K. Reiter
Football has been deemed a man’s sport, but over the last few years, females have made their abilities known in the sport. Women are still not allowed on NFL teams, but they have made tremendous achievements on high school and college teams. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, only about 11% of Americans claiming to play football are female, but that number continues to increase.
Females playing football began before most of us were born. An all-female team was featured in Life magazine in 1939 and then in Click magazine in 1940. The team was from Los Angeles and proved to be just as rough and tough as the boys. The pictures show women dressed in full uniform, including helmets and shoulder pads. Although the articles were lacking in detail about the team, they did ensure that the team was playing actual tackle football.
Despite their popularity, the women only played one season. Many people identified football with masculinity, and women just did not belong. After all, football was too dangerous for women. Swimming and tennis were more their speed. If it were hard for men, it would nearly be impossible for women. Rumor has it that the team went back to playing softball instead.
So, the question remains. Females can play football, but should they? It is possible for women to possess the same amount of physical strength and even mental toughness. The most challenging hurdle is getting men to accept and treat them as equals on and off the field. In the 1970s, women attempted to join teams, but the men just wouldn’t let them.
Women can do anything a man can do. They just have to have the opportunity. Many organizations are supporting women on the field. However, many male players are hesitant to fully accept a female on the team. Progress has been made, and females are closer than ever to fulfilling their wish to join the game.
No Girls Allowed
K Reiter
Making sacks and throwing the football 40 yards down the field is viewed by many as something only a man can do. Football has been a male-dominated sport for decades, and now females are trying to join in on the fun. There are female players featured on high school and even college teams. We may only be a few years away from a female on an NFL team.
Since there are not many all-female footballs teams, girls who want to play have to join the boy’s teams. But, people argue that men are just physically superior to women. It’s just a fact of life. It’s not an insult. If a female gets sacked by a 250 lb. linebacker, she could encounter severe injuries since her body frame is so much smaller. Since football is a full-on contact sport, the risk of injury goes up, even more so for a female.
There’s not just the physical setbacks, there is also the mental aspect of the game. Females are more emotional and could break down on the field. Would the game have to stop to allow the female to pull herself together? The game requires players to be mentally strong. It takes a toll on the mind if players are not equipped to handle the pressure. Females can not withstand the amount of pressure put on the players to perform at such a high level. Hence, they are not able to cope appropriately, and it could cause severe consequences in the future.
Let’s also think about the fact that football fans do not want to see a woman on the team. Or the fact that opposing players may have a real problem with tackling a female. Men have been taught for years not to hit a girl, and now it’s encouraged? There is a big chance that players will play less aggressively against a female, thus putting the team at risk of losing.
Bottom line is that females are better to shine at other sports. Football proves to be too physically and mentally demanding. Females are not equipped to handle the pressure.
Which statement supports both authors’ claims about females playing football?
Responses
A Both authors reveal that the number of female football players will continue to increase. Both authors reveal that the number of female football players will continue to increase.
B Both believe that women have the mental and physical capacity to play football. Both believe that women have the mental and physical capacity to play football.
C The author of “Females and Football,” believes that females have the right to play football, while the author of “No Girls Allowed,” reveals that female players can handle the pressure of the game. The author of “Females and Football,” believes that females have the right to play football, while the author of “No Girls Allowed,” reveals that female players can handle the pressure of the game.
D The author of “Females and Football, states that there is no place for females on the football field, while the author of “No Girls Allowed,” believes that females have what it takes to play on an all men’s sports team.
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The correct response that supports both authors' claims about females playing football is:
A Both authors reveal that the number of female football players will continue to increase.
This statement accurately reflects that both authors acknowledge the increasing participation of females in football, even though they each have different perspectives on the implications and challenges of that participation.
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