I realize that by writing about the fact we’ve been writing about it, I’m only adding fuel to a fire I feel shouldn’t exist in the first place, but I’m a writer and writers write so let me say my piece and move on.
It’s discouraging that we even feel the need to discuss and comment on the fact the NFL this week hired its first female official.
Yes, it’s a good story. It’s a happy thing. It’s progress. Congrats to Sarah Thomas.
But the league is a little late. The NBA has several female officials, and that’s basically been the case since Violet Palmer starting officiating games way back in 1997.
But let’s go more macro. Right now, 26 females are CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. There are 22 female world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The odds-on favorite to win the 2016 US Presidential election is a female. And yet we’re reacting this strongly to the fact one of 119 NFL officials possesses two X chromosomes?
It’s a little embarrassing.
And sadly, these types of stories aren’t going away. The same buzz will surround the next female football official, and the first female MLB umpire and the first female NHL lineswoman. It won’t stop, because we like to pat ourselves on the pat for making progress in these areas, even if those very pats indicate we’re moving far too slowly.
