It is evident from these statements and assumptions that the role of women was a mother, a caretaker, a wife, a servant, and a cook.” ( Sanchez 2001) “One newscaster’s commentary on the girls being ‘masculinized’ was that it was ‘dangerous’ and caused the family ‘sexual confusion’.
They claim that the league will ruin women for the men returning from war and that letting women play professional sports will make them unable to perform their household duties. The league is met with backlash from other women who suggest that the league will imbue women in American society with masculine qualities. This not only drew in a crowd, but it further emphasizes the attractiveness of the women. After it seemed as though the number of attendees were dwindling as time went on, the women came up with a minor solution. The style of their uniforms were made to appeal to the general audience of men, as their uniforms would maybe attract more attention, meaning a larger audience. At times, the appearance and attractiveness of the players are used to both their advantage as well as the leagues. Fitting into the stereotypical feminine appearance of women. The other players on the team are seen as very beautiful and attractive white women. As such, he is reluctant to sign her to the team but does so anyway’s because despite her looks, she was a great baseball player. Marla is considered unattractive by him, failing to meet the qualities of emphasized femininity that were pervasive in the 1940s. Ernie Capadino, is reluctant to find ‘attractive’ players. When trying to recruit female baseball players to try out for teams, the scout a.k.a.
One scene in the movie where the women are trying to come up with ways to attract greater crows, Mae is shown saying “What if at a key moment in the game my, my uniform bursts open and, uh, oops., my bosoms come flying out? That, that might draw a crowd, right?” and her best friend, Doris, replies back with “You think there are men in this country who ain’t seen your bosoms?” which is truly emphasizing Mae’s sexual orientation, aligning with the norms of emphasized sexuality and even how women are emotional and in need (Marshall, 1992). Her nickname is deeper than just because she can make it all the way home, but rather because of her sexual relationships with men. All-The-Way Mae is the centerfielder for the Rockford Peaches.
Often objectifying them multiple times throughout the film as if they are not human beings but rather seen as objects for men. The women on the team are shown as fitting into the typical norms of emphasized femininity - straight, cisgender women. This relates back to the identities of emphasized femininity which are geared towards white women.
It is sort of an awkward scene because that is the first and only time a Black female or person for that matter is depicted in A League of Their Own. There is one scene where one of the players overthrows the ball, and a Black woman is shown picking up the ball and throwing it back, a throw that was harder and faster than most players. The women featured throughout the film and amongst the teams in the leagues are almost exclusively white. The idea of emphasized femininity is that women must conform to the desires and needs of men (“Hegemonic Masculinity and Emphasized Femininity, 2020). Personal traits may include women who are passive, thin/small, caring, emotional, and are in need of protection. Identities of emphasized femininity include straight, white, cisgender, middle or upper class, and abled bodied. Women must look and act a certain way and anything other than these traits is abnormal. In these scenes, the women in the league are required to take classes on etiquette in order to present the image the league is going for. It is the idea that women must conform to the needs and desires of men. The idea of emphasized femininity is seen multiple times throughout A League of Their Own.