Athletic Women Blog

I think it is worthwhile to support companies that support female athletes, and endeavor to that end as best I can with this blog. Today's post comes as a result of HP's (wise) decision to partner with Dara Torres, the ageless wonder, for a new campaign. I pass this press release along to you just as it came to me:

HP and Dara Torres Inspire "Moms for Simplicity"
Five-time Olympic swimmer, mom and businesswoman joins moms nationwide to share knowledge, learn tips and plan for summer

PALO ALTO, Calif., May 27, 2009 – With summer around the corner, children will soon be trading homework for fun in the sun, which for today’s moms means a new set of daily activities and often even busier family calendars to juggle.

To honor these multitasking moms, HP and Dara Torres launched "Moms for Simplicity," a website, online essay contest and photo mosaic where moms can inspire and educate each other by sharing stories about how technology simplifies their lives.

"Today’s moms have more demands than ever that fill our lives, and new technologies are helping to simplify our daily routines," said Torres. "Whether I’m paying bills and staying organized, catching up on TV shows and movies while on the road, or creating fun activities with my daughter, HP technology helps make my life easier so I can do the things that matter to me the most."

In mid-June, Torres will choose three contest winners to receive a personalized HP technology makeover, the chance to meet Torres and see her swim in the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, and possibly the opportunity to see her compete at the FINA World Championships in Rome.

The contest, which runs through June 16, asks moms to upload a photo to an online photo mosaic and, in 200 words or less, tell HP and Torres how they use technology to simplify their busy lives -- including digital scrapbooking, keeping in touch with friends, running a business from home, or managing a weekly schedule.

Participants will have their photo and story featured on the photo mosaic, and three will win HP products, including the HP Vivienne Tam edition notebook, HP Photosmart All-in-One printer and an HP TouchSmart PC. Additionally, winners will become "amateur mom reporters" at the U.S. Nationals, where they will see Torres compete and report their experiences on the "Moms for Simplicity" website through a series of video diaries.

"People are looking for easy ways to manage their lives while still being able to do it all, and HP is dedicated to helping them achieve this," said Michael Mendenhall, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, HP. "We are excited to partner with Dara, who is an inspiration to so many people and uses technology to maximize every day of her busy schedule."

According to Nielsen NetRatings, there are 32 million women in the United States who have children under 18 and get online (84 percent of moms online), which translates to about 40 percent of all women online in the United States today.(1)

More information on "Moms for Simplicity" and how to participate in the contest is available at www.hp.com/go/hpmomsforsimplicity.

About HP
HP, the world’s largest technology company, provides printing and personal computing products and IT services, software and solutions that simplify the technology experience for consumers and businesses. HP completed its acquisition of EDS on Aug. 26, 2008. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com/.

(1) "NetRatings @Plan," Nielsen NetRatings, Winter 2008/2009.

And thank goodness she is, for it would be a shame if Hollywood's most athletic actress ruled out the possibility of playing our most formidable heroine.

Everything about Jessica Biel—her bearing, her physique, her athleticism—exudes superheroine aura. The fit is seamless; to picture her as Wonder Woman requires no effort at all.

I'm looking forward to the long weekend, as most of you undoubtedly are. I'm keeping it simple, too, with just three things planned: reading, relaxing, and watching sports (namely, lacrosse and softball).

Shawn Johnson made the biggest news this week, so it seems fitting to end with her. In this clip, she talks to Jimmy Kimmel about her DWTS win:



Have a great weekend!

Another female athlete takes the Dancing with the Stars title: Congratulations, Shawn!

Fox ended considerable speculation yesterday, though the outcome wasn't unexpected. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which never quite found its way, was put to rest. Dollhouse, however, showed signs of gaining momentum toward the end of its first season, and was therefore deemed worthy of a second.

Responses to SCC have always been at best mixed around here, conforming closely, I'd say, to how successful its run was. Time now to learn what everyone thinks of Dollhouse. You will find a new poll to your right.

Note: Today you are blessed with a stay of sorts, a guest blogger. Enjoy!—Rob

In the past decade, women in sports jobs have increased their prominence in the sports world, slowly overtaking various obstacles to get where they are at today. Many sports teams have opened up to allow women’s teams to join national arenas, which has in turn led to a spotlight on women in sports. Establishing themselves in a male-dominated industry has taken years to accomplish, and even now, they are still not at the same level as men in the industry, but have made wide strides to achieve success.

