English
SpanishHolding perpetrators of violence accountable – even ‘heroes’
Young people see sports “heroes” as role models. Yet when high-profile athletes choose inappropriate behaviors and actions – some of them criminal – are they held accountable? Are their earnings or lifestyle impacted? Are they still placed on a pedestal by adoring fans and money-making organizations for the win they can ensure by how well they can throw a football or throw a punch? If they are not held accountable, how do we all make sense of the lack of justice for the victims?
The biggest college football sexual assault scandal in years involves former Florida State University quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, Jameis Winston. In spite of the allegations and impending lawsuit for rape, assault and false imprisonment, Winston was the NFL’s first round draft pick and will play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earning $25.3 million over four years.
Floyd “Money” Mayweather is a professional boxer and undisputed serial batterer of women. Mayweather has been arrested or cited in seven assaults on five different women. He has been convicted, pled guilty and spent time in prison. Yet, he has never expressed remorse and has never been suspended from professional boxing. His fight against Manny Pacquiao reportedly earned him $180 million. Millions of people paid $99 each to see the “fight of the century” while only 60 people protested outside the boxing venue to bring attention to Mayweather’s history of violence toward women.
What does this tell young people about how they should live their lives? We wonder why area high school students would arrange and film hallway fights to post to a Facebook page – perhaps they strive to be like “Money”. We were shocked when we read that high school athletes had gang raped an unconscious girl and their coaches tried to protect the players instead of the victim.
Dr. Claire Walsh, former director of the sexual assault recovery program at the University of Florida has found in her work-based research that a crime is often not even perceived by society as having occurred when an athlete or group of athletes is involved. She also says athletes perpetrating crimes are supported by other players and personnel, “The entire group will fall behind the accused and deny an offense has been committed. The entire community associated with this group will come to its defense. In every single case they will deny there was gang rape, but that there was group sex.”
How do we instill in young people the core characteristics of respect, honor and empathy when they see sports “heroes” exempt from punishment while still earning enormous salaries. Some high school sports programs are confronting this issue and working with players to help them understand and prevent dating violence and sexual assault.
Mike Rowe, the football coach at Rocori High School in Cold Spring Minnesota, talks with players about these issues. He stresses honor, virtue and dignity over athletic ability. Rowe has players write a letter to their future loved ones – their mother, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, girlfriends, partners and even daughters. Players describe in the letter how they intend to show integrity, respect and patience to the important women and girls in their life. Players also read aloud, in front of teammates and law enforcement officers, real accounts of domestic violence and then pledge, “This will not be me.”
As social activist Gloria Steinem writes in one of her essays, “What would happen if even one generation were raised with respect and without violence?
What if?
The biggest college football sexual assault scandal in years involves former Florida State University quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, Jameis Winston. In spite of the allegations and impending lawsuit for rape, assault and false imprisonment, Winston was the NFL’s first round draft pick and will play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earning $25.3 million over four years.
Floyd “Money” Mayweather is a professional boxer and undisputed serial batterer of women. Mayweather has been arrested or cited in seven assaults on five different women. He has been convicted, pled guilty and spent time in prison. Yet, he has never expressed remorse and has never been suspended from professional boxing. His fight against Manny Pacquiao reportedly earned him $180 million. Millions of people paid $99 each to see the “fight of the century” while only 60 people protested outside the boxing venue to bring attention to Mayweather’s history of violence toward women.
What does this tell young people about how they should live their lives? We wonder why area high school students would arrange and film hallway fights to post to a Facebook page – perhaps they strive to be like “Money”. We were shocked when we read that high school athletes had gang raped an unconscious girl and their coaches tried to protect the players instead of the victim.
Dr. Claire Walsh, former director of the sexual assault recovery program at the University of Florida has found in her work-based research that a crime is often not even perceived by society as having occurred when an athlete or group of athletes is involved. She also says athletes perpetrating crimes are supported by other players and personnel, “The entire group will fall behind the accused and deny an offense has been committed. The entire community associated with this group will come to its defense. In every single case they will deny there was gang rape, but that there was group sex.”
How do we instill in young people the core characteristics of respect, honor and empathy when they see sports “heroes” exempt from punishment while still earning enormous salaries. Some high school sports programs are confronting this issue and working with players to help them understand and prevent dating violence and sexual assault.
Mike Rowe, the football coach at Rocori High School in Cold Spring Minnesota, talks with players about these issues. He stresses honor, virtue and dignity over athletic ability. Rowe has players write a letter to their future loved ones – their mother, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, girlfriends, partners and even daughters. Players describe in the letter how they intend to show integrity, respect and patience to the important women and girls in their life. Players also read aloud, in front of teammates and law enforcement officers, real accounts of domestic violence and then pledge, “This will not be me.”
As social activist Gloria Steinem writes in one of her essays, “What would happen if even one generation were raised with respect and without violence?
What if?