Lingerie Football in Mexico

“Lingerie and roughness are the ingredients that came together this past Saturday at the “Sport Palace” in Mexico City when teams from the LFL (Lingerie Football League) played”. This was the title found in the sport section of one of the most prestigious newspapers in Mexico City. I also have to mention that a very provocative image was shown portraying a female football player that probably belonged more on the cover of an adult magazine than on the cover of the sport section of a newspaper. One of the LFL participants mentioned that, “lingerie football is a perfect discipline because it contains beauty, sexy girls, lingerie, roughness, and football, the perfect entertainment combination”. She continued saying that “this was an opportunity for Mexicans to witness this sport and enjoy looking at beautiful girls”. I am sure a “macho” culture such as the Mexican one really appreciates this statement. I am not arguing that LFL players are not athletes but we have to consider the profile of most of the players: very attractive which resembles more the profile of a model than of an athlete. The last thing you think when you look at the LFL players is their athletic ability. And make no mistake, this league is really doing well. The first season from 2009 to 2010 included 10 teams. The League has added 3 more teams since and is looking to expand to new cities in the US and teams in Canada, Australia and Europe for the 2013 season. In 2014 the league plans to have a LFL World Bowl. This is serious expansion that we don’t see in other leagues like for example the WPS (Women Professional Soccer) league, a league that folded before the beginning of the 2012 season. There is a big disparity between the prosperity of the LFL and the lack of success of the WPS. This shows us what we appreciate as a society. In a male dominant society we turn our attention towards the physical appearance of a female athlete rather than her athletic skills. This is not the message that we want to send to young girls participating in sports. 

KIN 577 G. Martinez