T O P I C R E V I E W
Elizabeth Lee
Member # 78504
posted 10-17-2011 08:35 PM
Hello Everyone! I am a little upset because I've always wanted to join wrestling, but unfortunately, only boys can wrestle. The thing is, let's say in soccer, basket ball, etc. they have a girl's team and a boys team. When it comes to wrestling, only boys can do it. It is not fair! It's sexist! It pisses me off! It's like saying girls can't be strong. I wrestle with my cousins a lot. Eventually the rules are gonna change but I'll be totally out of high school. The problem is, I'll be missing out. Can somebody please give me advice on this? Also, why is it that only boys can wrestle? Don't you find it sexist?
KatWA
Member # 42505
posted 10-17-2011 09:02 PM
It's not true that only boys can wrestle. Girls can and DO wrestle and there are girls' wrestling teams.http://www.usgwa.com/ Did you try to join the wrestling team at your school and they told you you can't because you were not a boy? If so, have you thought about talking with the principle about this? I don't believe schools are allowed to discriminate like that. I have known girls who joined the school's wrestling team even though girls and boys were not separated. They usually match people by weight, so you would could wrestle with boys your size. And yes, I absolutely find it sexist if you can't do wrestling in your school but boys can.
Elizabeth Lee
Member # 78504
posted 10-17-2011 09:08 PM
Well, yeah it's my school that won't let girls join. The only girl that was allowed was the leader's daughter. She graduated. But I'm not sure about talking to the principal. I could talk to my counselor. I'm a senior and this is my last year in school. I just hope it's not too late to join.
bump on a log
Member # 60751
posted 10-18-2011 03:30 PM
You've heard of Title IX, right? "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance..." Your school apparently has to: Provide athletic participation opportunities that are substantially proportionate to the student enrollment, OR Demonstrate a continual expansion of athletic opportunities for the underrepresented sex, OR Provide full and effective accommodation of the interest and ability of underrepresented sex. ----------------------------- What this actually means in practice, I don't know, but if there's already been a girl on the wrestling team, and if there is no girls' wrestling team, then I would be surprised if they had a leg to stand on re excluding you on the basis of your sex. I'd advise you to take this up with somebody. If nothing else, you'll be making a point and paving the way for wrestling-interested girls after you.
Selkie
Member # 33078
posted 10-25-2011 06:43 AM
Hey! Guys wrestling leagues do allow girls to join. It's more than just similar weights, they have to be the exact same weight, within the pound* (Exceptions to this are rare, and occur outside the weight classes girls usually wrestle in) Talk to everyone about it. A heads up though: It's very awkward for guys to wrestle girls though, and it's slightly less awkward to practice with them. If you do get on, it's not going to be easy by a long shot. Also, the wrestling with your cousins- is it play wrestling, or roman-grecko? Edit: When I was looking at the scene, in the lowest classes, girls were winning all the tournaments. This could also be pointed out! [ 10-25-2011, 07:22 AM: Message edited by: Selkie ]
RaeRay2112
Member # 49582
posted 10-25-2011 07:19 AM
Elizabeth, as someone who used to wrestle, I found that a good way to deal with any kind of discrimination is to politely point out that although XY (usually depicted as 'men's') and XX (usually described as women's) bodies are slightly different (due to their different ways to contributing to reproduction), there is no weaker or stronger body overall. Those XX ('women') and those XY ('men') have different centers of gravity. Also, XXs have greater lower body strength whereas XYs have greater strength in the upper body. This doesn't mean that you can't wrestle each other, but you may have slightly different combat styles. [ 10-25-2011, 07:20 AM: Message edited by: RaeRay2112 ]