Softball IS harder than baseball

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEtG5KvuWs4

"You throw like a girl!" This phrase is commonly used among friends to joke about someone who isn't playing as well. This expression can be offensive to some individuals because the expression is indicating that girls are usually weaker than guys. Most people assume female sports are much easier than male sports for this reason. For instance, in female sports or events, girls’ lacrosse is less physical than boys’ lacrosse. In military training, women have less push ups than men sometimes. While playing softball, girls wear shin guards, mouth pieces, or face masks to protect their bodies. After playing this sport for over eight years, I can honestly say I have used all of these protective devices during a game. That is because, contrary to popular belief, softball IS actually harder than baseball.

I know what most of you are thinking, especially the boys, “but the ball is smaller and harder to see because it is white!” This is true, but the video posted above The Speed of Softball provides valid information and statistics proving the speed of softball is more difficult than baseball. The information includes sizes of the field, ways the ball is pitched, time to run to first base, and reaction times for hitting the ball. Society today is quick to judge gender stereotypical sports. It is very normal for a boy to play baseball or football, but once a girl wants to play baseball they are immediately called “manly or dyke-y” (from personal experience). I can honestly say I am a very straight and girly female who just loves the game of softball. Watching this video made me realize how critical society can be when simply watching a sporting event. Just like the WNBA post, people are more likely to watch a men sporting event rather than a women sporting event. There’s no sexism involved, its simply the fact that male sports are more fun and exciting to watch than female sports, such as physical fights. I do also think woman sports, especially softball, should be treated with more respect. The Olympics dropped softball out of the Games because it was not popular enough around the world for there to be enough competition. This has possibly ruined many young girls’ dreams of wanting to play softball in the Olympics one day. In conclusion, society should realize that every action a girl does is not easier than how a boy does it. Next time a man tells a person, “You hit like a girl!” the person can take the man to a softball field and pitch to them to see how difficult it really is!