Hockey Mom Wants Daughter to Share Locker Room With Boys

hoosier · #1 07-13-2005, 07:37 PM

Hockey Mom Wants 14-Year-Old Daughter to Share Locker Room With Boys -

A Canadian mother is going before that country's Human Rights Tribunal claiming that rules of the local hockey league prevent her daughter from "sharing the camaraderie of the locker room" with other members of her team because boys and girls are not allowed to change together. Jane Emlyn claims female minor hockey players' rights are violated when they're forced to use separate changing rooms, adding "It's fun in the changing room. You get to talk and socialize with all the kids and talk about the game, and talk about the practices and just discuss hockey. And if you're in a changing room with three people, and there's another team there, it's a little awkward and not fun." She would like to see the rules changed to allow both male and female hockey players to share the same locker room, with a dress code requiring all girls to have a minimum of shorts and T-shirt on, and boys to wear at least boxers. The minority gender would have to leave the room before members of the opposite sex shower. Think that's out of the question? Another Canadian human rights commission ruled a New Brunswick 14-year-old female player had her rights violated when she was forced to change separately.

RACooper · #2 07-13-2005, 08:29 PM

Hmmmph... wasn't really an issue with the girls on my team - we all shared a dressing room... and if you wanted a little more privacy to "change" then you used the showers...

Rudey · #3 07-13-2005, 08:33 PM

The girls that play hockey probably look like the guys that play hockey, so it might not even matter.

-Rudey

RACooper · #4 07-13-2005, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
The girls that play hockey probably look like the guys that play hockey, so it might not even matter.

-Rudey

You'd love to see an old Labatt commerical involving women's hockey...

Image of a locker room floor as players get undressed, slowly panning up the sweaty and hair legs of the nearest player - until it is revealed the player is a girl... she looks deadpan at the camera and says "What? It's the playoffs"

Lady Pi Phi · #5 07-13-2005, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RACooper
You'd love to see an old Labatt commerical involving women's hockey...

Image of a locker room floor as players get undressed, slowly panning up the sweaty and hair legs of the nearest player - until it is revealed the player is a girl... she looks deadpan at the camera and says "What? It's the playoffs"

Hahahaha, that was a great commercial!

But back to the topic at hand. Hasn't this been discussed before? Years ago? I thought they would leagues would allow it if everyone was comfortable with it?

RACooper · #6 07-13-2005, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
Hahahaha, that was a great commercial!

But back to the topic at hand. Hasn't this been discussed before? Years ago? I thought they would leagues would allow it if everyone was comfortable with it?

Waaaaaay back in the day, when I was in minor hockey the decision handed down basically let the teams/leagues decide on a case by case basis - depending on the comfort level of the players (male and female), not the parents... so basically if the kids were okay with it - then it was okay.

Again some of the issues other than "changing" were and are still involved - after all some arenas don't have what you would call spacious dressing rooms... or "private" bathroom facilities.

CutiePie2000 · #7 07-14-2005, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
The girls that play hockey probably look like the guys that play hockey, so it might not even matter.

-Rudey

One would think so (not that that makes it necessarily "better"), but I saw a photo of the girl in question and she is an attractive young lady. Personally, I would worry about this young woman's personal safety and I question the sanity of her mother. This whole thing has just gone way too far. Yeesh......

hoosier · #8 07-14-2005, 02:13 PM

Around here, some of the high school inline hockey teams at the lower divisions have a girl or two, and they seem to dress well together in the very cramped locker rooms. There's no nudity, no showers, and usually the door is open, with parents/fans/other students standing by, occasionally getting a look at boys in boxers and a girl in shorts/T-shirt.

On a sports forum, several Canadians have claimed that high school aged girls and boys shower together (they're team mates), but who knows.

AGDee · #9 07-15-2005, 01:14 AM

As the mother of an 11 year old daughter, I have to say....

The last thing I would ever push for is to have my teenage daughter in a room of almost naked boys, while she is almost naked too.

copacabana · #10 07-15-2005, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hoosier
And if you're in a changing room with three people, and there's another team there, it's a little awkward and not fun". She would like to see the rules changed to allow both male and female hockey players to share the same locker room, with a dress code requiring all girls to have a minimum of shorts and T-shirt on, and boys to wear at least boxers.

I think this mother's priorities are a little mixed up-- she's more concerned about her daughter getting to talk to people in a changing room than the fact that the kid might be the only girl there? It just seems weird...though I think it should be up to the daughter to determine if she feels comfortable enough to change with a bunch of guys.

Lady Pi Phi · #11 07-15-2005, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by copacabana
I think this mother's priorities are a little mixed up-- she's more concerned about her daughter getting to talk to people in a changing room than the fact that the kid might be the only girl there? It just seems weird...though I think it should be up to the daughter to determine if she feels comfortable enough to change with a bunch of guys.

I think it should be up to this girl AND the rest of her teammates to decided whether she should change with the guys. Also, if the daughter is truely concerned with the lack of bonding going on between her and her teammates, there are a number of other she can do to bond with them, that does not include changing with them.

What a waste of time for the Human Rights Commission.

Taualumna · #12 07-15-2005, 10:31 AM

I agree with Lady Pi Phi. It really should be the kids' decision. If the girl (or the guys on her team) don't feel comfortable, then Mom shouldn't butt in. Being 14 is hard, especially for girls. Mom was 14 once. She should remember (even if it was a little easier back in her day).

DeltAlum · #13 07-16-2005, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Taualumna Mom was 14 once. She should remember (even if it was a little easier back in her day).

First, I'm not sure the final thought is true. Being a teenager has always been tough.

I think this changing thing is nuts. This mom will also be the first to file suit and make a huge stink when (OK, if) her daughter gets groped.

PhiPsiRuss · #14 07-17-2005, 10:37 AM

What will Mom say if her daughter grows up to be a stripper?