fall forward fall forward fall forward these words were repeated
fall forward these words were repeated
fall forward these words were repeated to me again and again
to me again and again
to me again and again as I pursued my career in cross-country
as I pursued my career in cross-country
as I pursued my career in cross-country skiing because cross-country skiing and
skiing because cross-country skiing and
skiing because cross-country skiing and downhill skiing and mountain biking and
downhill skiing and mountain biking and
downhill skiing and mountain biking and running for that matter in a lot of ways
running for that matter in a lot of ways
running for that matter in a lot of ways are all just a controlled fall
are all just a controlled fall
are all just a controlled fall it was the difficulty in actually making
it was the difficulty in actually making
it was the difficulty in actually making my body do the falling that led me to
my body do the falling that led me to
my body do the falling that led me to the thought experiment I’m sharing with
the thought experiment I’m sharing with
the thought experiment I’m sharing with you today I like many here I’m an
you today I like many here I’m an
you today I like many here I’m an athlete I’ve competed and played at
athlete I’ve competed and played at
athlete I’ve competed and played at every level from recreational to
every level from recreational to
every level from recreational to professional and in one way or another
professional and in one way or another
professional and in one way or another have pretty much dedicated my life to
have pretty much dedicated my life to
have pretty much dedicated my life to sport and that dedication has been
sport and that dedication has been
sport and that dedication has been pretty good for me I like other athletes
pretty good for me I like other athletes
pretty good for me I like other athletes have enjoyed the benefits of a healthy
have enjoyed the benefits of a healthy
have enjoyed the benefits of a healthy body practice Drive practiced failure
body practice Drive practiced failure
body practice Drive practiced failure and increased likelihood in a career in
and increased likelihood in a career in
and increased likelihood in a career in leadership increased academic scores and
leadership increased academic scores and
leadership increased academic scores and I am 20% less likely to get cancer than
I am 20% less likely to get cancer than
I am 20% less likely to get cancer than my non-sporting companions I think
my non-sporting companions I think
my non-sporting companions I think you’ll agree with me that’s all pretty
you’ll agree with me that’s all pretty
you’ll agree with me that’s all pretty great and you’re a smart audience so you
great and you’re a smart audience so you
great and you’re a smart audience so you might have noticed by this moment that I
might have noticed by this moment that I
might have noticed by this moment that I am also a woman turns out being female
am also a woman turns out being female
am also a woman turns out being female complicates the whole dedicating your
complicates the whole dedicating your
complicates the whole dedicating your life to sport bang at every level at the
life to sport bang at every level at the
life to sport bang at every level at the youth level girls drop out of sport at a
youth level girls drop out of sport at a
youth level girls drop out of sport at a rate 50% higher than boys while at the
rate 50% higher than boys while at the
rate 50% higher than boys while at the professional level female athletes are
professional level female athletes are
professional level female athletes are paid on average about a 10th that of
paid on average about a 10th that of
paid on average about a 10th that of male athletes and I rounded up meanwhile
male athletes and I rounded up meanwhile
male athletes and I rounded up meanwhile at the cultural level female voices in
at the cultural level female voices in
at the cultural level female voices in sports media and positions of leadership
sports media and positions of leadership
sports media and positions of leadership range from about one third to one half
range from about one third to one half
range from about one third to one half those of men so being an athlete an
those of men so being an athlete an
those of men so being an athlete an advocate of woman sports and a really
advocate of woman sports and a really
advocate of woman sports and a really really competitive person
really competitive person
really competitive person and I wanted to know why there’s such a
and I wanted to know why there’s such a
and I wanted to know why there’s such a dramatic difference between men and
dramatic difference between men and
dramatic difference between men and women’s sports and it turns out there a
women’s sports and it turns out there a
women’s sports and it turns out there a host of cultural societal socio-economic
host of cultural societal socio-economic
host of cultural societal socio-economic scientific and physiological factors
scientific and physiological factors
scientific and physiological factors that have structured women’s sports to
that have structured women’s sports to
that have structured women’s sports to be unequal to men’s in over two years
be unequal to men’s in over two years
be unequal to men’s in over two years I took in as much of that quantitative
I took in as much of that quantitative
I took in as much of that quantitative data as I could
data as I could
data as I could processed it agreed with most of it and
processed it agreed with most of it and
processed it agreed with most of it and still felt that there was something
