Should women be allowed to play NFL football?

Question

If they can make the team, why not? And if so, should the team have to provide separate locker rooms? And if so, why? Does it matter how many women might be on the team? I mean, what do they think is going to happen in front of the press, the trainers, team owners, etc? Guys don't want women staring at their "package" and vice versa? I say, if you want to play with the guys and can qualify, let it all hang out. What's the big deal?

Answer 1

Women do in fact have their own professional league- the NWFL http://www.womensfootballcentral.com/ , its just not as widely known about as the NFL, or even the WNBA, women’s tennis or anything to that effect. In highschool I actually had a female gym teacher who was the running back for the Minnesota Vixens, so that’s how little their known about and how little they actually get paid.

But to answer your original question of if Women should play in the NFL, I don’t see much of a problem in it. The only position that a women could actually legitimately do would be a kicker. In the NCAA I know they've had a few female kickers, maybe 3 or 4 in the entire history. I think it was for half time at a Bills game but they had Mia Hamm come out and start kicking 56 yard field goals, and she even kicked a 35 yrd with her opposite foot, so women can in fact be good field goal kickers. But honestly I don’t ever see it happening. Even if a women was a very good kicker, you have to think that owners wouldn’t even want to go down the route when you can just hire a male kicker and not have to worry about all of the intangibles like if she got hit by a 250 pound linebacker, or the locker room situation.

Answer 2

All of the things you mentioned (same locker room, etc) would be problems, how ever any realist, male or female, should admit any woman who made an NFL team would most likely have to be juicing to just get big enough alone (let enough athletic, as not all body-builder ----and alot of those ladies have to be juicing --- are not automatically skilled athletes). Biologically women are just not (nor do they generally have the capacity to become) as big and muscly as men. They even have 2 separate Basketball leagues and the only main difference there is height (weight too, but that's just because of height --proportionately they're pretty equal). RB/CB is generally the shortest position (average 5'10" by casual observation) and that is already taller than the average female (hell, I havn't seen recent statistics but probably average guy also). Those guys are generally 180-220lbs ! (CBs, then RBs). They wouldn't be able to get tall or built enough to play any other position (and those 2 need much skill even if women could get the size -----man or woman those 2 positions are very competitive @ NFL level where only an elite few stand out)
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After reading some responses that were posted while I typed this monster (I was bored, sue me), I'll just add to some of the ladies ---this isn't about heart! We're not saying women are not competitive or that they can't be compitent athletes! (Infact by saying all men would be embarassed being beaten by a girl is pretty sexist). Hell, it's hard enough to play in the NFL as a guy who's played football his whole life --it's super competitive for any athelete. But mainly it's all biology. Would a women ever be able to play on the O-Line?! I'll take Walter Jones, relatively small as LTs go ---AT 308 POUNDS!! Women cannot biologically put on that much muscle (not saying he's 100% muscle, but Walter's % of muscle is much higher than any woman of that weight). Look at LBs who range from a "tiny" 230 to the 272lb Shawne Merriman. Women just lack the sheer girth to play professional football

Answer 3

There is no woman past, present, or future that could possibly play in the NFL. Women lack the speed, strength, and size to play pro football. Hell, there has never been a woman in D-1 college football. I'm not saying that woman don't have the heart to play, but physically they just can't compete. The only chance that a woman would have is to be a kicker. Even then, I doubt that a woman would have the leg strength to kick a football consistantly 50-60 yards. Ohio State has a better chance of beating a SEC team than a woman has of playing in the NFL.

Answer 4

Katie Hnida was a place kicker for New Mexico, a Division I team. I believe there have been other female kickers in college football, but she was the first woman in Division I football to score points. Kicker might be the ideal football position for a woman since there are plenty of rules preventing hits on the kicker. And if the woman in question didn't have to do kickoffs, she almost never would be in a situation where she'd have to hit somebody, or be hit.

I would rather that the answer to this question be decided on the field, not arbitrarily decided by a bunch of guys who don't understand "chicks". Let women try out for teams on an equal basis. I know that there are some women out there who could kick the *** of many a man in a fight. Let them have the chance to prove what they can do before we prevent them from having the opportunity just because they have a uterus.

The women's pro football league may be the most promising development for the future of women in the sport. If any woman is ever to make the NFL, having the opportunity to get on the field and play will do more for their chances than any tryout or workout.

Also, male players have to weigh the risks of possible injury when they choose to play the sport. Let female players make that same choice for themselves. Let's not make that choice for them.

Finally, I think separate locker rooms is a question that's way down the list of priorities regarding this issue. ;) I think the league will cross that bridge if/when they get to it.

Answer 5

There is no prohibition against women playing pro football. There just haven't yet been any that can compete at that level. The NFL isn't taking woman's rights away. By no legal construct is the NFL obligated to subsidize a women's football league. The WNBA is subsidized by the NBA and it's a money pit. I'm unaware of MLB subsidizing a women's league. The gals tend to prefer softball, but there occasionally is a female in the minor leagues. As people have already pointed out women's amateur and semi-pro leagues already exist. If you're really concerned about women's football get out there and support those leagues.

Answer 6

Women and Men are EQUAL. Men are not some superior race. Men, get over yourselves. I'm a man and a huge football fan. Women should be allowed to play if they're good enough...WHICH I think some women are. The way the NFL locker rooms are designed, one could easily have a separate section just for getting dressed.

Answer 7

I love football ALOT, and i think its great that girls can play in high school, but i dont think that women should be allowed to play in the NFL at all. It would completely change the game around..new rules would be made..and it would be just weird..ew..and i totally agree with rene'..we do not have near the physical strength of all of those guys have. I think that i will stick to my back yard thanks.

Answer 8

Even if they were allowed to play in the NFL none of them would be successful at actually making a team, or playing at all.

Answer 9

If a woman was able to play the game by the rules and deal with the garbage that the other players give her, I see absolutely no reason she shouldn't be able to play. As for the locker room situation, yes, she should be provided a separate changing area--I see it no differently than grade school--would you want your daughter changing clothes in front of a room full of boys? How about using the toilet? Do you think that's appropriate? As for the number of women on the team--who cares! Same rules should apply. As for "letting it all hang out" I just don't think that is appropriate for anyone.

Answer 10

hell yes i think women should be able to... but we should prolly have our own league tho b/c it could get really physical playing with men (especially 300 pound guys). I play football all the time and im 5'6 115 lbs and im just as good as the guys... ive been syaing forever that women should be able to play! and not that stupid lingerie bowl crap..