This is an oft-discussed issue - not just in softball but in all sports. The bottom line is that it should be a personal decision made by the individual athlete. No one is saying that a female athlete's appearance is more important than her performance or that there's pressure to look a certain way. Vanity may seem shallow and self-obsessive to some, or perpetuating stereotypes to others, but unless it becomes a liability to a team or individual it shouldn't be relevant.The fact is, I know a lot of female athletes who consider putting on make-up and doing hair as part of their preparation or ritual - call it putting on their "game face." I don%u2019t think it%u2019s to prove a feminist point, or really any point at all other than they like to look good. And when they look good, it helps them play well. Everyone has their own motivation and they should have the option of wearing, or not wearing, make-up on and off the field.

Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 7:35pm EST

If it makes you feel better about yourself when you look your best, you may want to get yourself "ready" before a competition. If it doesn't make you feel more "ready", then you don't need to do it and no one should pressure you to do so. I agree with Jane 100%.

My pre-race week includes (in addition to workouts):
daily ice baths
lots of water
no junk food
an hour long massage
manicure and pedicure
1-2 tanning sessions
possibly a hair appointment

And the morning of the race:
2 mile shakeout run
stretching
hot shower and shave
oatmeal, coffee, banana, water
choosing race uniform and warm-up outfit
blow-drying hair and putting it into carefully chosen hairdo that is both stylish and practical (meaning it stays out of my face)
application of makeup
listening to a certain playlist on my ipod
journaling
packing the bag to take to the track

High maintenance? Yup. But sometimes I think it simply makes us feel like we have control over something while we wait (i.e. kill time) in anticipation for the big unknown - the competition.

I have also noticed that this routine is not all that different from my routine the morning of a big business meeting.

Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 9:05pm EST

I think this is hysterical. "stylish and practical?" Do you think men really care to look stylish and practical when they throw on their football pads or when they go to the gym? In a couple of hours they are going to be sweaty and gross, showing no concern whether or not their hair looks %u201Cstylish.%u201D Of course wearing makeup makes women feel better. Society reinforces this notion by overwhelming us with beautification products and sexualized clothing.

How could you not consider wearing a ton of makeup at a sporting event not relevant? I don%u2019t want to get into the psychology of it all, but it%u2019s called the %u201Csex-role conflict.%u201D

Now I see why women are in the same predicament that they were in 100 years ago and why it is so difficult to change. Women start these online forums to try and overcome stereotypes and perceptions about gender and athletes and the dichotomy between being female and playing sports. Yet, when someone brings up a valid point, it%u2019s the women who are supposed to be helping to bring about change and equality who criticize her, stating that this is an athletes %u201Croutine.%u201D

Megan, I think this is an issue that is a lot more complex than the simple "I want to look good/its my routine" arguement. Thanks for bringning it to light.

Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 11:23pm EST

I'm not criticizing anyone, that's the point. If someone wants to get ready a certain way before their competition, that's fine with me. I think they should do whatever makes them feel the most prepared. If it involves none of the things that my preparation involves, that's fine! To each her own. We should not react to being put in a box by society for hundreds of years by putting ourselves in a different box.

And as a final point, when preparing for my competition, the thought never crosses my mind of what men will think when I'm competing. Not once. It's about me, and as I said above, my feeling of control over the situation. I get plenty sweaty and gross every day in practice with no makeup on and all of that. When it's a big day of competition, I like to treat it like a big day, and these are the things I do. I've added things over the years, and yeah, it's kind of an obnoxious list. In my opinion, it's no different than having a superstition such as wearing a certain pair of socks. It's a routine that I established to feel in control of my situation.

Also, the "stylish and practical" was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. I realize it sounds ridiculous. And, I guarantee you that some men get their hair cut before a big game or shave the morning of or do other similar things. Some of them, not all of them. And I bet no one thinks much of it.

Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 11:34pm EST

She really thinks men don't care about how they look on the field? Has she watched sports lately?

Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 11:58pm EST

Don't you ever question why you perform certain behaviors? Call it the psych major in me, but I think its important to understand why people do the things they do.

