1 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 1: Welcome to stuff Mom never told you. From how Stuff 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 1: Works dot Com. Hello and welcome to the podcast. I'm 3 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: Kristen and I'm Caroline. And since it is football season 4 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:23,600 Speaker 1: here in the United States of America, I'm not talking 5 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: about European football football football, ak A soccer, which means 6 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: it probably half our listeners just turned the podcast. People 7 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 1: love the old pig skin. Some people do, some people do. 8 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: I mean, I think it is established fact that soccer 9 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 1: football is like a ba jillion times more popular than 10 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: that's a scientific fact. Yes, a bajillion times more popular 11 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: than NFL football. What we're talking about NFL football today 12 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: because like I that I'm just gonna repeat myself, it's 13 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:06,839 Speaker 1: football season. And also the week that we are recording this, 14 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: NFL fans out there, you have been to hell and 15 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: back with some crazy call that was made by some 16 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: replacement ref because there was some kind of referee uh 17 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 1: you know, contract things going on, so they had to 18 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: call in these like, you know, second string referees and 19 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: apparently they were disguise from the street. Yeah, random people. 20 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: They pulled in the guys from the popcorn stand and 21 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 1: they made this terrible call. I think the Seahawks were playing. 22 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: And this is the way I'm going to tell you 23 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: all that I don't watch NFL football. I don't either, 24 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: which is why I'm laughing, because I've been toying Kristen's 25 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: telling of this story. And if anyone is listening from ESPN, 26 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: sure I will. I will be a commentator anytime. I 27 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: don't watch NFL football, but I'm not incompetent when it 28 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:10,399 Speaker 1: comes to football. I watch college football. I was raised 29 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 1: watching the Southeastern Conference. My mother is the most rabid 30 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:22,799 Speaker 1: Auburn University fan, and every it was every Saturday we 31 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 1: would watch the games. Yeah. No, I'm the opposite of that. 32 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: I'll go ahead and say it. No football in your household. No. 33 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 1: And it's funny because all these years of Thanksgiving, when 34 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 1: my dad would turn on football, I just assumed he 35 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: was pretending, like, you don't really like football, You've never 36 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: watched football, I've never seen you go to a game, 37 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: have opinions about it, whatever. But apparently he does like 38 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: football now and again, and he actually knows who the 39 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 1: team's are. But my mother and I could care less. 40 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:53,239 Speaker 1: I went to U g A with Kristen Conger and No. 41 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: I went to a couple of u g A games. 42 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: It wasn't my thing. I actually don't like crowds and 43 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 1: football is to start and stop. I prefer saw or 44 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:03,800 Speaker 1: basketball myself. Yeah, if you grow up as I did 45 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 1: in a college football town, um you quickly well for 46 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: some people myself again personalizing this, uh, it's it's not 47 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 1: the event of a college football game. It's not that 48 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: fun because you can't go anywhere. But if you stay 49 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 1: home and you make snacks and dips, then then I 50 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: can get on board with that. Also beer if you 51 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: are of age. But as far as the NFL goes, 52 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 1: I am. I totally drop off. College is where it 53 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 1: stops for me. But Caroline, you and I are kind 54 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: of wacky in this regard because apparently football, NFL football, 55 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: we should say, is all the rage among women. There is. 56 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 1: Actually in advertising Age magazine this week, I had a 57 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: headline saying women's top watch show is not what you 58 00:03:56,320 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: think in parents in parentheses dancing with the Stars. No, 59 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: it's not dancing with the stars. It's football. Yeah. We 60 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 1: actually apparently who knew women like sports? Who slash um? 61 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: It actually is sort of a big news flash to 62 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: a lot of people that women are watching NFL football 63 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 1: everybody kind of assumed like, Okay, well, you're not really 64 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: watching it. You're probably just in the room while you're 65 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: significant your male significant other is watching it, or your 66 