Fansided

Nine times female sports fan engagement was condescending and sexist

By Dani Bostick

Apr 18, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Salah Mejri (50) and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban celebrate after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 85-84 in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Salah Mejri (50) and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban celebrate after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 85-84 in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 25, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros center fielder Carlos Gomez (30) strikes out to end the inning with a man in scoring position against the New York Yankees in the second inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 25, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros center fielder Carlos Gomez (30) strikes out to end the inning with a man in scoring position against the New York Yankees in the second inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Houston Astros 2013 Ladies Night

The Houston Astros 2013 Ladies Night received a lot of horrible press, and to the team’s credit they have avoided similarly patronizing Ladies Nights events for 2016. (Or at least they aren’t publicizing them.)

The excitement was palpable in 2013 after executives asked their five year old, raised-on-gendered-toys five-year-olds what would make a baseball game fun for girls. The result? A Baseball 101 talk and happy hour with a Diamond, Bling, and Glittery Things theme. You know what they say — diamonds are a girl’s best friend!

Response to the event was universally negative, with the Winner of the Internet that day tweeting:

One attendee chronicled her experience receiving pink Astros makeup bag and being greeted a life-size cardboard cutout of Jose Altuve wearing Mardi Gras beads. Bling! There was also a hair salon at the event, along with a DJ, funny hats, and a photo booth.

At the time, Steve Sparks of the Houston baseball operations department mansplained his organization’s female-friendly approach to fan engagement:

"We’re in a male-dominated industry, and sometimes there’s an inclination to be intimidated if you’re female, around a bunch of men, and when women are around each other, they might be more likely to ask those questions — and I‘m in favor of anything that broadens the sport’s reach."

Next: 5. Atlanta Braves Wine-Down Wednesday

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