MARCH 10, 1972
Jill Falstad Speaks Out
For Women's Equality
Our school has quite a number of girls who enjoy participating and competing in athletic and recreational activities. I feel it is too bad that we are hampered by rules, regulations, and the red tape of our society because we are girls.
Rules set down for girls are very archaic but even more unjustly they are applied only to one sex, the "weaker" one. There will be no girls' uniforms allowed, no extensive publicity, and no organized cheering. There is a limit of two days per week a girl can compete and a limit of contests per day.
I question the right of anyone to say how many rounds of archery a girl is allowed to shoot. I am surprised that our society puts up with any such dictatorial dogmas yet many are unconcerned or uninformed. Those who are affected lack the power to change a society's ideas.
Girls in this school lack equality in the amount of equipment they are given and the time which they are allotted this
This clearly demonstrates segregation and prejudices. This year girls were allowed to par-ticipate only in badminton, golf, archery, and tennis interscholastically. In swimming, volleyball, and softball those interested were allowed only two sports days.
Minimal and slow progress is being made. Next year, swimming, track, fencing, and gym-nastics can also be offered interscholastically. There is much more individual participation allowed. Individual recognition is encouraged; school victories are discouraged.
These possibilities may be annulled at Maine because of our district's present financial situation. The advantages a boy gets out of sports are the same a girl would and yet she is given little opportunity for the satisfaction of victory, the challenge of defeat, the character building and good sportsmanship.