Browsing: sexism

As Iowa hero Caitlin Clark walked off the court for the final time in Sunday’s women’s NCAA National Championship game, a sellout crowd and a nation of people sitting on the edge of their seats from home experienced the power of a game built on empowerment.

Gaming culture has long been a source of misogyny and exclusion. As far as hobbies go, gaming is incredibly inclusive; it doesn’t require certain physical characteristics for success. However, women still experience backlash for participating in this male-dominated sphere.

As a woman, one of my go-to defenses against implicit sexism is repressing my feminine traits in favor of masculine ones. In classes, when I feel underestimated, I quickly bring to mind all my knowledge of football and the stock market. I make sure to hide my pink nails and try not to bring up Taylor Swift. Our “girliness” doesn’t imply inability.

The NFL’s tendency to show clips of Swift attending the games has sparked some controversy in both the sports world and pop culture, with many “dads, Brads and Chads” expressing disdain for her presence, from claiming games are rigged to stating she is ruining football. It’s time to stop hating on Swift for attending Chiefs games, but not for the reason you might think.