still felt that there was something
still felt that there was something missing something more qualitative
missing something more qualitative
missing something more qualitative because in my experience as an athlete
because in my experience as an athlete
because in my experience as an athlete inequalities were less expressed through
inequalities were less expressed through
inequalities were less expressed through the numbers and more through my direct
the numbers and more through my direct
the numbers and more through my direct experience of not being able to perform
experience of not being able to perform
experience of not being able to perform at the level of male athletes in my
at the level of male athletes in my
at the level of male athletes in my sport when I looked at the things that I
sport when I looked at the things that I
sport when I looked at the things that I struggled with technically to what my
struggled with technically to what my
struggled with technically to what my male teammates succeeded at like
male teammates succeeded at like
male teammates succeeded at like propelling oneself for oneself forward
propelling oneself for oneself forward
propelling oneself for oneself forward over their skis in order to successfully
over their skis in order to successfully
over their skis in order to successfully fall forward I wondered if the issue may
fall forward I wondered if the issue may
fall forward I wondered if the issue may be just as much a perceptual one as it
be just as much a perceptual one as it
be just as much a perceptual one as it was physiological that is I wondered if
was physiological that is I wondered if
was physiological that is I wondered if maybe the culprit was not in how women
maybe the culprit was not in how women
maybe the culprit was not in how women were using their bodies but how we were
were using their bodies but how we were
were using their bodies but how we were experiencing them I wondered what might
experiencing them I wondered what might
experiencing them I wondered what might happen if instead of using my body I
happen if instead of using my body I
happen if instead of using my body I became my body I gave it a try and the
became my body I gave it a try and the
became my body I gave it a try and the experience changed the way that I saw my
experience changed the way that I saw my
experience changed the way that I saw my body perceived space and experienced the
body perceived space and experienced the
body perceived space and experienced the world well beyond sport in her famous
world well beyond sport in her famous
world well beyond sport in her famous article throwing like a girl
article throwing like a girl
article throwing like a girl iris Marion young analyzes the way that
iris Marion young analyzes the way that
iris Marion young analyzes the way that little girls and little boys throw balls
little girls and little boys throw balls
little girls and little boys throw balls and considers how at a point in life
and considers how at a point in life
and considers how at a point in life when male and female bodies are nearly
when male and female bodies are nearly
when male and female bodies are nearly physiologically identical in fact little
physiologically identical in fact little
physiologically identical in fact little girls are often times stronger than
girls are often times stronger than
girls are often times stronger than little boys little boys could still
little boys little boys could still
little boys little boys could still throw balls better than little girls and
throw balls better than little girls and
throw balls better than little girls and their answer goes beyond our parents
their answer goes beyond our parents
their answer goes beyond our parents teaching us how to throw – how culture
teaching us how to throw – how culture
teaching us how to throw – how culture teaches us how to move from here on out
teaches us how to move from here on out
teaches us how to move from here on out we are going to operate under the not
we are going to operate under the not
we are going to operate under the not all that controversial assumption that
all that controversial assumption that
all that controversial assumption that ours is a culture that objective
ours is a culture that objective
ours is a culture that objective women when a girl grows up in a culture
women when a girl grows up in a culture
women when a girl grows up in a culture that objectifies her that places the
that objectifies her that places the
that objectifies her that places the majority of her value on the way that
majority of her value on the way that
majority of her value on the way that she looks she in turn learns how to
she looks she in turn learns how to
she looks she in turn learns how to objectify herself and that self
objectify herself and that self
objectify herself and that self objectification can translate to a kind
objectification can translate to a kind
objectification can translate to a kind of split in self perception where the
of split in self perception where the
of split in self perception where the body becomes an object for use and the
body becomes an object for use and the
body becomes an object for use and the self is located elsewhere doing the
self is located elsewhere doing the
self is located elsewhere doing the using for example women will often say
using for example women will often say
using for example women will often say that they imagine what they look like
that they imagine what they look like
that they imagine what they look like even when they’re doing menial tasks
even when they’re doing menial tasks
even when they’re doing menial tasks like working or walking or playing sport
