It is a very female dominated sport but being in derby myself, I have discovered more leagues that are co-ed and male only members. These are new and still small but I predict that we will see more male derby skaters in the USA in years to come. Especially once they can start registering like the all-female leagues. I also know in the past, Japan has had all-male leagues. I don't know if they are still as big or even exsist anymore.
I've been dealing with the question of "is it appropriate for a woman to use her sexuality?" since I was a preteen in the 90's. I was developing and the Spice Girls were promoting Girl Power, but also sex appeal. I can't sum up my feelings on the subject in the comments section.
No matter how equal men and women will ever become, I feel (and many with me) that the female figure will allways be the more beatifull or more sexy one. This has been used by men seeking to make money and then our sexuality is seen as a degrading comodity, BUT if we take control of our own sensuality/sexappeal it becomes instead a very empowering comodity. We're handing it out on our terms as did the powerfull ladies you showed in the spisode. There are fine lines however that some do cross. :(
Roller Derby has come up as an ALL GIRL thing, tons of hippy feminists claiming for themselves. But the sport has grown in leaps and bounds over the years. Although MOST leagues still start as womens leagues, the refs and coaches generally get tired of the girls having all the fun and for willing leagues, mens teams are starting to come along as well as the guys that just think its a kewl sport and start their own.
@sinaz This is totally true and I feel a bit silly for putting that angle on things in the episode! I've since been properly corrected on the matter and am glad to have been.
@jcrodick Cheers! You're right, I guess it isn't an all-girl sport...it just seemed that way to me at the time given the way it's promoted in Toronto, through the film and in the websites I looked at. However, it's certainly a bit absurd to assume that NO MEN ANYWHERE are doing it!
If you were to ask me what aspect of the roller girls is not authentic to Roller Derby, offhand I would have to say all of it. Roller Derby was once considered the professional level of speed skating. All of the competitors were highly skilled athletes and skaters who respected the history and heritage of the sport and sportsmanship.
After the loss of sponsorship in the mid 70's Roller Derby had struggled on in small promotions of dedicated individuals such as Roller Games International and the American Roller Skating Derby based in California. But roller girls don't come from sport or skating, so where did they come from? The roller girls were created by a man, Dan Policarpo, in Austin Texas and featured performers from the Burlesque revival that was happening there.
So roller girls is just an attempt to exploit Roller Derby for it's perceived kitsch value and to turn it into an aspect of the sex trade. So roller girls don't have any connection to the historical Roller Derby at all.
I really want to see that movie! Looks really good!
If a women feels empowered, she feels self-confident. And if she feels self-confident then most likely she feels sexy. I think the way they dress and advertise is just a compliment of the the way they feel. I don't think it's negative or degrading, we just expect it to be.
I'm prone to agreeing with you - the trick as a fella, I think, is that you are so often told that sex appeal lessens things instead of adding to them...which is kind of maddening for all kinds of reasons!
The sex appeal helps to draw attention as a grass roots marketing idea. So far, no multi-million marketers have stepped forward to help grow the sport. So sex helps and helped.
Oh! WOOPS. I remembered them being mentioned at the demonstration but perhaps I or the presenter forgot that angle. Thanks for additional information!
I have to disagree though, I don't think it HAS to be done that way - just that it's such an easy way to drum up interest that it's almost never ignored.
Sorry to hear about fracturing your wrist! I've been lucky enough never to break, sprain or fracture anything and I'm always quietly fascinated when people describe it happening to them.
Ahhh! I want to see this movie! Comes out tomorrow, right?
Well, the sport is definitely empowering, and I think a women who engages herself in an empowering sport, will also feel sexy. So marketing it that way, or dressing that way, doesn't really take away from it. I think we just expect it to.
It is a very female dominated sport but being in derby myself, I have discovered more leagues that are co-ed and male only members. These are new and still small but I predict that we will see more male derby skaters in the USA in years to come. Especially once they can start registering like the all-female leagues. I also know in the past, Japan has had all-male leagues. I don't know if they are still as big or even exsist anymore.
tiperith85 8 months ago
I've been dealing with the question of "is it appropriate for a woman to use her sexuality?" since I was a preteen in the 90's. I was developing and the Spice Girls were promoting Girl Power, but also sex appeal. I can't sum up my feelings on the subject in the comments section.
StephSides 10 months ago
No matter how equal men and women will ever become, I feel (and many with me) that the female figure will allways be the more beatifull or more sexy one. This has been used by men seeking to make money and then our sexuality is seen as a degrading comodity, BUT if we take control of our own sensuality/sexappeal it becomes instead a very empowering comodity. We're handing it out on our terms as did the powerfull ladies you showed in the spisode. There are fine lines however that some do cross. :(
DemonicDutchess 10 months ago
Roller Derby has come up as an ALL GIRL thing, tons of hippy feminists claiming for themselves. But the sport has grown in leaps and bounds over the years. Although MOST leagues still start as womens leagues, the refs and coaches generally get tired of the girls having all the fun and for willing leagues, mens teams are starting to come along as well as the guys that just think its a kewl sport and start their own.
sinaz 1 year ago
@sinaz This is totally true and I feel a bit silly for putting that angle on things in the episode! I've since been properly corrected on the matter and am glad to have been.
HandfulOfMinutes 1 year ago
Hah. Also. "ALL GIRL ACTION". That made me chuckle.
jcrodick 1 year ago
@jcrodick Cheers! You're right, I guess it isn't an all-girl sport...it just seemed that way to me at the time given the way it's promoted in Toronto, through the film and in the websites I looked at. However, it's certainly a bit absurd to assume that NO MEN ANYWHERE are doing it!