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: children or whatever. But there is a significant number of 67 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 1: female fans out there who are, um like, actually keeping 68 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 1: up with the stats and whatever. Can you tell that 69 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: I'm not a football fan. I'm like, I don't, I 70 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: don't even know. I don't know what they keep up with. 71 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: They well, they, well, here here's some statistics, because sports 72 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: and fandom is all about statistics. So here we go 73 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 1: out in the NFL, women comprise of the fan base 74 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: pretty good, and they are a third of so called 75 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 1: avid fans, the ones who would be able to tell 76 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,039 Speaker 1: you the finer point of that referee call that was 77 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: so botched earlier this week. Shame on that event. A 78 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,479 Speaker 1: lot of these stats, though, are looking at the super 79 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 1: Bowl specifically, and I kind of think, well, you know, 80 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 1: the super Bowl is more general, Like I've watched the 81 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:19,039 Speaker 1: Super Bowl, although I watch it more for the ads. 82 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: I wanted to the game again, the snacks, the snacks 83 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: because I couldn't, I really couldn't care less, and so um. 84 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 1: A lot of magazines and articles and everything have looked 85 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 1: at female viewership of the Super Bowl and they have 86 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 1: been blown away, and so they wanted to look at 87 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,279 Speaker 1: why the number is rising. And Brian McCarthy, who's an 88 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 1: NFL spokesman, said that more women enjoyed the game itself 89 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: and the strategy behind the plays. They also enjoyed the 90 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 1: opportunity to come together as a family or with friends 91 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: to watch the event. And according to NFL research, it's 92 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 1: more accepted and even expected for women to take an 93 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 1: active interest in football. And so I just think it's 94 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: cool that there's this whole attitude surrounding female football fans 95 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: like can you can you believe it? Can you believe 96 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:08,239 Speaker 1: they exist? Yeah? And the fact that there are research 97 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:11,239 Speaker 1: finds that we enjoy the game and strategy and getting 98 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:13,840 Speaker 1: together to watch the game sounds like the reason why 99 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: people in human human people, why humans watch sports? Um, 100 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,839 Speaker 1: And going back to the super Bowl for a second 101 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 1: to put some numbers around that, in two thousand and twelve, 102 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 1: this year, fifty over fifty million women watched the Super Bowl, 103 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 1: and that's compared to twenty four million who watched the Oscars, 104 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 1: just under twenty four million who watched the Grammys, and 105 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:44,159 Speaker 1: eight million who watched the Emmy's nobody cares about. But 106 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: the funny thing is the in multiple articles from I think, 107 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 1: say like two thousand ten through two thousand twelve, the 108 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 1: sporting event that the Super Bowl is always compared to 109 00:06:55,400 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 1: in terms of female viewership is the ninety four Winter 110 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:05,919 Speaker 1: Olympics figure skating showdown between Tanya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, 111 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 1: which was previously the record holder for women viewers. Why me, yeah, 112 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 1: exactly that Well, that was like a soap opera on ice. 113 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: Who wouldn't watch. My parents still joke about those Olympics 114 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: because they're bad people. But anyway, okay, So according to Nielsen, 115 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: this is back in um, women were actually fifty eight 116 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: million of the one hundred and thirty eight million Americans 117 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: who consider themselves NFL fans. So there are a lot 118 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: of women out there, and it's really making advertisers and 119 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: real retailers take notice. So now we're seeing more ads 120 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: geared toward women during games. An independent ad agency study, 121 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 1: for instance, found that in general, women look forward more 122 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 1: to the commercials than the game, which is what I 123 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: accused myself of. So there there are a lot of 124 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: different reasons that people are getting into these games. Well, 125 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: I think that's more specific to to the to the 126 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: super Bowl. But one thing, the reason why advertising age 127 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: and all of these UH networks have been so psyched 128 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 1: about women's NFL viewership is that it's not just the 129 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 1: super Bowl. UH. This is as of January eleven, NBC 130 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: Sunday Night Football was the number three TV show for 131 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: women ages eighteen to forty nine, at which point advertisers 132 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 1: and brands just here like a cash register, ringing over 133 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 1: and over again. And for some fun facts though, about 134 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: where those women who are watching all this football are clustered. 135 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 1: If we've got any ladies out in Baltimore, that's not 136 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 1: as as saying. The Baltimore Ravens, in fact, are the 137 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: first NFL team to start a female fan club, which 138 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: now has over twenty five thousand members. So Baltimore women 139 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: love them some NFL, but not as much as women 140 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: in Pittsburgh. That's right, the Steelers fans. This is going 141 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 1: back to two thousand seven, so perhaps things have changed, 142 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: but I doubt that it really has because they had 143 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: a pretty strong lead. USA Today reported on a Scarborough 144 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 1: sports marketing survey that ranked Pittsburgh is having the largest 145 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:27,439 Speaker 1: NFL female fan base. So Steelers, you've got lots of 146 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: ladies cheering for you, and that it's followed up by 147 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 1: the Green Bay Packers cheese heads. Is that derogatory, But 148 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 1: that's that's what the fans call themselves when they put 149 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: actual cheese on their heads, cubes of cheese foam. It's 150 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 1: I guess it's not actual cheese. No, it's not real cheese. 151 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:50,319 Speaker 1: That would be disgusting and delicious snack. So yeah, So 152 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: speaking of snacks. Part of the reasons that that advertisers 153 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:58,240 Speaker 1: really perked up when all these numbers about women start 154 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 1: rolling in. It's not only that year they have another 155 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: market to to not exploit, cater to pitch things to 156 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:09,680 Speaker 1: get people to buy their stuff. It's that there's this notion, 157 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 1: uh that is statistically proven that women are sort of 158 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,440 Speaker 1: the heads of the household when it comes to spending 159 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: money on stuff, making purchases. They're the kind of the 160 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,679 Speaker 1: deciders or as the some people in the NFL call them, 161 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 1: the like the CFOs of the household. So not only 162 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,559 Speaker 1: like Chris and said, are these marketers hearing the dollar signs, 163 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 1: they're also seeing a great opportunity to market to people 164 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 1: who maybe they hadn't considered before. We're seriously even watching 165 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: their advertisements. Yeah. So for that reason, you have things 166 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: like in two thousand six, during the Super Bowl Dove 167 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 1: launch it's uh now pretty famous self Esteem Fund, which 168 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 1: was I think it was the campaign for for Real 169 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,959 Speaker 1: Beauty where it used um women, non model bodies put 170 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: it that way, uh to to launch that and a 171 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:05,679 Speaker 1: campaign site saw a one thousand, six hundred percent increase 172 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: in traffic. Rebok has done a similar thing. They launched 173 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,199 Speaker 1: be a Woman, Be a Fan campaign that helped the 174 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: business grow that year. Also, if you watch Sunday Night Football, 175 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,839 Speaker 1: Monday Night Football, I can't remember which one it is, 176 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 1: but you have products like Fabrize now buying heavily into 177 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: those primetime slots, and the Fabris folks, they're not looking 178 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: to get more dudes with cheese blocks on their heads 179 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:37,320 Speaker 1: to spray their nice scents every although if you're wearing 180 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 1: cheese on your head, you probably should use an air. 181 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: You should get some Fabris, you know. I asked my 182 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 1: my roommate, who is a dude who is super into football. 183 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:46,959 Speaker 1: I was like, hey, have you you know Christian and 184 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: I were doing this episode. Have you noticed, you know 185 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 1: in your football games, like while you're watching, UM, they're 186 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 1: more lady geared advertisements, you know, anything like that would 187 00:11:56,920 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: be stereotypically woman related, like detergent or something. And he 188 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: was like, honestly, I have no idea. I don't pay attention. 189 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: So maybe men aren't noticing as much. Maybe maybe maybe 190 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 1: women are picking up on it. That could be UM 191 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: and women are also apparently picking up on new apparel 192 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 1: that the NFFL is trying to crank out for them. 193 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 1: There was there's been so much coverage just in the 194 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 1: past month or so in the lead up to the 195 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: new NFL season in about all this money and marketing 196 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 1: that the NFL is pouring into its female oriented merchandise. 197 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: There was an interview with Tracy Blazinski, who's the VP 198 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 1: for Consumer Products at NFL, and she was talking to 199 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 1: The New York Times and other media outlets about how 200 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: the previous strategy had been something called pink it and 201 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:58,199 Speaker 1: shrink it. In other words, you take a jersey of 202 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: insert Rawlessburger that's the name of an NFL player. You 203 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 1: take the Rothlessburger. I'm really hoping that he's still playing football. 204 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 1: You take Joe Nameth. Okay, you take a Joe names 205 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: Jersey slathered in pink, cut it down to a baby 206 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 1: tea size, and then they sell it and that's it 207 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: and they're done. Yeah. They didn't sort of seek out 208 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: to add anything to it. They were just like, well, 209 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 1: surely you just want the same thing. You just want 210 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 1: it smaller and pink. But there are a lot of 211 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 1: opinions flying around out there that are like, um, actually, 212 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 1: can we just have normal things but in our size, 213 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 1: so like actual sports clothing that isn't pink. No. I mean, well, 214 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 1: the NFL essentially said, hey, okay, yeah, we'll make things 215 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: in your size, but it's going to be high end. 216 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 1: It's gonna be fashionable and fabulous, and we're gonna launch 217 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 1: a campaign called It's My Team featuring notable women in 218 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: this new feminized INFL gear, including Connolly's a Rice. And 219 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 1: I have to say, I really like Conda Liza Rice's ad. 220 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 1: She looks very classy. It's a very nice ad. Um 221 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 1: considering I guess that she could have been modeling a 222 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: seventy dollar off the shoulder sweatshirt, perhaps a seventy six 223 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 1: dollar backless halter top, and maybe sporting some three hundred 224 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 1: sixty dollar leather boots. Well we have there was that 225 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: famous picture of Conda Liza and the in the suit 226 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: and those a fashionable lady love of boots. Yeah. And 227 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: even though some of the NFL merchandise is a marketed 228 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: now to women, this new It's my Team campaign, it 229 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: is expensive and it is not all things that I 230 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: would select for my personal wardrobe. But you know what, Uh, 231 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: the NFL, it doesn't matter that I might not buy 232 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: that backless halter top for seventy six dollars because they 233 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: are moving a lot of merchandise. According to ESPN, NFL 234 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: merchandise sold to women jump significantly over in December of 235 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: last year, they saw percent sales increase over the previous year. 236 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: But the thing about talking about these, uh, these marketing campaigns, 237 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: the different brands that are really investing in this, uh, 238 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: this female demographic with NFL football is the fact that 239 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: when you and I were researching for this episode, you 240 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 1: look up women in football and NFL and this is 241 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 1: all the coverage that it is. It's all fashion and 242 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 1: it's all merchandise. It's really it's so little about women 243 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 1: who are really into the game. It's more just Hey, look, 244 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: there's the NFL's now selling new boots, pink boots with 245 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: a Steelers logo emblazoned on them, for nine thousand dollars 246 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 1: by them, And that was really like all all it was, 247 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: which I had. Still I find it a little bit. Well, 248 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: it's either it's either fashion or it's slide shows of like, oh, 249 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: look at Pittsburgh's sexiest fans and stuff like that. Like, 250 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: there are very few places, I feel like where female 251 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 1: fans can actually go and get a serious look at 252 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: sports and football. Um, that's not either talking down to 253 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: them and I'll painted in pink, or that's trying to 254 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: sell them a T shirt for a hundred dollars or 255 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 1: being like, hey, send us your pictures, you know, your 256 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: sexy time at the football game. Well, it's also the 257 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 1: question of whether or not, uh and not to go 258 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 1: off on a total tangent, but whether or not women 259 00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: even need that. It's not like men have these sports 260 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: spaces where it's all relative to gendered things. It's just 261 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: about sports. It's about analysis, statistics and probably not so 262 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 1: much about backless halter tops. Well, except for those slide 263 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: shows of the sexiest fans, there are so many sexiest 264 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:04,640 Speaker 1: fans Joe's on the Internet. But ESPN has made an 265 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:08,199 Speaker 1: effort to reach out to women online, at least with 266 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 1: the launch of ESPN W, which is its brand that 267 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:18,400 Speaker 1: it's trying to use to target female sports fans. Obviously 268 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 1: that's what the W stands for, but it doesn't seem 269 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 1: like it's really gotten any legs. Well, and there's also 270 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 1: the question of why is ESPN just figuring out that 271 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:33,199 Speaker 1: women might be interested? But then again, like you said, 272 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 1: you know, is this even necessary to have a separate 273 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:40,200 Speaker 1: site dedicated to women when maybe female sports fans are 274 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:43,120 Speaker 1: just reading ESPN anyway. Well, I think it's not so 275 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 1: much female sports fans. I think there is something specific 276 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 1: about NFL football and the fact that it is one 277 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:57,199 Speaker 1: of the only sports that really, aside from kind of 278 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:59,399 Speaker 1: niche groups here and there, and you have a few 279 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 1: players in the high school level here and there, it's 280 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: the only sport that is for the most part shut 281 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,679 Speaker 1: off two women, not only on the field. You Now, 282 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 1: I think this year was the first time they had 283 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 1: a female ref um in an NFL game. That's one, uh, 284 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:21,479 Speaker 1: but it's really I mean, it's it's it's a sport 285 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: that's been relegated strictly to men and even in terms 286 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: of spectating, and I think it's now just finally starting 287 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,679 Speaker 1: to catch up. But the sad part is that NFL 288 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: just sees women as potential consumers rather than real avid fans. Right, well, 289 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 1: there's definitely that whole perception that is very prevalent. If 290 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:47,160 Speaker 1: you talk to almost anybody, anybody who's a major football fan, 291 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:49,679 Speaker 1: they have if they don't hold this opinion, they have 292 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 1: encountered this opinion of football being a male dominated activity. 293 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: And you're a woman, so you're not a real fan. 294 00:18:56,200 --> 00:18:58,359 Speaker 1: And not only are you not a real fan, but 295 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 1: your presence and your opinions are almost a threat to 296 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 1: the game itself. And this is um part of a 297 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: thesis by Mackenzie Ryan back in August of for Bowling 298 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 1: Green State University. UM. She talked to a bunch of people, 299 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: she reviewed a lot of message boards online and things 300 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:19,160 Speaker 1: like that, and found a lot of um, how should 301 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 1: I say, very passionate opinions sexist you can call them 302 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 1: flat out sexist opinion. Yeah, they were pretty jerky opinions 303 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:29,919 Speaker 1: about women's involvement in football in anyway I mean. And 304 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 1: granted she was pulling out specific examples to highlight some 305 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: of the misogyny that goes on in the fan base. 306 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:41,679 Speaker 1: But for instance, she talks about the the issue of 307 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 1: violence on the football field and how it's a growing 308 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:50,159 Speaker 1: concern about the long term health effects of injuries and 309 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: concussions that are sustained, and um, there is this opinion 310 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:01,200 Speaker 1: that while it's a good thing that more women are 311 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: watching football, it's really important that the NFL invest in 312 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:08,400 Speaker 1: these female fans because it is the mothers that will 313 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 1: let their sons play football. But at the same time, 314 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:14,639 Speaker 1: within the fan base, you have the flip side of 315 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 1: that to where, uh, some would say the only reason 316 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 1: we're caring about all this is because the sport is 317 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: becoming feminized, because we have to reach out more to 318 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 1: women and care more about safety. Women are stepping into 319 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 1: this like formerly like men's only field and messing things up. Yeah, 320 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 1: Like one one quote she pulled out basically was like, hey, 321 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:38,960 Speaker 1: can we not be men anymore? Can you just stay 322 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: out of it? Why do you why do you have 323 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 1: to be feminizing everything? And uh, Mackenzie Ryan points out, 324 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: you know, player safety is not really a gendered issue, 325 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 1: but the NFL has kind of you know, intentionally or 326 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 1: not made it that way because they're like, all right, well, 327 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:56,680 Speaker 1: so how do we appeal to women. Well, we tell 328 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: them that it's you know, we are focused on safety. 329 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,159 Speaker 1: You know, these are mothers, these are sisters, These are 330 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:07,119 Speaker 1: daughters who are worried about men playing football. So, you know, 331 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: for better or worse, women are kind of getting flammed 332 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:13,359 Speaker 1: for calling for this stuff to happen, and men see 333 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 1: them as interfering. Yeah, I mean, and and we should 334 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:18,640 Speaker 1: clarify that it's that it's not that it's not all 335 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 1: all men by any means. Again, like she was pulling 336 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 1: out examples to to talk about the difference between like 337 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 1: how how women are are not necessarily perceived as real fans, 338 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 1: and she says that it's because quote, football is among 339 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 1: the few sports where women are still mostly absent as participants, 340 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: and women's spectators are not seen as equal to male 341 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: spectators in terms of knowledge and dedication. There was one 342 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:46,200 Speaker 1: example that she gave where, uh, some woman had written 343 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 1: a blog post predicting one team to win. The team 344 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 1: did not win, and the comments section went crazy with 345 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:59,480 Speaker 1: all of these dudes just like trouncing on her saying, 346 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 1: like you don't. You shouldn't even be really watching this anyway, 347 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: get back to the kitchen and make some more chicken wines. 348 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:08,240 Speaker 1: There's a lot of sandwich comments that I've noticed too, 349 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:13,880 Speaker 1: and it also extends into sports journalism especially. It's especially 350 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:19,639 Speaker 1: tough for women UH journalists working in the NFL trying 351 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: The open locker policy was instituted in NI but it's 352 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 1: still a problem amongst some teams for female journalists even 353 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:31,880 Speaker 1: be let inside of the lockers. Institutionally, it is still 354 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:35,920 Speaker 1: overwhelmingly dominated by guys. No big surprise, um, but for instance, 355 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:38,919 Speaker 1: Amy Trask of the Oakland Raiders is the only female 356 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 1: president or CEO of a team in the NFL. So, 357 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 1: in a lot of ways, like these new female fans, 358 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:49,919 Speaker 1: while they might be marketed to in a very pinkwashed 359 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:54,159 Speaker 1: kind of way, that is tiresome. For instance, the NFL 360 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 1: NFL dot Com is launching uh this new section on 361 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:01,159 Speaker 1: their women's site to promote homegating, in other words, snacks 362 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 1: and recipes. And that's all we're really good for is 363 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,080 Speaker 1: buying things and cooking things and maybe watching some football 364 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:08,479 Speaker 1: every now and then. But as long as we have 365 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 1: fabries to spray afterwards after Warren cheese on your head 366 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:14,359 Speaker 1: all day, right, But in a lot of ways, we 367 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:20,920 Speaker 1: still are breaking new ground even though it is um. 368 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:23,160 Speaker 1: Two people who I think are breaking ground. And now 369 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 1: we talked about female football sites like do we really 370 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 1: need them? Are they really important? I think two really 371 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:33,959 Speaker 1: impressive women are Nikki Sickles and Shamika Lee. Sickles who 372 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: has a b A and Economics from Stanford and an 373 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:39,640 Speaker 1: NBA from Columbia Business School, Lee who has a BA 374 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:42,680 Speaker 1: from the University of Pennsylvania and an NBA from Harvard. 375 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 1: These ladies started her Game Life, which, according to pr 376 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:50,119 Speaker 1: Web back in June twelve, is the largest media outlet 377 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 1: devoted to female NFL fans. This doesn't necessarily mean it's 378 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 1: the biggest like distribution wise, like page view wise, but 379 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:00,920 Speaker 1: it has over forty female contributors and is the largest 380 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:04,359 Speaker 1: female owned and operated media outlet dedicated to serving the 381 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: NFL's female fans. I think it's pretty cool. Yeah. And 382 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:10,879 Speaker 1: there are a number of other sort of female football 383 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 1: niche sites like Football one oh one. You have Audible Magazine. 384 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:18,879 Speaker 1: There's one out there that's a play on chick that 385 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:22,679 Speaker 1: I just chicks in the huddle, Chicks in the huddle. 386 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 1: That's what it is. Uh, no comment there, um, but yeah, 387 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:29,159 Speaker 1: I mean it is still very all of it is 388 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 1: very very gualified. Um. And as as a lover of 389 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: football snacks, you know, I can't, I can't give it 390 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:38,479 Speaker 1: a complete thumbs down, but just as a as an 391 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 1: example of the tagline for a football one oh one 392 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:44,399 Speaker 1: is football one oh one, women are focused on giving 393 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 1: ladies the four one one about football facts, fashion, food, 394 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:53,919 Speaker 1: and more the important of life, to which, like an 395 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:56,120 Speaker 1: avid male fan would say, you know what's missing from 396 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 1: that statistics? Wore the statistics. I don't know, I could 397 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 1: go on. I think it's I think it's interesting to 398 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 1: maybe like consider these I don't think about the gendered 399 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:10,440 Speaker 1: aspects of fandom very very often. And that thesis that 400 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:13,960 Speaker 1: we found from Bowling Green was one of the only 401 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 1: pieces of academic research to look at that within the 402 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:21,919 Speaker 1: context of American football. There's a ton of it for 403 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:25,639 Speaker 1: European football, but with the NFL, maybe it's just so 404 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:29,200 Speaker 1: strange that women are watching and caring that we haven't 405 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:32,479 Speaker 1: taken well. Maybe yeah, maybe these increased numbers and everything 406 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 1: will get people's attention and they'll start to look at 407 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:39,119 Speaker 1: women's involvement. So maybe when when we're old and have 408 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:41,359 Speaker 1: canes and we come back into the podcast studio and 409 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: you know, fifty years we will we will update you. 410 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:48,400 Speaker 1: Or as I think it's Malcolm Gladwell and Jonah Laire, 411 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: the embattled Jonah Laire have predicted they think that football 412 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:54,680 Speaker 1: is just going to go away because of the bad 413 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 1: reputations getting due to the violence and concussions. I don't 414 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,080 Speaker 1: think so. Yeah, there's too much money. You have so 415 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 1: much money, call me a cynic. So women in football, 416 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:09,960 Speaker 1: the fans, ladies, it is time to hear from you. 417 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:13,400 Speaker 1: What have been your experiences if you are a football 418 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 1: fan and you are a woman, have you have you 419 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:24,359 Speaker 1: been treated as just you know, uh, silly snack maker, 420 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:28,920 Speaker 1: silly snack maker. Yeah, let's hear from the people who 421 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 1: actually like go to games, follow their team, maybe with 422 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 1: their dad when they were a kid. Like, we want 423 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:36,120 Speaker 1: to hear your fans stories and what do you think 424 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:39,920 Speaker 1: too about uh, the fact that the NFL is pouring 425 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 1: so much money into really just into marketing. They just 426 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,159 Speaker 1: want you to dress up, it seems like. But not 427 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 1: that they don't do that to guys as well. Um, 428 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:53,199 Speaker 1: but anyway. I mean, you don't see I don't know 429 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 1: Colin Powell doing doing at campaigns. I digress email as 430 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 1: mom stuff at Discovery dot com is where you can 431 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 1: send your letters. Hey, but before we get into listener mail, 432 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:10,919 Speaker 1: I've got a little message here because this episode of 433 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:14,120 Speaker 1: Stuff Mom Never Told You is brought to you by 434 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:18,080 Speaker 1: Jack Threads. And what is Jack Threads? Well, listen up, 435 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 1: ladies who have dudes around, Dudes who have dudes around 436 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:24,879 Speaker 1: who wear clothes? You know, I bet those dudes need 437 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 1: some clothes, and you know what you should do. You 438 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 1: should head over to Jack threads dot com, which is 439 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:32,920 Speaker 1: quickly becoming the that is all caps th h e 440 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 1: online shopping destination for dudes. 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The holidays 451 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: were coming up. They're gonna be here before you know it. 452 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:26,600 Speaker 1: Go ahead and stock up on some closet, wardrobe, et 453 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:32,680 Speaker 1: cetera accessories at Jack dreads dot com. And moving on 454 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 1: to I think our fan least favorite topic of uterine 455 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:44,760 Speaker 1: pro laps, it's not going in a way. I've got 456 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 1: an email here from Abigail about uterine pro laps and 457 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 1: she says, I had a baby about nine and a 458 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:53,360 Speaker 1: half months ago, and your episode on uterine pro laps 459 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:56,960 Speaker 1: got me doing my kegles all the way home. You 460 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 1: spoke about differences in women in other countries, and I 461 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 1: thought you'd be interested to hear my story about a 462 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:05,080 Speaker 1: friend in France. Shortly after having my baby, my friend 463 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:08,360 Speaker 1: asked me when I'd be starting physical therapy. After giving 464 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:11,600 Speaker 1: her the law answer, she proceeded to tell me that 465 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:13,720 Speaker 1: in France, or at least the arias she lives in, 466 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 1: its standard procedure to write physical therapy prescriptions for women 467 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 1: who have just given birth, either vaginally or c section, 468 00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:24,520 Speaker 1: with the sole purpose of strengthening the pelvic muscles to 469 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,960 Speaker 1: keep things like uterine prolapse from occurring. I have heard 470 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:29,840 Speaker 1: about that on the side note, and I think it 471 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:34,480 Speaker 1: is across France. She was shocked the same was not 472 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,120 Speaker 1: true in the US. Also, the women from the pelvic 473 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 1: health center at the hospital I gave birth said the 474 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:42,840 Speaker 1: average woman waits seven years before seeking medical help for 475 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: pelvic issues. Imagine seven years of peeing every time you sneeze. 476 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:49,719 Speaker 1: This results in more drastic measures like surgery when perhaps 477 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 1: a little physical therapy in the beginning would have done 478 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 1: the trick. Or if you have a baby, take a 479 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 1: vacation in France. That was just my side note if 480 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,479 Speaker 1: you can send down through that, So thanks Abigail. Okay. 481 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 1: Here's an email from Allison about breast sizes. A lot 482 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:07,960 Speaker 1: of people had a lot of things to say about 483 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:10,640 Speaker 1: this one too, mostly positive. I think everybody likes hearing 484 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 1: that they're normal. Yeah, it's good, good to be uh 485 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:17,960 Speaker 1: to have that reinforced um, she says. I just thought 486 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:20,680 Speaker 1: i'd share this little anecdote for anyone worried about what 487 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:24,080 Speaker 1: the Fellows think about asymmetrical breath. I have boobs with 488 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: slightly different sizes, not super noticeable but definitely different. A 489 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:30,440 Speaker 1: few months ago, my now ex boyfriend and I were 490 00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:32,400 Speaker 1: talking about boobs and I mentioned that one of mine 491 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:34,800 Speaker 1: was slightly bigger than the other. Not only had he 492 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:36,840 Speaker 1: not even noticed up to that moment, but after we 493 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:39,400 Speaker 1: talked about it, he did not mind at all. In fact, 494 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:41,320 Speaker 1: I'm not sure he even paid attention to which one 495 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 1: was bigger and which one was smaller. He's a guy. 496 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:46,920 Speaker 1: They just like boobs. So the lesson I learned from 497 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 1: that was that guys do not care at all. She 498 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 1: italicized about asymmetrical breasts and that ladies around the world 499 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:55,920 Speaker 1: should stop worrying about it. I know I have, so 500 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 1: thank you, Alison, and thanks everybody who's written in mom 501 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:01,600 Speaker 1: Stuff at discovery dot com is where you can send 502 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 1: your letters, and you can find us on Twitter at 503 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:07,000 Speaker 1: mom Stuff Podcasts, and of course you can head over 504 00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:09,800 Speaker 1: to Facebook as well. Like us, leave us a comment 505 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:12,600 Speaker 1: or a message, and you can also find us on 506 00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 1: tumbler Stuff mom never told you dot tumbler dot com 507 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:19,840 Speaker 1: for all of your blogging pleasure, and if you want 508 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:21,719 Speaker 1: to get a little smarter during the week, you can 509 00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:28,200 Speaker 1: head over to our website. It's how Stuff Works dot com. 510 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:30,760 Speaker 1: For more on this and thousands of other topics. Does it, 511 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:36,920 Speaker 1: How stuff works? Dot com