San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested early this morning for allegedly choking and restraining Tila “Tequila” Nguyen. The coverage on sports sites unsurprisingly focuses on how this will hurt Merriman’s team, and frustration that this could happen so close to the start of the season. According to SR at the Bleacher Report:
The real questions is…What in the world was Merriman thinking? After all this time in working to come back into the NFL, why would he do something so stupid to not only hurt himself, but his team as well?
To the author’s credit, he does assert that NFL players can’t be choking women and getting away with it. But his immediately concern for the player and the team, with very little consideration for the health of the alleged victim (a sentiment echoed by several articles) is staggering.
Check out this poll:
Misogyny in the sports world is thriving. If you have any doubts, read the comments section of any article covering this story. As a woman who loves sports, it’s growing harder to support any professional team because they condone violence against women.
Late last year, Brian Giles, outfielder for the San Diego Padres, faced assault charges by his former girlfriend. At first, the Padres came out with a strong statement insisting that they would not condone any form of violence against women and, much like the Chargers are doing, vowing to watch the case carefully as it unfolded. Despite video evidence showing Brian Giles throwing his girlfriend on the ground in a public place, the story was swept under the rug. At first, I tried not to support the Padres, a team I’ve rooted for my entire life. Eventually, I started watching games again, secretly rooting against Brian Giles each time he played. But why am I forced to choose between loving professional sports and condoning violence against women?
Sadly, Michael Vick has faced a much stronger backlash for his role in dog fighting than any recent athlete accused of violence against women. Is it because no one was able to turn the tables in the Vick case and blame the dogs? Shawne Merriman’s alleged attack on his girlfriend happened this morning. How long will it take for the media to blame his victim and then forget anything ever happened? Michael Vick has inspired boycotts and angry petitions from sports fans and non-fans alike.� Where’s the “NFL Fans Against Violence Against Women” group?
September 6, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Thankfully, Winnipeg Blue Bombers said “no” to signing Adam Pacman Jones.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=4333957
September 16, 2009 at 2:51 am
The emphasis given to sports players and their actions off the field demonstrates they are not infallible nor immune from inflicting violence on their female partners. With some of the same incidents occurring in Australia with AFL and rugby players, similar reactions help to minimise what certain players have done because of their status as professional sports players. Recently, a rugby player hit his girlfriend yet many commented or implied the girlfriend was to blame. Some even suggested the girlfriend should refrain from annoying him the night before a game because of the stress he faces. This kind of thinking suggests that at certain times women should be seen but not heard. But when women are both seen and heard, they interrupt or encroach on the space of men and therefore, these incidents are to be expected. This also implies that women are unable to understand the world of male sport.
When something serious is minimised (like domestic violence perpetrated by a sports star) it suggests that people should ignore or treat diffeently the actions of people because of their professional status. It also begins to invalidate the experience of the ‘victim’. Blaming the girlfriend/wife is the same as relationships in the outside world. Placing the blame on women is symptomatic of larger beliefs when it comes to domestic violence in the community. These focus on implicit understandings about the use of space and how women and men use these differently. The dominance of men in sport is a classic example of this with preference given to men in all male teams while all women are spectators along with other men (especially with AFL and rugby). Anything considered a disruption to a game of all men (such as a girlfriend) is treated with contempt. Not just by a boyfriend but by others who exist outside the world of sport.
October 10, 2009 at 3:41 am
[...] 1dawhy @ 10:37 am Tags: domestic violence, feminism, sport, sports stars The emphasis given to sports players and their actions off the field demonstrates they are not infallible nor immune from inflicting violence on their female partners. [...]