like working or walking or playing sport
like working or walking or playing sport as if they’re outside of their body
as if they’re outside of their body
as if they’re outside of their body looking in disconnecting from our body
looking in disconnecting from our body
looking in disconnecting from our body in this way is really getting in the way
in this way is really getting in the way
in this way is really getting in the way of how we move and perform physical
of how we move and perform physical
of how we move and perform physical tasks take for example the notoriously
tasks take for example the notoriously
tasks take for example the notoriously humiliating task that is opening a
humiliating task that is opening a
humiliating task that is opening a pickle jar when a woman considers
pickle jar when a woman considers
pickle jar when a woman considers herself as merely an object her body
herself as merely an object her body
herself as merely an object her body becomes more like a group of objects or
becomes more like a group of objects or
becomes more like a group of objects or a series of interconnected tools rather
a series of interconnected tools rather
a series of interconnected tools rather than one whole being and when she tries
than one whole being and when she tries
than one whole being and when she tries and fails to open a pickle jar more
and fails to open a pickle jar more
and fails to open a pickle jar more often than not she will hold it out
often than not she will hold it out
often than not she will hold it out observe it use the tools closest to the
observe it use the tools closest to the
observe it use the tools closest to the task at hand namely her knuckles and her
task at hand namely her knuckles and her
task at hand namely her knuckles and her wrist and try to rent you open or not
wrist and try to rent you open or not
wrist and try to rent you open or not and the failure of completing that task
and the failure of completing that task
and the failure of completing that task translates into lower self-confidence
translates into lower self-confidence
translates into lower self-confidence lower self-esteem and a lower chance
lower self-esteem and a lower chance
lower self-esteem and a lower chance that she will open a jar in the future
that she will open a jar in the future
that she will open a jar in the future and it certainly doesn’t help that we’ve
and it certainly doesn’t help that we’ve
and it certainly doesn’t help that we’ve all been raised taught that women can’t
all been raised taught that women can’t
all been raised taught that women can’t open jars so instead of inventing silly
open jars so instead of inventing silly
open jars so instead of inventing silly expensive gadgets to help women open
expensive gadgets to help women open
expensive gadgets to help women open jars maybe you need to teach them to use
jars maybe you need to teach them to use
jars maybe you need to teach them to use their entire body their torso their
their entire body their torso their
their entire body their torso their shoulders their court their entire self
shoulders their court their entire self
shoulders their court their entire self to open a jar as a man might I
to open a jar as a man might I
to open a jar as a man might I experience the pickle jar phenomenon
experience the pickle jar phenomenon
experience the pickle jar phenomenon regularly on skis in order to help me
regularly on skis in order to help me
regularly on skis in order to help me move my body up and forward over my skis
move my body up and forward over my skis
move my body up and forward over my skis my coaches would give me physical cues
my coaches would give me physical cues
my coaches would give me physical cues like
like
like throw your arms up earlier or drive your
throw your arms up earlier or drive your
throw your arms up earlier or drive your knees forward and I would focus so
knees forward and I would focus so
knees forward and I would focus so intensely on those individual parts of
intensely on those individual parts of
intensely on those individual parts of my body that I would look something like
my body that I would look something like
my body that I would look something like yes and so those at home or those who
yes and so those at home or those who
yes and so those at home or those who are not familiar with cross-country
are not familiar with cross-country
are not familiar with cross-country skiing this is not an efficient way to
skiing this is not an efficient way to
skiing this is not an efficient way to move your body because I’m leaving half
move your body because I’m leaving half
move your body because I’m leaving half of my body behind and that
of my body behind and that
of my body behind and that disconnectedness could be because I grew
disconnectedness could be because I grew
disconnectedness could be because I grew up in America where we objectify women
up in America where we objectify women
up in America where we objectify women identify myself and treat my body like a
identify myself and treat my body like a
identify myself and treat my body like a series of objects rather than one single
series of objects rather than one single
series of objects rather than one single being and our culture is affecting not
being and our culture is affecting not
being and our culture is affecting not just the way that we move and perceive
just the way that we move and perceive
just the way that we move and perceive our bodies but the way that we perceive
our bodies but the way that we perceive
our bodies but the way that we perceive the space that surrounds them in her
the space that surrounds them in her
