I want to support women's running, and more generally women's rights, health care and social/cultural equality. One easy local way to do that (I thought) was to do (give my money to) an all women's race in my town, where some proceeds go to a women's shelter.
However, it appears that the focus of the event is not about the women's shelter- it's throwing a princess party for adult women. There will be hot pink shirts for the runners, the volunteers. There will be a dress-up booth where you can get your picture taken. There will be fun pink signs with fun quotes like "I run so that I can eat chocolate" out on the race course. I have very mixed feelings about this. There is a fine line between embracing a stereotype, and conforming to one. I ask myself, what is more effective- promoting women's sports and/or health by a hosting a GIANT SCENE of sparkles and pink trinkets, or doing so in a less outlandish, more dignified manner? I don't know the answer. Maybe you have some insight. Maybe the event is NOT about promoting women's health, and it is just a Princess Party for adults- is there anything wrong with that? I guess not. I just get so frustrated when there are opportunities to make a difference- raise awareness about women's rights and health, both in the US and abroad, and it's so dumbed down by all this pink-OMG-I-am-a-princess shit.
Lastly, do women runners really, actually like hot pink things? Am I the only one who doesn't want anything to do with my Barbie-inspired goodie bag? Should I have just donated my $30 to the women's shelter and skipped the event? I'm starting to think so.
Do you have similar events in your town? Do you wish you did? Has anyone had an extremely positive (or negative) experience at an all-women's event? Better yet, does anyone know of an all-women's event that is not flooded in hot pink?
However, it appears that the focus of the event is not about the women's shelter- it's throwing a princess party for adult women. There will be hot pink shirts for the runners, the volunteers. There will be a dress-up booth where you can get your picture taken. There will be fun pink signs with fun quotes like "I run so that I can eat chocolate" out on the race course. I have very mixed feelings about this. There is a fine line between embracing a stereotype, and conforming to one. I ask myself, what is more effective- promoting women's sports and/or health by a hosting a GIANT SCENE of sparkles and pink trinkets, or doing so in a less outlandish, more dignified manner? I don't know the answer. Maybe you have some insight. Maybe the event is NOT about promoting women's health, and it is just a Princess Party for adults- is there anything wrong with that? I guess not. I just get so frustrated when there are opportunities to make a difference- raise awareness about women's rights and health, both in the US and abroad, and it's so dumbed down by all this pink-OMG-I-am-a-princess shit.
Lastly, do women runners really, actually like hot pink things? Am I the only one who doesn't want anything to do with my Barbie-inspired goodie bag? Should I have just donated my $30 to the women's shelter and skipped the event? I'm starting to think so.
Do you have similar events in your town? Do you wish you did? Has anyone had an extremely positive (or negative) experience at an all-women's event? Better yet, does anyone know of an all-women's event that is not flooded in hot pink?