Yesterday I posted a link on our class Twitter
page to an article titled, “Soccer Star Isom Doesn’t Make LSU Team.” It tells
of Mo Isom, a senior and former goalkeeper for LSU’s women’s soccer team and
how she tried out as a kickoff specialist for her school’s football team.
Though she didn’t make the team (only one female has played at the FBS level),
she has been invited back to try out again in August.
Several
aspects of this article grabbed my interest. First of all, the headline doesn’t
mention that Isom is a female. The article itself does mention this and spends
a few sentences to inform readers only one female has previously played at that
level, and last year another female unsuccessfully tried out as kicker at
Virginia Tech. Overall the article spends more words describing how Isom’s try
out went and her accomplishments on LSU’s soccer team, all without evaluating
the events based on her gender or sex. Unfortunately, a fair majority of comments
posted after the article by readers concern Isom’s appearance. For me, the way
the article was written is a parallel to how those intimately involved in the
sports world are knowledgeable of the progress women have made, and though
gender is still somewhat of a focus, hopefully we’ve reached a point where
achievements are more notable. The disgusting comments following the article are
a reflection of how the general public is unaware of the obstacles female
athletes have faced, how the progress that has been made is taken for granted,
and how there is still progress to be made.
-Therese Weed
Kin 338I; Wednesdays 4-6:45
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