Why don't these women just stick on a pair of lucky socks or eat a certain pregame meal? Why does the process involve make-up (and not just a little eye-liner), ribbons, and hairdos? And why does it seem to predominate in the sport of softball? As I said before, it may run deeper than just calling it a routine. A routine has to start somewere and develop from some underlying force. Usually people don't perform behaviors randomly.

I'm not saying to be put in a different box, but at least to question why your in a box in the first place.

Friday, January 15, 2010 at 12:08am EST

I do see your point. I'm not as familiar with the culture of softball so I don't know if the players have started getting ready as a team-bonding thing and it's grown into a full-on makeup party before every game. OR if their motive is to prove that they're feminine and not "dykes on spikes" as mentioned above. I honestly don't know. I certainly agree that we have a problem if it is the latter. The former is relatively harmless though it may seem vain and unnecessary.

Personally, I go tanning not to look like a Playboy bunny but so that my muscles stand out more. Either way, it's vanity and I'll admit that, but at least it's not about being sexually attractive for me. It's more about feeling.....fierce.

With my hair, I joked about "stylish and practical" but there is some truth to it...it's an art to get your hair just so--it doesn't get in your way during a competition, and you look (and therefore feel) ready to win (which varies for each athlete-some feel "ready" in cornrows, others in curls). A sloppy and quick ponytail doesn't cut it. It will get loose and get it your way, which doesn't help your performance one bit.

Again, I think the reason many of us do these things is control...to feel like we have control. But I do agree that if the motive behind any of these preparations are to prove femininity/heterosexuality, then it is an issue.

Friday, January 15, 2010 at 9:55am EST

Thanks for all of the comments!

I completely understand the importance of a pre-game routine--mine is quite long and has to be perfect before I compete. But what I aimed to point out here is the danger of just calling it a routine--I think it goes much deeper than that. I don't think you can even label it as a pre-game routine that only some athletes do when almost every single softball player I watch on TV is sporting the same Barbie doll look. Intricate pre-game routines have existed for decades, but this heavy make-up trend among female athletes (particularly softball players) has seemed to pop up within just a couple of years.

Like I said before, I just don't understand why women have to wear that much make-up to compete in an athletic event. More importantly, I don't think college softball players are setting a good example for the millions of girls who watch them in awe on TV. This trend of heavy make-up, perfect hair, and ribbons has definitely trickled down to the twelve year old girls watching. Athletics have become another social venue in which young girls are expected to look good in, and this is where I have a major problem. Sports are meant to empower young women, not reinforce the stereotypes and pressures they face on a daily basis.

Friday, January 15, 2010 at 11:24am EST

Men might not put on makeup, but I guarantee you they spend plenty of time cultivating their image. They spend time in the gym not just to get strong, but to build muscle and look good. They choose their haircuts.

They also choose their clothes. Have you ever noticed the difference in styles of the different baseball players? Some choose the long and baggy pant style. Others choose the short and tight, with long socks showing. This is a conscious choice, teams do not regulate this style. Or, remember when men's basketball shorts used to essentially be hotpants? Now they are baggy and cover their knees. Is that really the most efficient way to play basketball? Probably not. But it's the current style.

Personally, I put on makeup before I compete. Partly because it sends myself the message that this is more important than my last workout. Partly it's because races in NY are never complete without photographers and google can be cruel.

Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 2:36pm EST

Ummm ... but it is okay to be a dyke on spikes, right? (the pic that was linked above is to my team from the last Gay Games - the Swingers)

Regarding pre-game routine/ritual, yeah, the current makeup thing does not feel like a ritual so much as a reaction.

Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 7:24pm EST

Absolutely it is, except I wouldn't call anyone that because it's derogatory. But I know what you mean, and yes of course it is OK. Again, to each her own.

Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 10:20pm EST

Such scrutiny easily becomes overblown. But something in Lesley's comment reveals a discrepancy that does have tangible consequences: "They [men] spend time in the gym not just to get strong, but to build muscle and look good."

So in essence what male athletes do to "look good" is mostly conducive to athletic performance (and, I would add, injury prevention), whereas the same isn't as often true of female athletes' routines and rituals.

Ann has the right idea: to each his or her own. Perhaps it is best that we simply celebrate diversity and individuality, leaving criticism aside for only those things which manifestly hinder women's athletics.

Monday, January 18, 2010 at 10:46am EST