Some sports arenas refuse to have women on their management team because they believe that unless you have played the sport, you cannot help to direct it. This normally only applies to a sport like football, in which few women have ever played for a team (other than a college intramural). Additionally, many teams do not feel comfortable hiring a woman in a high sports position, which has resulted in many discriminatory practices by many teams throughout the sports world. It has become ever more obvious that in order to reach a high spot in the sports world, women need to prove their capabilities much more so than men ever do. The International Olympic Committee has been one group which has taken great strides over the past years to overcome the discrimination against women in sports, accounting for increased women’s sports competitions and more jobs within the company itself that are available for women. These jobs allow women to participate in an international arena, wherein they can dispel myths that women are not suited for these types of jobs. The IOC in general is striving to equal the playing field for men and women within its games and administration to prove to the rest of the world that women and men can be equal within sports; according to March estimates, women now comprise 42 percent of their participants, which is a closer percentage than many sports teams around the country. Their administration also is closing in on equality, and they hope to portray this equality to the rest of the world.

Women’s sports teams (professional and college) were once almost solely run by women, but after the gender equality act, many men stepped into the field which has resulted in an off-balance even within women’s sports. It is up to women to pursue these career opportunities in order to bring the balance back into the sports world; by denying women to participate in football administrative jobs, sports teams are being hypocritical by allowing men to take higher positions in women’s volleyball teams (teams in which they have little experience overall). Women need to gain control over their own sports, and infiltrate into men’s sports teams as well. American sports are the hardest to break into because in order to get to a high career within the sports world, women have to overcome years of obstacles and menial jobs that men would not have had to do. By presenting more and more women to the sports stage, the playing field will have to become leveled, thus allowing more women to get into management positions for any type of sporting event.

This post was contributed by Heidi Taylor, who writes about sports management degree schools. She welcomes your feedback at HeidiLTaylor006 at gmail.com.

This was sent in the other day; a victory worth savoring, even if you don't live in Washington State:

Women’s Sports Foundation and ACLU Hail Signing of “Fair Play” Bill

Washington State Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law the “Fair Play” bill (SB 5967) to prohibit sex discrimination in public community sports programs. The Women’s Sports Foundation and ACLU-WA worked for its passage as part of a partnership to promote equal treatment for women and girls in sports.

“Females who are forced to accept second-class treatment in sports are conditioned to accept second-class status in other areas as well. This bill will ensure that all athletes have a fair and equal chance to participate in community athletic programs,” said ACLU-WA executive director Kathleen Taylor.

“The bill goes a long way in assuring gender equality for those in community recreation programs in Washington. Equal opportunity and access are critical foundations in developing confident, healthy girls who will become the next generation of athletes, government, business, and community leaders,” said Karen Durkin, CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation.

Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles was prime sponsor of the measure. Rep. Christine Rolfes sponsored a companion bill in the House.

“Girls who participate in sports have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem, lower levels of depression, and a better body image,” said Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, who has taught classes on Title IX and gender and equity at the University of Washington since 1985. “We must do everything we can to level the playing field and ensure fair play for females as well as for males.”

Under both state law and the landmark federal Title IX law enacted in 1972, sex discrimination is banned in education programs. As a result, the number of girls participating in high school sports nationwide has increased tenfold, and the number of girls participating in college sports has increased fivefold.

But females in community recreation programs have not had the same protections against unequal treatment. Sex discrimination has persisted because of traditional favoritism toward male sports programs and outdated stereotypes about females’ athletic interests and abilities. Too often, girls and women have been relegated to poorer facilities, less experienced officials, and less desirable practice and play times.

The “Fair Play” bill requires cities, towns, and counties to adopt and publicize policies that explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in community recreation programs.

Additional supporters of the bill are the Northwest Women’s Law Center, the National Organization of Women of Washington, the Washington Association of Cities, and the Washington Recreation and Parks Association.

The Women’s Sports Foundation and the ACLU of Washington partnered for the “V is for Victory. So is IX.” campaign to ensure that the historic Title IX law’s promise of equality is fulfilled. The multifaceted campaign includes free educational workshops for public school coaches, athletes, and parents, viral videos, publications, and an interactive website. Women’s Sports Foundation is also spearheading this campaign in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. For more information, visit Vis4Victory.org .

