A student calls our attention to this item out of Iowa. A boy defaulted on a wrestling match at the state tournament this morning rather than wrestle a girl. The student points out that the comments below the story reflect binary thinking about gender, which we have discussed in class. What do you all think?
Wrestler Defaults Rather Than Face Girl - Des Moines News Story - KCCI Des Moines
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3 hours ago
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4 comments:
Although some may not agree with me I believe that this shows tremendous character and maturity by a sophomore in high school. He believes that a wrestling match is not a way that a women should be treated and he stood by his belief. Some may say that he is scared to wrestle a girl and thats there opinion, but he was predicted to win the state title for 112 in 3A. I dont think he would have lost. This is a kid who has strong beliefs and would rather take a 3rd place finish then treat a women like they do in a wrestling match. He was also quoted saying that he respects that his opponent has made it this far and wished her luck. I think this shows great character on his part for standing up for what he believes in.
I congrats the girl's for working hard and making it to State, that's a huge deal in Iowa. I don't judge people on their belief's, however I think it's dumb that people on KCCI are saying that he forfeited because she was a girl, and that if the girl lost they would tell their Daddy's that the boy touched them in the wrong places. HAVE YOU SEEN THESE GIRLS? They are tom boys and they've been doing this since elementary. I also don't understand why people think it's all right to let boys and girls wrestle in Elementary, but it's not appropriate to wrestle boys and girls in high school. If a girl makes it to the state level, they are good enough to be there. I respect Joel for making the decision he did, because it was merely his decision. I just have to say that if he is that devoted to his faith and doesn't want to show violence towards a girl, because of what the bible says doesn't it say not to show violence to anyone no matter their sex?
This article hit close to home with me because I have four brothers that all wrestled at the state level. My youngest brother Michael had to wrestle a female on more than one occassion. When he found out that he would have to wrestle a girl he didn't take it very well, and when I asked him to explain to me why this was a big deal he told me that wrestling hurts, and he really didn't want to hurt a girl, plain and simple. He told me that he couldn't picture me out there wrestling and being hurt by a male. That made sense to me. He said that his coach basically told him he had to go out here with the mind set that it was just another opponent... not a boy and not a girl, just a person.
I must say congratulations to ALL of the wrestlers for making it to state, huge accomplishment! But I do have to commend the young man for sticking to his beleifs (even though I'm not sure what exactly they are).
Now for the big question, do I think girls should be able to wrestle with boys??? I'm not sure. I went to Bettendorf High School, and a guy tried to play girls volleyball, and the school district said no. But when a girl wanted to play football and wrestle they told her yes. I don't think that is fair. I think that if a student wants to play a sport, a team should be available to them. So I guess I'm torn. Would I ever consider letting my daughter wrestle, not even a chance. I've seen what wrestlers do to each other, and it's not good.
First off I think it is crazy that this Iowa wrestling story has gone national, I would have thought that this had come up in history sometime, so congrats to the girls for making it that far. I think that this situation is very controversal and is hard for all involved. As for the male wrestler it shows that he is a grown up and handled it in a respectful manner. He had a belief and stood by it. Also I think it shows that he is raised right, because it was his own desicsion and his parents stood by him no matter what. As for the girl, there was not much she could do, she agreed to wrestle knowing that it was a male sport, so I dont think that these situations were "un-expected" so to speak.
An issue I would like to address is the fairness. I know for a fact if a male wanted to play volleyball that he would be denied. But there are stories all over where girls participate in football and wrestling. How is that fair?? I think the athletic associasion needs to make a rule that is the same for both genders, and way more fair. I also know that now there are a few schools that offer girls wrestling, so that would be an alternate, also I believe that if it were offered more, meaning girls wrestling, then more girls would do it.
Still have to admitt it is impressive to what these 2 girls have done, and what I'm sure some of the situations they have been through.
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