By Mary Granath Posted December 16, 2009
Although most people may think of men’s sports as being more violent, in recent years an upsurge in violence has been occurring in women’s sports. This unsportsmanlike conduct has been causing trouble not only in professional sports but also at the high school and college level.
Most of us remember seeing footage of Serena Williams flying off the handle at the U.S. Open, but if you thought that was outrageous it’s nothing compared to the temper of Elizabeth Lambert, a New Mexico soccer player with attitude. When facing off against BYU in a soccer match, Lambert jerked one of her opponents to the ground by their ponytail, punched another in the back, and repeatedly kicked and tripped girls until they fell to the ground. The only punishment Lambert received during the game was a yellow card. It wasn’t until a few days later after reviewing the footage that Lambert was suspended indefinitely by the University of New Mexico.
However, in men’s sports, this behavior is not only common but sometimes even expected. Why then does it become nationwide news when aggressive outbursts occur in women’s sports? Many people claim that it’s because such a flare-up simply isn’t anticipated coming from a woman, but why shouldn’t it be? Women are just as competitive as men and apply themselves just as hard to whatever sport they are involved in.
Even more hypocritical than the disgrace it brings is the punishment the women sometimes receive. In many cases, women are fined more or suspended longer than men would be if they had committed the same act. Serena Williams was fined $82,500 in September for her outburst, however, in 2001 Roberto Alomar, the second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles, received virtually no punishment for spitting in an umpire’s face. Alomar received a 5-game suspension, but after appeal was allowed to play numerous games before serving his suspension.
The treatment women are receiving in response to an occasional angry outbreak is unfair and undeserved. Before people judge, they should consider how they would feel about the same outbreak if it was a man doing the complaining. It’s unreasonable to hold women to a different standard than men simply because there is a skewed view that women must be polite and angelic.
