Men must rid themselves of their toxic masculinity
Sarah Fuller is a keeper and a kicker. The Vanderbilt senior is a Southeastern Conference Champion and SEC CoPlayer of the Week. Historic is an understatement. She’s keeping up with what’s going on while kicking down doors for little girls everywhere.
I searched her name on Twitter the day it was announced she was going to kick for the Vanderbilt football team against Missouri. At the time, she had a little more than 600 followers. Since then, she’s gained more than 140K new followers across Twitter and Instagram.
As I’ve continued to search her name in recent days, however, I’m reminded of how much hatred exists. Social media can be an awful place. One supposed supporter of Vanderbilt athletics wrote, “Football is a man’s sport. I will not be renewing my season tickets to Vanderbilt next year.”
I propose Commodore Nation release white doves in his absentia. If that is coming from an ally, imagine the tone from random online eyeballs.
Men who are the most famous Polk High School legends are not impressed with Fuller’s accomplishment. They were laughing and hoping she made the team cookies. They prayed for a botched snap to see her get creamed.
Why not be supportive?
Fuller has now started for two different SEC programs in the same season. How empowering is that? I applaud Fuller! She didn’t ask for this. She helped in the face of a different and difficult 2020 for athletic programs across the country.
Why hate?
As I salute Fuller, I’m challenging men. Be better! We need to lose our barbaric and archaic way of thinking. Some men are responding as if their manhood is under attack. It isn’t. Relax! Just keep scrolling.
I recently published a podcast episode on Jay’s World titled “Women in Sports,” where I interviewed two women working in sports journalism and two women working in college athletics. Imagine how often they get inappropriate comments? Every! Single! Day!
They know they belong and they’re no longer waiting for our approval. The resounding theme of our conversation is that some men have a real fear of losing their spots. Some men are feeling challenged, insecure, and jealous.
We’re embarking on a time when women are standing boldly in front of fixed mindsets – a time that is more than past due. Fuller’s pivot to football is a testament to women all over the world. Don’t let anyone, especially men, put you in a box. But this isn’t about football, a kicker, or a kick. It’s about courage, confidence, and insecurities. As women continue to break down barriers, society tries to keep the clamps on.
Jay Gilmore is a University of Memphis assistant professor of journalism and strategic media.