Girlfight: Women in Competition with Each Other
Women gain self-confidence and a sense of personal mastery by participating in team sports. In the best of all possible worlds, they learn how to excel as individuals as well as how to work skillfully within a group to reach a goal. As some feminist scholars have noted, however, there are dark sides to the lives of female athletes. They can develop eating disorders, compulsive habits of over-exercising, and a fleeting sense of personal value in which their worth in the world depends on each game, hinging on whether they win or lose. Within this tense environment, competitive jealousies and infighting can arise among team members. Departing from the widespread fascination with the cultural phenomenon of "mean girls" - usually a shallow stereotype of female aggression - this lecture and discussion will focus on the social and cultural roots of the conflicts between women on the field and the court. Dr. Lisa Johnson, director of the Center for Women's and Gender Studies, and Ms. Tami Matheny, Associate Athletic Director and Tennis Coach, team up to talk about "Women in Competition with Each Other" on campus and in sports culture in general. Following the lecture, Johnson and Matheny will take questions from the audience.
Listen:
Women In Tune With Themselves(32kbps).mp3(13.3mb)
Women In Tune With Themselves(64kbps) .mp3(26.6mb)
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