HandfulOfMinutes 1 year ago
Roller Derby definitely isn't an all-girl sport. I'm a dude, and I play on a co-ed league.
jcrodick 1 year ago
Pseudo feminism and pseudo Roller Derby too!
CanadianRollerDerby 2 years ago
Haha, I'm sorry - did I totally mess up the rules or something?
HandfulOfMinutes 2 years ago
Oh wait, duh I get it. But why don't you think the Roller Derby aspect is authentic?
HandfulOfMinutes 2 years ago
If you were to ask me what aspect of the roller girls is not authentic to Roller Derby, offhand I would have to say all of it. Roller Derby was once considered the professional level of speed skating. All of the competitors were highly skilled athletes and skaters who respected the history and heritage of the sport and sportsmanship.
CanadianRollerDerby 2 years ago
After the loss of sponsorship in the mid 70's Roller Derby had struggled on in small promotions of dedicated individuals such as Roller Games International and the American Roller Skating Derby based in California. But roller girls don't come from sport or skating, so where did they come from? The roller girls were created by a man, Dan Policarpo, in Austin Texas and featured performers from the Burlesque revival that was happening there.
CanadianRollerDerby 2 years ago
So roller girls is just an attempt to exploit Roller Derby for it's perceived kitsch value and to turn it into an aspect of the sex trade. So roller girls don't have any connection to the historical Roller Derby at all.
CanadianRollerDerby 2 years ago
No you got everything right, the roller girls get everything wrong.
CanadianRollerDerby 2 years ago
Oliver's tired human flesh.. I laughed :)
fuzzyish 2 years ago
Haha, I'm glad! Hoo boy, I was running on something like three hours when we filmed this one and the makeup lady was unavailable. BLARUGHGHGHG....
HandfulOfMinutes 2 years ago
(My comment got deleted)
I really want to see that movie! Looks really good!
If a women feels empowered, she feels self-confident. And if she feels self-confident then most likely she feels sexy. I think the way they dress and advertise is just a compliment of the the way they feel. I don't think it's negative or degrading, we just expect it to be.
Haha, your laugh is so nerdy :]
asimplecadence 2 years ago 2
DO YOU MEAN.....MANLY?
I'm prone to agreeing with you - the trick as a fella, I think, is that you are so often told that sex appeal lessens things instead of adding to them...which is kind of maddening for all kinds of reasons!
HandfulOfMinutes 2 years ago
Nerdy is a good thing! Promise!
That's really true. It basically comes down to what society tells us to think and believe. That's always the problem.
asimplecadence 2 years ago
The sex appeal helps to draw attention as a grass roots marketing idea. So far, no multi-million marketers have stepped forward to help grow the sport. So sex helps and helped.
jdcinsf 2 years ago
Three 20s bouts went out with high-button boots. WFTDA stopped sanctioning them in June'08, and the current rules don't even allow for them.
PoobahSCRG 2 years ago
Oh! WOOPS. I remembered them being mentioned at the demonstration but perhaps I or the presenter forgot that angle. Thanks for additional information!
HandfulOfMinutes 2 years ago
Great Video
Yeah this is like the first movie shes ever directed, I wonder If It's good.
I had a bad encounter with roller skates.
I was skating around in a roller rink and i some how was going to fast and i fell flat on my back
I some how managed to fracture my wrist by doing that...
Worst Pain Ever!
Oh & about sexy appeal to sell things
well it sadly has to be done just for woman to get any attention for what they're doing.
Thanks for the video
You make me some what smarter every week! :D
slylink690 2 years ago
Hey man, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I have to disagree though, I don't think it HAS to be done that way - just that it's such an easy way to drum up interest that it's almost never ignored.
Sorry to hear about fracturing your wrist! I've been lucky enough never to break, sprain or fracture anything and I'm always quietly fascinated when people describe it happening to them.
HandfulOfMinutes 2 years ago
I was such a huge Roller Derby fan back in its 70s heyday. Oh yeah; just aged myself big time there. =D
hathi444 2 years ago
Oh no problem, we all get our turn with that! I'm not even out of my twenties and I seem to have started dating myself here and there.
Wow, that sentence could be read in an interesting way!
HandfulOfMinutes 2 years ago
I have grown to accept that whenever you use my picture in a video, it's going to be THAT picture.
I do feel bad though as my massive head seems to be obscuring some of the windows.
Shawnmeat 2 years ago
Shouldn't you always be feeling bad?
For SOMETHING? ANYTHING?
Also....more pictures may find their way soon...moo hoo ha ha.
HandfulOfMinutes 2 years ago
I love you for making this. haha
Spiffet 2 years ago
And I loved making it! The circle is complete.
HandfulOfMinutes 2 years ago
Synchronized marriage FTW! xD
Roller derby does look pretty bangin,' though. If I were anything but shit at sports, I would probably give it a go.
iman12692 2 years ago 2
Ahhh! I want to see this movie! Comes out tomorrow, right?
Well, the sport is definitely empowering, and I think a women who engages herself in an empowering sport, will also feel sexy. So marketing it that way, or dressing that way, doesn't really take away from it. I think we just expect it to.
Haha, your laugh is so nerdy :]
asimplecadence 2 years ago
Concussion-riffic
metalorg 2 years ago