Current Connection: 3.1

     Bob Cook delivers worthwhile information in his article, Ohio School Engaged In What Will Be Futile Fight To Keep Girl Off Football Team, about how high school football affects females in a negative manner.
    
     In the article, Bob Cook states, "Near Columbus, Ohio, a 12-year-old girl named Makhaela Jenkins, who has grown up playing football with boys, wants to play on the school team. The Liberty Union-Thurston school district is telling her she can’t." Makhaela, a girl who can compete with any other boy her age, should be able to play football. It is unfair that she cannot play now that she has the oppurtunity to play for her school when she has been playing all her life with boys.

     Bob cook says in his article that, "According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, as of 2011-12, the latest data available, 1,804 girls in the United States played for their high school tackle football team." These girls rarely played in a game, but at least the girls are actually on a team; however, Makhaela is getting totally denied the right to be on the team. This is a violation of Title IX, which states,  “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance… ”

     Also stated by Bob Cook in the article, "I think I can save the Liberty Union-Thurston school district and its taxpayers some legal fees and hassle with this advice: let her play." Bothered by the school's undeniable acts of discrimination, Bob Cook felt the urge to stand up for this girl and publish this article. He was very wise in doing so. We need more writers to stand up and reveal acts like these to the public so we can dissolve the expectations of gender roles. A few hours after he posted this, the Liberty Union-Thurston district reversed course and decided to let Makhaela play.

     I know of several girls that are in my school that would like to play football, but are denied time and time again because of their gender. Most sports have a team for girls and a team for boys. Why not a high school girls football team?

     Obviously high school football frowns upon female players. The only way for things to change is too break down gender roles and give girls a chance to prove themselves worthy out on the field.