Dear Good People,
FOMO is real
You know that feeling when you miss the fun party or sold out concert or the whole Barbie movie thing?
Yes, FOMO “fear of missing out” is real.
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Before we go any further, here are words I never imagined I would type.
See the Barbie movie.
Yes, this is coming from a lifelong Barbie hater.
Go in knowing as little as possible other than trust me, if you like Dear Good People, I suspect you will like the movie. Avoid FOMO on this one.
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Mystery Video
Okay, speaking of FOMO, don’t miss out on this great two minute non-Barbie-related video. I’m being deliberately vague. Watch to the end. And then come back!
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Plot Twist
What did you think of the plot twist?
We think we’re watching French men's World Cup soccer team competing at the highest and most exciting levels – only to learn that the faces on the players have been altered. The athleticism is unchanged but it’s really the French women's team.
It’s a brilliant cinematic move which reveals our gendered and biased lens.
It reminded me of a popular past issue of Dear Good People where we talked about thought experiments.
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Glory Days
Thought experiments like these reveal that I (and maybe you?) have been conditioned to think of "sports" as “men’s sports.”
This is not because I don’t love sports. In my glory days, I was a three sport athlete in high school (MVP and Co-Captain in all three) and a Division I Varsity Tennis Player in college.
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Plus, ESPN is always on in our home. I have even spent some time at ESPN headquarters.
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Less Than
Still, that French World Cup commercial hit me on the head like a soccer ball: I have internalized women’s sports as less than.
Less exciting. Less athletic. Less inspiring. Less legit. Less worthy. Less marketable. Less demanding. Less profitable.
That’s what happens when men’s sports have always been the default. It sends the subtle (or not-so-subtle signal) that women’s sports are “less” even when the reality is clearly the opposite.
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Trip of a Lifetime
I had a similar realization earlier this summer when my sports-obsessed older daughter and I flew to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College Softball World Series. The stadium was packed, the fans (including many men) were fired up, and the games were amazing.
Here are a few photos from my sports photographer daughter. (You can see more at https://www.instagram.com/mayasinghphotos/ – likes, follows, and encouraging comments welcome!)
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FOMO hit me hard in Oklahoma City. There are many sports fans watching women’s sports … and even more of us not watching (that includes me).
Here is what we are missing out on …
1. Awe-inspiring athleticism: Check out these amazing moments in this women's sports playlist we put together for you and another photo by my daughter below.
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2. Diehard Fans: The fans are fantastic at women's sports events. Case in point - check out these New York Liberty fans at a recent WNBA game we attended.
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3. Ride-or-Die Friendships: As one example, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert have a legendary tennis rivalry. And, they have a friendship for the ages chronicled in this beautiful article and video.
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4. Right Side of History: It’s wild to realize that both of my teenagers studied Title IX in their high school history classes. I remember watching my hero Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs. It was not that long ago. We need to keep that work going.
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5. Gritty grit: I love reading and watching athlete’s gritty stories. Some favorites include the Audible Original from Teresa Edwards and the film about her Olympic team, Susie Petruccelli’s soccer memoir, and Pat Summitt’s basketball memoir.
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6. Innovative sports marketing: Turned off by the commercialism (more beer, more cars) of sports? Me, too. Check out the exciting innovation happening in women’s sports marketing.
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Bottom Line
To recap, FOMO is real, the default in sports is male, and we are missing out.
Spoiler alert: the Barbie movie is about what happens when you reverse the default. The answer is that we all do better.
Challenge the Default
We can all challenge the default.
Like the late basketball star Kobe Bryant’s fervid support of women’s basketball and women’s soccer and tennis star Andy Murray's consistent allyship.
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Like the male manager of the bar in NYC's Penn Station who recently had all three televisions in the bar playing women’s sports.
Umm, is that me overcome with emotion and crying in the middle of the food hall at the busiest rail hub in North America?
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No more FOMO
All genders have to be extra intentional to avoid FOMO.
See Barbie.
Watch women's sports.
I don't want to miss out. And I want to prove there is a market and fan base for content with strong women.
Clicks, views, downloads, follows, likes, ticket sales, merch sales, posts, hashtags – use your attention / dollars / time / feeds with intention.
Here are just a few of many options to enjoy …
Shoot me an email at newsletter@dollychugh.com to let me know what you're watching and what you think of Barbie!
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Share with Others!
Dear Good People is a fun, evidence-based monthly newsletter with tips on how to be the inclusive people we mean to be. Feel free to share with others or drop me a note using the links at the bottom.
If someone forwarded this to you, sign up below to get your own free, monthly subscription - no FOMO!
And if you are looking for your next summer read, I have the inspiring read you are looking for! Check out The Person You Mean to Be and A More Just Future in print, ebook, or audio.
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Thanks for growing with me,
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