the space that surrounds them in her same article young suggests that women
same article young suggests that women
same article young suggests that women experience experience space on a
experience experience space on a
experience experience space on a constrictive scale that is they
constrictive scale that is they
constrictive scale that is they designate between the safe space
designate between the safe space
designate between the safe space directly surrounding their bodies and
directly surrounding their bodies and
directly surrounding their bodies and the unsafe space that is not theirs to
the unsafe space that is not theirs to
the unsafe space that is not theirs to fill women’s movement is therefore
fill women’s movement is therefore
fill women’s movement is therefore stumped did not only in its
stumped did not only in its
stumped did not only in its disjointedness but in its ability to
disjointedness but in its ability to
disjointedness but in its ability to reach stretch take up and move into
reach stretch take up and move into
reach stretch take up and move into uncharted territory because it is
uncharted territory because it is
uncharted territory because it is perceived as unsafe so perhaps I
perceived as unsafe so perhaps I
perceived as unsafe so perhaps I struggled with the spatial and technical
struggled with the spatial and technical
struggled with the spatial and technical parts of my sport not because I was
parts of my sport not because I was
parts of my sport not because I was weaker or less coordinated or more
weaker or less coordinated or more
weaker or less coordinated or more fragile than men but because I thought
fragile than men but because I thought
fragile than men but because I thought myself so and that insecurity translated
myself so and that insecurity translated
myself so and that insecurity translated to a desire for safety which kept me
to a desire for safety which kept me
to a desire for safety which kept me closer to home so even when I tried to
closer to home so even when I tried to
closer to home so even when I tried to ski aggressively change direction go to
ski aggressively change direction go to
ski aggressively change direction go to the side my efficiency was blunted by my
the side my efficiency was blunted by my
the side my efficiency was blunted by my fear of taking up space when I presented
fear of taking up space when I presented
fear of taking up space when I presented these findings to a group of coaches and
these findings to a group of coaches and
these findings to a group of coaches and athletes in Vermont a swim coach
athletes in Vermont a swim coach
athletes in Vermont a swim coach approached me and talked about talked
approached me and talked about talked
approached me and talked about talked about how upon entering high school his
about how upon entering high school his
about how upon entering high school his female athletes chronically shortened
female athletes chronically shortened
female athletes chronically shortened their stroke he was dumbfounded by the
their stroke he was dumbfounded by the
their stroke he was dumbfounded by the fact that although their limbs were
fact that although their limbs were
fact that although their limbs were getting both longer and stronger they
getting both longer and stronger they
getting both longer and stronger they were taking up less space
were taking up less space
were taking up less space shortening their strokes and swimming
shortening their strokes and swimming
shortening their strokes and swimming less efficiently he asked me if I
less efficiently he asked me if I
less efficiently he asked me if I thought it was because upon entering
thought it was because upon entering
thought it was because upon entering high school these young girls were
high school these young girls were
high school these young girls were beginning to identify and objectify as
beginning to identify and objectify as
beginning to identify and objectify as women and considering the talk I’d just
women and considering the talk I’d just
women and considering the talk I’d just given I thought that was a fine answer
given I thought that was a fine answer
given I thought that was a fine answer he then asked me if that meant that as
he then asked me if that meant that as
he then asked me if that meant that as long as we live in an objectifying
long as we live in an objectifying
long as we live in an objectifying society women will never succeed at
society women will never succeed at
society women will never succeed at sport at rates proportional to men woof
sport at rates proportional to men woof
sport at rates proportional to men woof for someone who self describes as
for someone who self describes as
for someone who self describes as dedicating her life to sport that would
dedicating her life to sport that would
dedicating her life to sport that would be a bleak outlook however I have always
be a bleak outlook however I have always
be a bleak outlook however I have always believed that my participation in sport
believed that my participation in sport
believed that my participation in sport has actually increased my sense of
has actually increased my sense of
has actually increased my sense of agency that although women do carry all
agency that although women do carry all
agency that although women do carry all of these cultural burdens with them into
of these cultural burdens with them into
of these cultural burdens with them into sport athletics themselves may be their
sport athletics themselves may be their
sport athletics themselves may be their remedy and in the 37 years since young
remedy and in the 37 years since young
