There are times when I get really frustrated with the body type I’ve been blessed with. Growing up, I play a multitude of sports, including volleyball, soccer, basketball and softball. I played soccer through my first two years of college. I played basketball and volleyball intramurals through college. Currently I play on my firm’s volleyball team during the winter, kickball in the summer. I played dodgeball this past spring. Here’s a compilation of these times, along with their reasons.
- Clothes Shopping
A memo to all fashion designers: NOT ALL WOMEN WERE CREATED EQUAL. In case you didn’t know, we’re not all 5’8” with dainty bodies that look so fragile they’d crumble to pieces if you just poked them. For once, I’d really like to be able to go clothes shopping without wondering if the pants I chose were going to be too tight in the thighs, or if they were going to fit around my ass, wondering if the shirt I picked off the rack was going to fit around my biceps, wondering if the dress shoes I thought were uber cute would fit my wide feet. If only there were designers out there who understood this. There are even times when I go to the sports stores, pick out a pair of soccer shorts, and find the same problem – too tight through the thighs, don’t fit around the ass. I mean, of all things, those should be the ones to fit! Can someone please start designing clothing that are tailored for those of us with actual leg and butt muscles and biceps that would make even your brother cringe?
- Dating
Yes, I have a great dating track records, but often times, more so than not, I’m just deemed “one of the guys”. Yes, I have more male friends than females. Yes, they like me because I play sports, am a badass, confident and cocky just as much as they and can take the sick, chauvinistic, immature jokes they say. However, when it comes to finding a partner, I really have to show my feminine side a little more when I’m interested. It’s not easy sometimes. I don’t really like showing the side of me that’s emotional and vulnerable. It’s a part of me that can get easy torn down. But at the same time, I am a female, after all. I should feel honored to have the responsibilities that come along with that fact.
- Bathing Suit Season
Some of us athletes look awesome in bathing suits. We look hot. So hot, in fact, we attract all the attention in the world. But what you wouldn’t know, is that’s because we have to hunt and hunt and hunt for the right bathing suit so that the right *ahem* assets are shown off. I have found, in my almost 27 (GASP!) years of existence, that I can only wear practically one style of bathing suit. Triangle top. String bikini bottoms (and side ties are a must). You see, I don’t have beautiful, perky boobs to fill out the rest of those cute little bikini tops. I also have large shoulders, which have to be slightly hidden; therefore, a halter style tie-top is best. The bottoms are string because they make my legs appear smaller. The ties are a diversion to the eye for that, as well.
As much as it’s sometimes a pain being a female athlete, at others times its freaking awesome. Like last week, while playing kickball. You see, men seem to have it in their minds that because I’m a woman, I can’t kick (i.e. I’m dainty and have no strength). Because of that, in kickball, they always inch up a little bit closer to the infield than they would if it were a guy kicking. So last week, what happened because of that? I wailed it over their heads. That’s right. I rock. Because of that, I got two RBI’s, as well as making a triple myself (it most likely could have been a home run, but hey—I was trying to be conservative).
Any of you other female athletes have the same problems or other ones?
