the concept that as men grow older they grow to be larger and stronger than most females adding another set of obstacles for girls who wish to pursue baseball. It would be tough to compete beyond Little League and highschool for a girl unless she was able to be the same size as the men she was competing with.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings about this subject. While Mo'ne does serve as a role model for so many young girls because of her talent and her defiance towards the male dominated sport, it is also difficult to deny the anatomical differences between men and women. At her age Mo'ne has an advantage over the boys in the league, and therefore the rarity of her situation is shown through a positive light. However, based on the anatomy of men and women, her advantage may not last for long. This is a crucial argument for why there are separate leagues for men and women. What is wrong, though, is the fact that a woman must be thrust into a community of all men in order to play baseball. There is no equivalent for women, and so, Mo'ne Davis along with other girls are isolated for choosing a sport they love.
ReplyDeleteI think the situation with Mo'ne Davis and girls in high school baseball is a very complicated situation in general. Most girls will gravitate towards softball, but some enjoy and are good at baseball. While girls who are good enough to play baseball deserve a spot on the team, there can be some complicated situations that arise. For example, at MA, we have no softball team. If a boy who had never played baseball but watched the sport wanted to come out and play he would be absolutely allowed to. But this situation with a girl would make for an uncomfortable scenario. I also thought the commentary on physical development was very interesting. While a woman who is good enough to play in the big leagues would almost certainly be welcome (there was even a female pitcher in the minor leagues), it would be hard for her to keep up physically long term. I don't think the lack of women in baseball is all prejudiced. But young girls do need more exposure at a young age, especially because that is the best time for them to compete with the boys. If you get girls are given more exposure, perhaps some could continue to compete. The New York times article does mention that physical ability isn't everything. This is true, however, pitchers that rely solely on control and placement are a rare breed to begin with. Mo'ne Davis is a good example of what can happen when girls are not steered away from baseball at an early age, and it will be interesting to see how far she can go in her athletic career.
ReplyDeleteI think that Mo'ne Davis is a very unique and special junior athlete. I do agree with the author of the NY times article that ages 11 to 13 is really some of the only ages where a girl could compete successfully with boys on the same baseball field, and that is only because how women and men develop differently. I think this story was fun and inspiring to watch unfold but I think it is unrealistic to say that Mo'ne could continue competing with boys into college or maybe even high school. Amazing women athletes come along, such as Brittney Griner, the Baylor basketball player, and it seems like they could play with men, but I believe that due to physical differences between male and female, these athletes are anomalies. Men and women are separated in all sports, because there are biological physical differences. The fact that the same applies to baseball is not unfair, but it was cool and different to see a girl play baseball with boys in the Little League World Series.
ReplyDeleteLike Kiki, I have mixed feelings towards this subject. While I am very inspired and impressed with Mo'ne Davis and her defiance towards gender constructs in sports, I feel that the fact that girls generally hit their growth spurts 2 years before boys needs to be discussed. I think that for gender equality in sports to actually be a reality in our society, it begins with the general public's respect for women's sports. The anatomical differences between boys and girls at ages 11-13 is incredibly important to recognize. The team that Mo'ne plays for actually has an advantage; Mo'ne is approximately 2 years ahead of all of the other team's members in terms of growth and development. If the gender roles were switched, for example a 18 year old boy playing on a "girls" soccer team would be considered completely unfair. While I do respect Mo'ne for challenging stereotypical gender norms, I think that her role in boy's Little League Baseball only exemplifies the anatomical differences between men and women, thus emphasizing the stereotypical gender norms in our society.
ReplyDeleteI distinctly remember when I was younger and I played baseball, Miranda Schwartz would always play on our baseball team. Possibly one of the only girls in the Mill Valley league every year. But she could compete with everyone else and she was out there because she wanted to enjoy the sport of baseball. I see a similar spark in Mo'ne Davis. She just wants to play baseball with everyone else, and she has the skill set to allow her to. Now whether she could continue to compete in boys baseball, I cannot say. But what I can say, is it all comes down to athletic ability and skill. If its there, then of course she can compete with boys. But if he level becomes surpassed by all the boys once they have finished growing, then the possibilities dwindle. As inspiring as her story was, I believe it is something that only happens in Little League and never makes its way past that. I'm not saying women are incapable of competing with men at higher levels, but merely it is a rare occurrence and not something I particularly see going up anytime soon. To wrap up, it was quite awesome to see Mo'ne in the Little League World Series, and playing so well.
