Many times in society , people feel as though gender stereotypes can be harmful and unfair. There are a lot of different things that have been passed down to our children due to specific traditions that have been done for years and years.
However, as time goes on, many parents are looking to break gender stereotypes and be more inclusive for all children.
One mom recently opened on up Facebook about gender discrimination that happened to her daughter.
Ashlee Partin, the mother of a 7-year-old softball player, shared the email she had written to the softball organization after they treated her daughter and her teammates “unfairly” through “gender bias” after they won a championship.
The mom shared just how hard and how much the girls had practiced and worked.
The mom shared that her daughter and teammates practiced 3 days a week for 2 months for hours every single day. And, after practice, they would go home and practice more.
All of this paid off because they won the 6U Allstar State Championship.
However, Partin said that Babe Ruth, the organization running the championship, treated the girls poorly.
Partin wrote a lengthy email to the Babe Ruth organization, which was in charge of the softball championship and league, stating how and why her daughter and the 1,000 other girls were treated poorly.
Brace yourselves, it gets crazy.
First, the mom said that the boys in the league received things that the girls did not.
The boys in the championship state tournament, both the winners and the runner-ups, received trophies and medals for their commitment and their hard work. But, the girls did not receive trophies. Instead, the girls received “goody bags” for their win.
They also shared a photo of the two prizes.
One person in the Facebook comments who also went to the tournament shared the trophies that the male players had received next to the goody bag that the girls had received. The bag included a softball with the tournament logo and batting gloves.
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The mom said that it was “a joke.”
The mom pointed out that while the boys got the trophies, the girls received nothing for getting the “highest recognition you can get for 6U.” Additionally, she said the gloves were too big for the girls, and some bags didn’t even get the gloves.
The mom also shared other issues with the league.
The girl’s games were delayed over six hours and even after they were waiting around all day, they were told their game was canceled. However, the other team was told long before that. And, the commissioner wouldn’t even speak to the players, either.
Clearly, the mom was angry for her daughter and all the other girls.
Many people on Facebook spoke out in support of the mom.
Many Facebook users commented in support of what the mom had to say. Many also agreed that it was wrong for the tournament to give trophies to the boys but only give the goodie bags to the girls, as it promotes gender discrimination.
Others said that they hope the tournament corrects their wrongs.
After TODAY reached out to the organization for comment, Oviedo Babe Ruth President Jim Brashear and the Oviedo Babe Ruth board of directors shared they will honor the girls in a ceremony with special award trophies.