Originally, I had tried to put down some thoughts so I could comment on a post at WTS. But they have grown too numerous for a comment, apparently, so I share them here. (Note: You may want to listen to the interview before reading on.)

In the interview, we are told that athletic competence (i.e., athleticism) is, or should be, paramount. Unfortunately, when an excellent opportunity to address that subject comes up, it is altogether missed. The gentleman in the studio, there ostensibly as a friendly witness, says that female basketball players have better "fundamentals." Why? Well, because they can't rely (as much?) on athletic gifts. The slight is overlooked, however, and the discussion continues on with seemingly less relevant matters.

The top male athletes no doubt rule the roost in sports media. They can do no wrong, and their options are almost limitless; do something silly or degrading, Star Male Athlete? not to worry, hardly a question will be asked or an eyebrow raised. But these are the top athletes at their sport/position in the world, and in sports, practically by definition, that is what matters most. (Why you hear much about Tiger Woods, and not so much about, say, Jerry Kelly.)

The problem for female athletes is that few fall into this category, which isn't, of course, their fault. In many cases, where they theoretically could, they aren't allowed to compete directly with men, and thus can't prove themselves against the established best. Moreover, outmoded, traditional ideals of femininity keep them from fully developing their physical prowess, atrophied from generations of forced neglect; e.g., it still isn't entirely acceptable for a woman to develop large, powerful muscles—something many women are quite capable of doing.

Clearly, then, this research at best skims the central issue, and has no relevance at all to the career choices or personal expressions of someone like Chantelle Anderson. (I suspect sex does sell sport, as it does most things, to some degree, probably varying based on how well a particular sport relates to sex. But again, this isn't the biggest issue facing female athletes anyway.)

I must also point out something not to be overlooked about the research: it is based on focus groups, not the most reliable means to make determinations of this kind. From the link already provided:

"Focus groups are not a panacea for tapping 'true' feelings. People often do not themselves understand their own motivations and preferences and thus cannot articulate them well. People have complex, even conflicting motivations which may come together in unpredictable ways given only slightly varying ways of presenting a stimulus. People may give acceptable or politically correct responses in front of peers, and they may act differently in real situations compared with hypothetical ones. They may be aware of the study's sponsorship and tell the researcher what they believe he or she wants to hear. People tend to express views which enhance their own image of themselves, and they also may formulate opinions "on the spot," lacking any real commitment to what they say. And people lie."

And:

"Focus groups are generally a poor choice when quantitative information is desired (ex., when one wants to know the percentage of people who will buy product X or vote for candidate X). The small size of focus groups makes any estimates of quantitative proportions unreliable, even if the members of the focus group are representative of the target population. By the same token, focus group research is a poor choice for multivariate research, where one again needs the stability of large random samples to be ably to disaggregate the effects of explanatory variables through statistical techniques."

So what we have, in actuality, is research that proves little or nothing but probably found what it was looking for. (Trust me, it would take a study far more comprehensive, with many more controls, than this one to come close to proving that, in all cases, sex doesn't sell sport.) But what is more, it says even less about the truly onerous obstacles confronting female athletes.

Something not to be overlooked during National Women's Health Week is mental health, a subject that often doesn't get its due. We live a stressful life, in what seems, at times, an unsympathetic world. And it takes a toll.

Here, a meditation practice is useful. Meditation can help control stress, decrease anxiety, and improve capacity for relaxation. Troubles don't disappear, but they are given perspective and made more manageable.

There is also a spiritual component to happiness and general well-being; something anyone can appreciate, no matter her faith or lack thereof. (I am through and through a secularist, yet I meditate daily.)

And there is an additional upside for female athletes: daily meditation can improve an athlete's performance (also here).

The nuts and bolts of meditation often appear obtuse, but they needn't be that way. I don't use any of Wild Divine's products, so I can't speak to them, but this short introduction to meditation from Wild Divine might be useful to interested newbies:

What are the Different Types of Meditation?

While there are many different types of meditation, there are two general classifications: concentrative and mindfulness. In concentrative meditation, you focus on clearing your mind to provide you with greater concentration, awareness and clarity. In mindfulness meditation, you open your mind to become more aware of the things around you, such as scents, sounds and thoughts.

