Is powderpuff still relevant in modern society?

Pro

Elliot Larky / Staff Reporter

Powderpuff football is being brought back to the high school by student section leaders. A tradition in high schools across the country for over 50 years, the goal of the game is to raise money for charity and provide a fun, safe and inclusive environment for girls to play football. The goals of the game demonstrate the relevance and importance of powderpuff. 

The game allows students to take action and responsibility, as it is organized by students for students to play and enjoy. The student section leaders’ version of the game consists of student coaches, student players and student planners. 

The student-led sport creates an inclusive environment because everyone is encouraged to participate. The lighthearted nature of the game is highlighted through student involvement. Students are allowed to interpret it however they desire, creating a fun atmosphere. 

Powderpuff also provides charitable benefits that support a multitude of organizations. According to Sanford High School in Maine, their powderpuff game raised $1,700 for charity in October. In addition, the West Morris Central High School in New Jersey game raised $1,559 toward their local charity of Sarah’s Fight for Hope in October as well. Both of these donations tremendously helped their causes, as the large contributions were highly impactful. 

One may argue this tradition is outdated. But as powderpuff has been around for years, it has evolved with each school’s values, thus becoming more progressive as time passes. Students can alter the game to best support their values and goals, whether that is fundraising for charities or providing a fun recreational activity for their students to participate in. 

Powderpuff is still relevant in modern society because it gives girls the opportunity to play football safely and can be used to raise money to donate to the charity of their choice. The game should continue to be played throughout the country and be offered in schools nationwide.

Elliot Larky is a junior at Bexley High School and a reporter for The Torch. Aside from Torch, she is on the varsity volleyball team.

Con

Zachary Topolosky / Staff Reporter

Girls flag football, also known as powderpuff, is set to make a comeback this school year. The revival of powderpuff puts pressure on students and makes them uncomfortable.

Powderpuff has been played since 1971 in many schools throughout the country. This school year, the high school student section leaders are reviving the old game, raising some red flags. 

Having powderpuff back is not good for students, and it does not fit in today’s society with issues regarding equality for women because everything is controlled by male students. Powderpuff is not positive for the school because the people who are coaching it are the male football players, which implies that girls need boys to tell them what to do rather than letting them be independent. 

People have been talking about powderpuff as if it is a big joke.  This is not fair to the students participating in powderpuff because they do not get the same reaction from spectators at their games as the high school football team gets at theirs. People who attend the powderpuff games are very likely to take the players less seriously because of the societal conception that girls aren’t supposed to play football, even though many players on the powderpuff teams are star athletes in other sports. When people attend football games, they cheer and try to encourage the players, and they never laugh at the boys who are playing.

Powderpuff is misogynistic because it simply puts girls out on a field to get laughed at. The main reason the district scrapped powderpuff in 2006 was due to it getting too physical and violent, but also because some people did not like the idea of the game. According to The Westwind, the name itself is sexist because it is inferring women are not able to handle the roughness of predominantly male sports.

The district’s main goals should be to keep their students comfortable, without having to worry about being made fun of for playing a sport like powderpuff. Powderpuff is not letting girls play a sport where they get to have people cheering them on; instead, it is a sport where people make fun of them.

Zach Topolosky is a junior at Bexley High School and a reporter for The Torch. Outside of Torch, Zach plays golf and lacrosse for Bexley.