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Obviously I don’t speak for all girls when I say, football is boring to me. There are always those few annoying girls who can converse assuredly about the offside rule whilst clutching a pint of ale and wearing a tightly-fitted England top, attracting stares of admiration from boys and showing all us non-football-savvy girls up. And yes, conforming to the stereotype, I don’t understand the offside rule. However, this is not just because I’m a girl, it’s that if something is boring to me, I won’t remember it. Having had it explained to me many times, usually involving salt and pepper shakers, I forget every time due to lack of interest, as to be honest, I don’t really care.
Putting the offside rule to one side (see what I did there?); I do understand most rules of football. I really do. I don’t need to be patronised with “You see that man in front of the goal? He’s the goal-keeper! Now, who is he again? Hey, you’re getting this, good girl!” I understand why these little men clad in bright colours are scurrying from end to end, kicking a ball. I just find it hard to care. The actual game of football itself is dull, which is usually why my attention wanders to other more interesting things – the chants, the fouls, the intonation of the commentator’s voice, the close-ups of mad fans.
While I’ve made it clear that the action in football is not what interests me, I still enjoy the World Cup when it happens. I couldn’t care less whether Theo Walcott is left out of the team or not, or whether that was a hand ball. I enjoy the atmosphere, the tension, hissing at the screen with everyone else, feeling part of something. The World Cup has an uncanny ability to bring people together, and total strangers will strike up a conversation about Rooney, regardless of the barriers that usually keep people apart. It’s the crowd mentality, the feeling of belonging, of striving as one for something beautiful.
So as football fever quickly takes over the country, don’t fight it, embrace it. I may be a girl and I may not understand the offside rule but I’m not against joining in a world-wide party. Simply grab your England tank-top, down your pint of ale and start chanting “Enguuuuurluuuund...”
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-offside-rule-for-girls/387978930936?v=info&ref=ts
This might help you understand/remember the offside rule using girl friendly language.
Pretty sexist attitude, to be honest... Firstly calling it "a female perspective" but then having the audacity to say "as a girl, I am thoroughly unexcited" and make it look like all girls are bored by football.
I have been watching the World Cup this year with more girls than guys and I know plenty of guys who don't like it. Understanding the offside rule isn't important and I had to explain to football-savvy guys that it's *two* players between ball and goal because the goalkeeper counts as one - but they still enjoy the football.
Even though you end by saying that you enjoy the atmosphere etc. (though the last paragraph sounds distinctly sarcastic) you should probably take a look at yourself and, presumably, stop going on shopping sprees, painting your nails and having bubble baths. Pathetic.
I don't think Lizzy would be arrogant enough to assume she's speaking for all women when she says she's thoroughly unexcited; but as a female, I think she's entitled to give a (not the) female perspective.
I also love the irony of calling Lizzy sexist, then suggesting that as she doesn't like football she must go on shopping sprees, paint her nails and have bubble baths. Pot, kettle, no?
Hear hear #3! #2's comment smacks of hypocrisy.
By saying "shopping sprees, painting your nails and having bubble baths" #2 was deliberately listing sexist stereotypes of female activities to point out the stereotypical sexist attitude that all girls are bored by football...but I guess you all missed that.
"Obviously I don’t speak for all girls when I say, football is boring to me."
"I don’t understand the offside rule. However, this is not just because I’m a girl."
Please bear in mind that this is an opinion piece and this is by no means the opinion of all womankind. I like that this article has generated debate but wish that people were brave enough to not post anonymously and make nasty, personal comments. (#2)
If you need me I'll be having a bubble bath.
I wouldn't say it's Lizzy's fault, but it may have been more apt for this article, rather than being from a 'female perspective' (likewise to the 'male perspective' article from a few days back), to have just been from the perspective of someone who doesn't like football, and how they respond to the World Cup. In this case I think gender's irrelevant, and I wish there had been less focus on whether the writer was a girl or not. Just something The Yorker lifestyle section as a whole should think about; there's a bit of excessive gender divisiveness in its articles.
I wrote #2 and yes, it was a satirical list of stereotypical female associations. #7 made the point much more efficiently - the viewpoint comes from someone who doesn't like football. Yes, they *happen* to be a woman but any man could make the same comment. Calling it a "woman's viewpoint" is just stereotyping and fits neatly into a sexist bubble.
I'm male and totally indifferent to football. It would have been nice to have a gender neutral point-of-view, although in fairness I haven't met that many men who share my level of indifference. Or maybe those who do, try to feign some attitude of caring so as to not stand out? Don't know.
This has pretty much all been said before. If you don't like the World Cup, go out, go out before it even starts. Like Scotland.
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