The easiest way to engage in concentrative meditation is to sit quietly and focus on your breathing. Relax and count your breaths as you breathe through your nose. Take deep breaths, hold them and let them out slowly. This helps you to get oxygen into the lowest portions of your lungs.

There are times when you mind may wander, but you refocus on your breathing to get rid of your thoughts. You can also focus on an object when meditating or you may want to repeat a phrase or a word. This is called mantra meditation in which you can choose to repeat the word or phrase aloud or silently in your head.

If you are agitated or worried about something, your breathing will be short and fast when you first start this type of meditation. As you start to relax, your breathing will slow down and become regulated. As you focus on your breathing or on an object, your mind will become absorbed with the regulation of your breathing and all other thoughts will vanish from your mind.

Zen meditation is one type of concentrative meditation in which you concentrate on the functioning of the heart. There are three main aims in this form:
1. to develop the power of concentration

2. to awaken your inner sense of wisdom

3. to recognize the action of the Supreme Being on your inner self

The idea is that once you are able to rid yourself of the thoughts of everyday life, you can reach that inner sense of peace that exists in everyone. It helps to calm the mind and body to give you insight into the nature of your existence. You must be patient and persistent in meditating in order for your mind to become clear.

Raja Yoga Meditation is another type of concentrative meditation. This form of meditation helps you to gain control of your mind to enable to you to develop a sense of peace. The life force of your body moves through the spine so that awareness is able to move into the “Third Eye” which is a point between your eyebrows.

Your mind is not passive and there can be many thoughts racing through it. You try to free yourself of these mindless thoughts and focus on the real meaning of meditating to achieve a pleasant feeling throughout the body.

Mindfulness meditation involves a passing parade of thoughts, emotions and images through your mind. You sit in a meditating position and instead of trying to banish the thoughts from your mind, you allow them to enter. You do acknowledge that they are present but you don’t concentrate on them. This allows you to develop a calm approach to your problems so that you don’t react quickly.

Instead of focusing on one individual thought or scene, you allow each though to become part of the bigger picture. It trains your mind to meditate on things in your life over which you have no control so that you have a heightened sense of inner peace that will enable you to go on with your life in spite of extreme difficulties.

For those serious about starting a daily meditation program, I highly recommend the little book that got me started: 8 Minute Meditation: Quiet Your Mind. Change Your Life.

This week is National Women's Health Week, which brought something to mind. Too often, when the subject of health comes up, the emphasis is on longevity. But quality of life is equally important.

The life extension resulting from a fit, strong body like that of 42-year-old Dara Torres may be uncertain, but the benefits during life are not. She can do things few others, much less anyone her age, can do, and feel terrific doing them. It almost goes without saying that part of our aesthetic appreciation for an athletic physique comes from deep within, from our understanding of how well it functions.

In this arm-wrestling match, we see a mother reminding her son that she is queen, never to be underestimated:



To all moms, present and future, Happy Mother's Day!

The Internet, home to a farrago of fallacies, is a haven for those who wish to muddle things for the rest of us. I find two of their subterfuges particularly irksome.

First, there is the equating of muscles with masculinity. Women aren't capable of growing large muscles, or if they are, they ought not to, because muscles are the exclusive property of men. Thus, women who have large muscles are unattractive freaks, something more male than female. So we are told anyway.

Then, the confounding of prudery with feminism. Some claiming to speak the cause of feminism would have us believe that amorous adoration of a woman's body is wrong. (As for the women at AfterEllen.com, they apparently didn't get the memo.)

Jelena Abbou, as seen in this Fahrenheit commercial, gives us respite from the claptrap, time to ask ourselves, "How is it disgraceful to admire, even in a sexual way, a powerfully built woman?"

No other person does more than Aneta Florczyk, the World's Strongest Woman, to universally advance the physical empowerment of women. She travels all over performing feats of strength that undoubtedly inspire little girls and young women to grow strong themselves; in her, they see not only the possibility but the desirability of physical strength.

Last November, Aneta traveled to Beijing in order to break the world record for number of frying pans rolled in one minute. The feat was taped for television in front of an audience:

Earlier this week, President Obama paid tribute to the NCAA basketball champions at the White House. Near the end of the ceremony he speaks as the father of two girls, and I find those remarks his most telling: