After decades under the name “Powderpuff,” ASB has renamed its annual girls Flag Football tournament to be called the Eaglets Flag Football Tournament. Powderpuff is a name associated with high school girls flag football tournaments nationwide, but recently, the name was questioned for possible sexism.
“I always thought the name was a little odd,” flag football captain sophomore Erin Jesensky said. “I didn’t take personal offense to it, but I didn’t think it was fair.”
Official Powderpuff tournaments were started in 1972 after the passage of Title IX, which made discrimination based on sex illegal in any education programs that received federal funding. The passing of this law encouraged women’s participation in high school and professional sports. Powderpuff football games became an ongoing trend that formed into a tradition in many high schools.
“I think that Powderpuff is a fun and commemorative event, and I think a lot of schools across the country have one or some equivalent,” Student-Athlete Leadership Team President senior Tyra Bogan said. “There’s a lot of school spirit behind it, and it’s a really enjoyable event for everyone involved.”
The Powderpuff tournaments across the country have brought other good as well, such as the Blondes vs. Brunettes charity football game which is currently played in 16 cities across the United States. The proceeds from the event are donated to the Alzheimer’s Association. Since its founding in 2005, the game has received considerable publicity and has raised over $500,000 in Washington, D.C. alone.
The issue with the tournament is rooted in its name: When Powderpuff games first started in the 1940s during World War II, the women would stay on the field at half-time and powder their faces to amused spectators. The name was suggested for women to “poke fun at themselves” by comparing themselves to a giant fluffy “Powderpuff” brush. Now, the name represents the stereotype that females are fragile and incapable of playing real football or doing any damage on the field.
“It was brought to our attention by an ASB student that the name Powderpuff could be offensive,” ASB Tournament Commissioner junior Jeronimo Sepulveda Sagaseta said. “We immediately said, ‘If it’s offensive, what should we change it to?’ So we decided on girls flag football.”
This decision was subsequently followed by making the flag football tournament co-ed, changing the name again to just Flag Football Tournament.
Originally, the Powderpuff tournament was a way for girls to have a turn on the football field as varsity boys football games tend to have the most spectators. Therefore, the decision to make the tournament co-ed has its own detractors.
“I think that changing the event to co-ed kind of defeats the purpose of the event,” Tyra said. “Many of us go to football games, which are almost entirely guys playing football, and I think that part of the fun of this tournament is girls getting the opportunity to play. I think that if guys play, it’s going to be overrun, and there’s going to be fewer girls interested and willing to play.”
“Changing the tournament to co-ed could affect the girl’s playing time,” Erin said. “I think if the girls and guys are switching out, it will be more fair, so I think it should be open to whoever wants to play. It’s more about coming together for the love of the sport overall.”
After hearing the concerns about making the tournament co-ed, ASB reverted the tournament to be girls-only on Friday, January 31. Along with this decision came a new name, the Eaglets Flag Football Tournament.
An ‘Eaglet’ is a young eagle and now represents the girls playing in the flag football tournament.
The Eaglets Flag Football Tournament will be hosted during lunch on Tuesday, February 4, and Wednesday, February 5. Talk to your class president about participation.
