The iconic story of Tortoise and the Hare exemplifies the facade of women and men’s competition of overpowering sports. Through the years, many people have assumed men to be sports dominators. Unfortunately, people have never pictured women as superior athletes though any aspect. This would connect the central ideas of sports sexism and the story of the tortoise and the hare. The tortoise is presumed to be slow and incapable of surpassing the hare’s advantage; just as women are presumed to be incapable of exceeding men’s standards. Women deserve a chance to prove their skill, worth, and work ethic in regards to sports when compared to men.
Women might have started out slow, just like the tortoise, but they are equally as capable to win the race. Women are seen to never live up to men’s standards. Ultimately, that would be incorrect. Women have just as much of a chance in sports as men. Michael Kimmelman, author for New York Times and New York Review of Books, wrote the article “Women Who Hit Very Hard and How They’ve Changed Tennis;” in the article, he agrees when he writes, “It’s true, there is more depth now, meaning more women beyond the top 10 or 20 or even top 100 who can smack a given forehand or backhand harder than King ever dreamed of doing…” (516). Kimmelman refers to Billie Jean King, who is also known as “the king of tennis” (516). In this case, women can hit harder than legendary players, which would mean females have just as much strength and ability as men. According to Amby Burfoot, women have more endurance:
A total of 2,296 completed questionnaires were returned, 1,707 from men and 589 from women. “A statistician friend did the analysis. His finding: On average, the men's marathon performances were 10.71 times slower than their 5-K performances, while women's performances were 10.45 slower. In other words, the women slowed down less. They seemed to have more endurance” (Burfoot par. 5).
Overall, men have less willpower, and women do not burn out as quickly. Instead, women take their time. Ultimately, women are talented enough to finish the race first.
Women resemble the tortoise in more than one way; they are not applauded for nor are they given the chance to prove their worth. Sports fans cheer blatantly for the hare (men) even though the tortoise (women) has already caught up. In Sara Marrata’s article “Move Over Boys, Make Room in the Crease,” she maintains that “female athletes are just as capable and accomplished as the men, yet fans do not give them the chance to prove that they deserve to be admired and followed” (539). Unfortunately, this is true. For years, mean have supposedly “dominated” sports, but what is not seen is that women are just as dominate, only they are hidden in the dark. Fans give their undivided attention to male sports players when women deserve just as much attention. All in all, females lack the chance to prove themselves.
Again, women and the tortoise are alike because of their work ethic in any event or activity, but some fans do not obtain the same belief. Just like the hare, men put in effort but blow all of their energy at once. While women, like the tortoise, tend to work slowly but surely in sports. Men and women’s sports are relentless; they both put effort into the activity. Sadly, some do not believe that men and women’s sports are an equal amount of work. Wilfrid Sheed is the author of many nonfiction and fiction books as well as the article “Why Sports Matter.” In his article Sheed advocates, “A football equals work, a volleyball is only play” (Sheed 496). In Sheed’s view, men put in the most work and women’s sports are considered just for “play” (Sheed 496). Many other sports fans will take Sheed’s side. However, women put just as much work into a sport as men, maybe even more. What do men do that women do not? In summary, others believe that men put in more effort and surpass women.
In conclusion, women are just as successful in sports, deserve an opportunity to substantiate their worth, and place just as much effort into sports as men. The tortoise and the hare have one thing in common: effort. However, the tortoise and women use more strategy. The hare and men burn out quickly and let confidence get in the way. Although the winner is believed to be the hare (men), the tortoise (women) unexpectedly dominated.
Works Cited
Burfoot, Amby. "Women Cannot Compete Against Men in Sports." Male and Female Roles. Ed.
Karen Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. of "Are Women
Catching Up with Men?" Runner's World Mar. 2005: 49. Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.
Kimmelman, Michael. "Women Who Hit Very Hard and How They’ve Changed Tennis" They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 512-523. Print.
Maratta, Sara. "Move Over Boys, Make Room in the Crease" They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 537-544. Print.
Sheed, Wilfrid. "Why Sports Matter" They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 489-511. Print.
Women might have started out slow, just like the tortoise, but they are equally as capable to win the race. Women are seen to never live up to men’s standards. Ultimately, that would be incorrect. Women have just as much of a chance in sports as men. Michael Kimmelman, author for New York Times and New York Review of Books, wrote the article “Women Who Hit Very Hard and How They’ve Changed Tennis;” in the article, he agrees when he writes, “It’s true, there is more depth now, meaning more women beyond the top 10 or 20 or even top 100 who can smack a given forehand or backhand harder than King ever dreamed of doing…” (516). Kimmelman refers to Billie Jean King, who is also known as “the king of tennis” (516). In this case, women can hit harder than legendary players, which would mean females have just as much strength and ability as men. According to Amby Burfoot, women have more endurance:
A total of 2,296 completed questionnaires were returned, 1,707 from men and 589 from women. “A statistician friend did the analysis. His finding: On average, the men's marathon performances were 10.71 times slower than their 5-K performances, while women's performances were 10.45 slower. In other words, the women slowed down less. They seemed to have more endurance” (Burfoot par. 5).
Overall, men have less willpower, and women do not burn out as quickly. Instead, women take their time. Ultimately, women are talented enough to finish the race first.
Women resemble the tortoise in more than one way; they are not applauded for nor are they given the chance to prove their worth. Sports fans cheer blatantly for the hare (men) even though the tortoise (women) has already caught up. In Sara Marrata’s article “Move Over Boys, Make Room in the Crease,” she maintains that “female athletes are just as capable and accomplished as the men, yet fans do not give them the chance to prove that they deserve to be admired and followed” (539). Unfortunately, this is true. For years, mean have supposedly “dominated” sports, but what is not seen is that women are just as dominate, only they are hidden in the dark. Fans give their undivided attention to male sports players when women deserve just as much attention. All in all, females lack the chance to prove themselves.
Again, women and the tortoise are alike because of their work ethic in any event or activity, but some fans do not obtain the same belief. Just like the hare, men put in effort but blow all of their energy at once. While women, like the tortoise, tend to work slowly but surely in sports. Men and women’s sports are relentless; they both put effort into the activity. Sadly, some do not believe that men and women’s sports are an equal amount of work. Wilfrid Sheed is the author of many nonfiction and fiction books as well as the article “Why Sports Matter.” In his article Sheed advocates, “A football equals work, a volleyball is only play” (Sheed 496). In Sheed’s view, men put in the most work and women’s sports are considered just for “play” (Sheed 496). Many other sports fans will take Sheed’s side. However, women put just as much work into a sport as men, maybe even more. What do men do that women do not? In summary, others believe that men put in more effort and surpass women.
In conclusion, women are just as successful in sports, deserve an opportunity to substantiate their worth, and place just as much effort into sports as men. The tortoise and the hare have one thing in common: effort. However, the tortoise and women use more strategy. The hare and men burn out quickly and let confidence get in the way. Although the winner is believed to be the hare (men), the tortoise (women) unexpectedly dominated.
Works Cited
Burfoot, Amby. "Women Cannot Compete Against Men in Sports." Male and Female Roles. Ed.
Karen Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. of "Are Women
Catching Up with Men?" Runner's World Mar. 2005: 49. Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. Web. 21 Feb. 2016.
Kimmelman, Michael. "Women Who Hit Very Hard and How They’ve Changed Tennis" They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 512-523. Print.
Maratta, Sara. "Move Over Boys, Make Room in the Crease" They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 537-544. Print.
Sheed, Wilfrid. "Why Sports Matter" They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 489-511. Print.