Have you ever noticed that the most popular entertainment out there is usually centered around men? For the past few months, the only thing that anyone has been talking about has been the NBA walkout. During Thanksgiving this year (and every year) everyone was obsessed with the football game. This winter, and during Christmas, everyone will be concerned with basketball again. And then at the beginning of next year, everyone will be obsessed with the super bowl football game. It might just be me, but it seems like everyone in America turns to mainly sports for their source of entertainment, and all of these popular sports are centered around men.This obsession with sports has always bothered me, mostly because it has always seemed like a "guy thing,"and is the only unifying force that people seem to get so worked up about. But before I start off on my little rant, let me set the record straight: there is nothing wrong with liking sports. I'm not saying that sports are evil and should be banned. Rather, I have two main questions on my mind: one is "why is it that something that mostly men do has become so popular?" and also "how come things that mostly women do (the arts, women's sports like gymnastics, etc.) have not become popular, and in fact, can often be looked down on?"
Let's start with the first question. Why is it that men's sports have become so popular? Well, the first answer that comes to my mind is that it's because men are interested in them. Let's face it: men are more aggressive than women. They are more willing to voice their opinions than women are. Although a minority, men are treated like a majority. So when men want something, they get it. But why have women become so interested in men's sports? I have a theory on this one. In our culture, things that men do are praised, and things that women do are belittled. Many women are genuinely interested in men's sports. But many of them, I believe, are also interested in them because they'll be looked down on if they aren't. Many women are interested in men's sports because it's the cool thing to do.
Why haven't the arts and women's sports become more popular? Because men don't like them. Men will look at anything feminine, and if they see a man doing it, call it "gay." Women's interests are belittled in our culture. It's not just that women's interests have a different "place;" it's that women's interests are several steps below men's interests on the Ultimate Ladder of Hierarchy. Women aren't ones to be agressive and assertive like men are. When they don't get fair treatment, they tend to not let others know. So when women's interests get overlooked...they stay overlooked. One of these days, that needs to change.