remedy and in the 37 years since young wrote throwing like a girl women’s sport
wrote throwing like a girl women’s sport
wrote throwing like a girl women’s sport has evolved to include several counter
has evolved to include several counter
has evolved to include several counter examples that show just how empowering
examples that show just how empowering
examples that show just how empowering learning to move your body can be there
learning to move your body can be there
learning to move your body can be there are sports like rock climbing or
are sports like rock climbing or
are sports like rock climbing or ultramarathon running where women do
ultramarathon running where women do
ultramarathon running where women do achieve at rates equal to or higher than
achieve at rates equal to or higher than
achieve at rates equal to or higher than men another fantastic female philosopher
men another fantastic female philosopher
men another fantastic female philosopher Diane Chisholm wrote a counter article
Diane Chisholm wrote a counter article
Diane Chisholm wrote a counter article to Young’s called climbing like a girl
to Young’s called climbing like a girl
to Young’s called climbing like a girl where she uses the accomplishments of
where she uses the accomplishments of
where she uses the accomplishments of Lynne hill the first climber to ever
Lynne hill the first climber to ever
Lynne hill the first climber to ever free climb the nose about Capitan in
free climb the nose about Capitan in
free climb the nose about Capitan in Yosemite
Yosemite
Yosemite even though dozens of people had tried
even though dozens of people had tried
even though dozens of people had tried it before her and no one male or female
it before her and no one male or female
it before her and no one male or female was able to accomplish it for over a
was able to accomplish it for over a
was able to accomplish it for over a decade afterwards
decade afterwards
decade afterwards she used that accomplishment to show
she used that accomplishment to show
she used that accomplishment to show that the whole inhibited movement
that the whole inhibited movement
that the whole inhibited movement concept is a result of culture not a
concept is a result of culture not a
concept is a result of culture not a sentence to failure so what’s the
sentence to failure so what’s the
sentence to failure so what’s the difference
difference
difference what male in Hill and athletes like her
what male in Hill and athletes like her
what male in Hill and athletes like her transcend all of these physical cultural
transcend all of these physical cultural
transcend all of these physical cultural barriers that hold so many women back I
barriers that hold so many women back I
barriers that hold so many women back I argue it’s that they think a little
argue it’s that they think a little
argue it’s that they think a little differently and you can too
differently and you can too
differently and you can too it all has to do with how we think of
it all has to do with how we think of
it all has to do with how we think of ourselves our bodies and our space if we
ourselves our bodies and our space if we
ourselves our bodies and our space if we begin thinking of ourselves as extended
begin thinking of ourselves as extended
begin thinking of ourselves as extended through our entire bodies we can move
through our entire bodies we can move
through our entire bodies we can move more efficiently and effectively through
more efficiently and effectively through
more efficiently and effectively through space if we begin thinking of our
space if we begin thinking of our
space if we begin thinking of our fingers of our toes our knees our ankles
fingers of our toes our knees our ankles
fingers of our toes our knees our ankles and lungs as more than just vessels or
and lungs as more than just vessels or
and lungs as more than just vessels or tools but part of who we are we will
tools but part of who we are we will
tools but part of who we are we will experience the world in a more connected
experience the world in a more connected
experience the world in a more connected way if when you open that pickle jar you
way if when you open that pickle jar you
way if when you open that pickle jar you use more than your knuckles and your
use more than your knuckles and your
use more than your knuckles and your wrists but your torso your shoulders
wrists but your torso your shoulders
wrists but your torso your shoulders your entire self and put yourself into
your entire self and put yourself into
your entire self and put yourself into it it’s gonna open and when you ski if
it it’s gonna open and when you ski if
it it’s gonna open and when you ski if you experience each movement as it
you experience each movement as it
you experience each movement as it happens here and here and here and here
happens here and here and here and here
happens here and here and here and here you will be able to move forward over
you will be able to move forward over
you will be able to move forward over your skis but in order to really extend
your skis but in order to really extend
your skis but in order to really extend you have to see that space in front of
you have to see that space in front of
you have to see that space in front of you is yours to take one of the main
you is yours to take one of the main
you is yours to take one of the main barriers to free movement for women is
barriers to free movement for women is
barriers to free movement for women is failure or fear fear of failure fear of
failure or fear fear of failure fear of
failure or fear fear of failure fear of an unknown experience or fear of injury
an unknown experience or fear of injury
an unknown experience or fear of injury but once you’ve acknowledged that fear
but once you’ve acknowledged that fear
but once you’ve acknowledged that fear you’ve recognized a barrier and what
you’ve recognized a barrier and what
you’ve recognized a barrier and what good is a barrier if not to be overcome
good is a barrier if not to be overcome
good is a barrier if not to be overcome move into the space in front of you
move into the space in front of you
move into the space in front of you recognize it take it take up the space
recognize it take it take up the space
recognize it take it take up the space before you beside you behind you move
before you beside you behind you move
before you beside you behind you move into it and take it and recognize that
into it and take it and recognize that
into it and take it and recognize that you have the power to move that there is
you have the power to move that there is
you have the power to move that there is no difference between here and there
no difference between here and there
no difference between here and there move like men hill did move the way that
move like men hill did move the way that
move like men hill did move the way that your body was built to and you may just
your body was built to and you may just
your body was built to and you may just fine
fine
fine find that yours can do things that other
find that yours can do things that other
find that yours can do things that other bodies can’t
bodies can’t
bodies can’t and once you’ve extended your body and
and once you’ve extended your body and
and once you’ve extended your body and taken up some space use your experiences
taken up some space use your experiences
taken up some space use your experiences to inspire others one of the main
to inspire others one of the main
to inspire others one of the main reasons that women have trouble owning
reasons that women have trouble owning
reasons that women have trouble owning the space around them and their bodies
the space around them and their bodies
the space around them and their bodies is because other women do as well but as
is because other women do as well but as
is because other women do as well but as leadership and mentorship grows in
leadership and mentorship grows in
leadership and mentorship grows in women’s sport so will access and so will
women’s sport so will access and so will
women’s sport so will access and so will opportunity that’s why I’m here today I
opportunity that’s why I’m here today I
opportunity that’s why I’m here today I am a product of title nine which 45
am a product of title nine which 45
am a product of title nine which 45 years ago began increasing women’s
years ago began increasing women’s
years ago began increasing women’s access to sport I’m a product of the
access to sport I’m a product of the
access to sport I’m a product of the women’s Sports Foundation and other
women’s Sports Foundation and other
women’s Sports Foundation and other nonprofits whose sole goal it is to
nonprofits whose sole goal it is to
nonprofits whose sole goal it is to educate and support female athletes I am
educate and support female athletes I am
educate and support female athletes I am here because my parents believed that I
here because my parents believed that I
here because my parents believed that I could accomplish just as much in sport
could accomplish just as much in sport
could accomplish just as much in sport as my brothers thanks mom these are the
as my brothers thanks mom these are the
as my brothers thanks mom these are the forces that change the way that we teach
forces that change the way that we teach
forces that change the way that we teach our daughters treat our teammates and
our daughters treat our teammates and
our daughters treat our teammates and encourage our competitors and I want to
encourage our competitors and I want to
encourage our competitors and I want to be clear that what I’m speaking of today
be clear that what I’m speaking of today
be clear that what I’m speaking of today can be experienced by any person at any
can be experienced by any person at any
can be experienced by any person at any age in and out of sport whether you’re a
age in and out of sport whether you’re a
age in and out of sport whether you’re a product or a writer of title 9 because
product or a writer of title 9 because
product or a writer of title 9 because the more women who are willing to try to
the more women who are willing to try to
the more women who are willing to try to reach to extend and to play the more we
reach to extend and to play the more we
reach to extend and to play the more we will experience movement free of
will experience movement free of
will experience movement free of cultural barriers and although sport can
cultural barriers and although sport can
cultural barriers and although sport can be a microcosm of a host of constricting
be a microcosm of a host of constricting
be a microcosm of a host of constricting societal factors it is ultimately a
societal factors it is ultimately a
societal factors it is ultimately a freeing educational and empowering
freeing educational and empowering
freeing educational and empowering activity it is for me because when you
activity it is for me because when you
activity it is for me because when you really go for it really learn how to
really go for it really learn how to
really go for it really learn how to fall the only direction you can go is
fall the only direction you can go is
fall the only direction you can go is forward thank you
forward thank you
forward thank you [Applause]
”
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