ReplyDeleteI think the Mo’ne Davis story is very inspiring, and shines a positive light on girls playing sports with boys. I agree with the author of the New York Times article that Mo’ne Davis has a clear physical advantage over the other boys in the LLWS. I think the main barrier between women’s and men’s sports. Mo’ne Davis, having her clear physical advantage, is able to compete with boys her age, but this is not the norm for most girls. I think the physical differences present a difficult barrier for many girls trying to play baseball, but I also think the social barrier is just as relevant. Mentioned in the NY Times article, the lack of girls playing boys sports has created a clear divide. I believe what Mo’ne Davis has done for girls is amazing and very courageous, but I think it is an anomaly because of the physical differences and social barriers that push girls away from playing sports with boys.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Kiki and Tabby because although Mo'ne Davis is opening the doors for other young women to participate in competitive baseball, her age and advantage makes it so this experience is limited to 11-13 year old. I would love to think that more women are beginning to play the game of baseball because it would be a sign that America's National Pastime is being enjoyed by all Americans. I think that her performance is an anomaly because of the two year advantage she holds over the boys the same age as her. Both of these articles frustrated me because although it is trying to send a message that women could play a larger role in the world of sports, it continues to perpetuate the idea that men and women should not be in the same leagues. In general, I believe that Davis is trying to have a positive impact in sports but social norms make hard for her performance to play a larger role in the game of baseball.
ReplyDeleteI think that the example of Mo’ne Davis reflects changes occurring in society that are not necessarily confined to the sports world. From an athletic standpoint, Davis serves as a role model, someone who young girls can aspire to be like when they grow older. I think that this will influence more girls to play not only baseball, but also other sports as well. As young girls see Davis’ degree of success in an almost completely male event, they will inevitably think, “Why not me?” This alone will open the gate to girls who had not previously believed in themselves as athletes. Although this story is about baseball, I can see similar examples occurring in other sports as well. However, as the article states, physical attributes begin to play a more significant role as boys and girls begin develop and mature. At a younger age, girls mature more quickly than boys and more often than not are the tallest in their class. However, as time goes on, the boys usually begin develop into somewhat more physically capable beings. Because of this purely physical difference, I do not anticipate that women will regularly play baseball at the highest levels (though there are some outliers), such as in college or the MLB. Looking beyond sports, I see Davis as having a more significant role in society. As stated before, she serves as a role model not only for girls who want to play mostly males sports, but for young women in all facets of society. Moving past stereotypes, the world has already started to adjust to different gender roles. As these changes occurs, I think that Mo’ne Davis’ will have a greater impact will than simply on girls who play baseball.
ReplyDeleteI think Mo'ne is inspiring young girls everywhere chase their dreams in sports and although that sounds cheesy, I do believe Mo'ne's actions speak louder than any words anyone could say about girls in baseball. In the world of sports, boys/men dominate practically all aspects of it. People watch the NBA, MLB, MLS, and there are female "equivalents" to those, but the reality of it is, is that people don't watch the female versions of popular sports nearly as much as the male version of the same sports. So I think that Mo'ne making a name for herself in a sport run by males shows that she is a change-maker for girls in baseball.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that women shouldn't play baseball is just plain wrong. In America, there is only a very small number of girls who are currently playing on high school teams, and the idea that only the girls who are especially gifted are fit to play is absurd. High school sports are supposed to be recreational and fun, and yet young women are denied access to some sports because of their skill level. While the doctor in the first article states that young men are naturally more athletic and aggressive, it does not mean that baseball should be kept to one sex. If a young man happened to not be particularly gifted at a sport, he would be put on the JV team, not cut entirely. People need to remember that until college, sports are about having fun and growing as a person, and that all people can benefit from these things.
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