Comments on: 10 beautiful, strong, independent, football women

By: Kennyville

Kennyville — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:05:54 +0000

Princess Gabby logan must the the highest paid broadcaster at BBC radio 5-Live

By: sassyone

sassyone — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 05:51:32 +0000

Chris not only do I like to read about actual ‘real football’ but I am also a woman sports reporter (specialising in actual, real football) although I do find that men are sometimes shocked and awed that I actually know the same, if not more than them, which I find quite a satisfying surprise, I am lucky to have not come across too many sexist fella’s in my time (I don’t work in England, which is probably why) all I’m saying is although everyone is entitled to their opinion I think you are quite possibly using the wrong platform in which to voice it.

By: James

James — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:02:16 +0000

Hey, I think the only mistake here was that you used the word beautiful. Other than Riquelme and maybe Carbonero, on second thought, no, they women here are no better looking than anyone you’d see every day walking on the street.

Granted they’re all dolled up for tv, premieres and big events… they’re trying to look nice.

I don’t see the sexism of this list at all. It’s a list of successful women in football. Calling them all beautiful is the mistake (and a stretch) and that’s what gave the “Hot and smart, you go girl” vibe.

It’s an okay article, not one of your best, but it’s not bad or sexist. For eye candy, I’d rather look at a list of the hottest female footballers, but had you done that, that would be sexist.

By: V

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:44:12 +0000

Just want to say that girls wanting to “read about actual football” IS hot.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:45:26 +0000

Thanks for your response. I do appreciate being heard out on this one. The whole thing, from Grays and Keys’ comments to the slap-on-the-wrist response from Sky and the nonchalant attitude coming from so many commentors on so many sites, well, it’s all rubbed me the wrong way and I admit it, I’m a bit raw. In no way did I ever intend to attack you as if you had any malicious intent in posting this article. I’ll gladly keep you in my favorites.
Also thanks to all the others who put their elequent two cents in. Greatly appreciated.

By: lh

lh — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:33:55 +0000

Josh, thank you for listening — it really means a lot, and I will certainly be coming back as a faithful reader.

By: JoshBurt

JoshBurt — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:26:32 +0000

Thank you ALL for articulating your arguments so well – I am rather humbled by the responses. And a little bit regretful of the piece, although not ENTIRELY. Like I mentioned, I’m not sure ANY of them are just gratuitious bits of crumpet (with perhaps one exception), but the point I was making has possibly been rather scewed in the delivery of it – tackling a big current social issue with a tongue in a cheek is perhaps not really clever territory for The Spoiler. Bad timing, not my greatest piece. I shall happily concede on this one – a valuable lesson learned. Thanks again for some magnificently well-thought-out comments. It’s been fun… in a way.

By: Eve

Eve — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:02:31 +0000

Josh, it’s not that you literally said “Girls are totally allowed in our treehouse as long as their parents made them hot! YOU’RE WELCOME, LADIES!” I hope you don’t feel that people are reading your comments that way.

But listen, I think what people are trying to tell you is that saying “girls are too useful — check out how hot they are!” is not, actually, a counterpoint to “girls are useless, get them off the field.” In fact, it’s the opposite: kind of a well-meaning but still hurtful version of the same sentiment. It’s not the fact that this post EXISTS that your lady-readers (and there are a lot of us!) are weirded out by; it’s the fact that the post is framed as a refutation of the Keys & Gray incident.

Trust me, female footy fans hear some variation on this sentiment in every pub, stadium and internet forum we frequent. The condescending shock when you DO know the offside rule, or can talk positional discipline; the appraising looks which you’re supposed to take as a compliment; the implicit assumption that you’re only there to impress dudes, like some creepy pickup artist who learns to embroider so he can infiltrate a sewing circle. I don’t think anyone’s accusing you of coming from a malicious place, but this post is annoying, and you’re too smart to pretend you don’t understand why. It would be great if you could try to see where we’re coming from, instead of shrugging and saying “how can I be sexist when I’m giving you compliments??” and then writing off those who complain as hysterical ovary-monsters who are just having a lot of irrational feelings.

Chris, thanks for articulating the argument so well.