What Does a Synchronized Swimmer Say?

I can honestly say I haven't said the words or thought about the sport of synchronized swimming in my entire life as much as I have said those words and thought about the sport in the past five days. Since our blog is in its nascent stage, I feel I have much to say and I was wondering how I would pick my next topic. Anyone who knows me knows that sometimes I am not a master of the obvious-thankfully, the universe knows this about me, too, and has taken to what I like to call "the universal 2x4 to the side of the head" approach of clueing me in to important things like life lessons and decision making...important things like what I should write about for my next blog post. I had been thinking about something I noticed at a high school synchronized swimming performance I went to this weekend and I'm taking the universal signs of having the phrase and activity pop up several times since then to heart.

I had never been to a synchronized swimming performance before. It was fun and beautiful to behold. The theme was musicals so the music was wonderful. The female synchro athletes performed a short act on the side of the pool before each number-complete with costumes (high heels, hats, chairs, canes, skirts, glowsticks!) before finishing the majority of the performance in the pool. The swimmers were amazing to watch-the timing had to be just right, even when they were underwater, and I can't even imagine the effort it takes to stay afloat, treading water, while performing dance moves. They made something very difficult look graceful and fluid. The audience enjoyed the performance and cheered vigorously. They definitely had my admiration.

The theme for the evening was musicals-but there was one song on the program that wasn't from a musical and (yes, I am stating this publicly) I was excited to see it: "What Does the Fox Say?" by Ylvis. This song was to be performed by the men's synchro team. I was impressed there were men in synchro. Near the end of the evening's performances, right before the big finale, the men performed their number. The audience roared with laughter and applause as the high school males splashed in the water wildly (it was at this point I realized there really wasn't a true men's synchro team...remember-not a master of the obvious), formed something of a circle and threw each other in the air. The main thing was splashing. It was hilarious. I laughed and had fun and I sang along with the song.

I had a great time at the event-that is not in question. What struck me and what I started to think about after, however, was the difference in the male and female performances. Of course, I recognized there is no structured "men's synchro team" at the school so I'm not saying the males couldn't do what the females did if they had a coordinated team. I'm not saying the women's performance lacked in any way. I found it interesting, however, how different the two performances were and which one got the most notice and energy and applause from the audience. The women spent months in preparation to give a performance that was graceful, unassuming, sometimes sexy, with small, unobtrusive movements. The men's performance was in your face, large and boisterous...and it received the most notice. It made me wonder about the messages given to males and females in our society and from what seeming innocuous places those messages can come from.

The female performance was quiet, with small, delicate, sometimes unnoticeable movements. How many times and places, from birth on, are females given the message that we should be "ladylike", quiet, sexy and demure, often at the expense of our own voice and our powerful selves? How many places in our society are men rewarded and encouraged for the opposite behaviors? Like I said-if there was an applause-o-meter at the synch performance, the male number topped it out, no question.

I have more I'd like to, and will, say in future blog posts on the subject of voice and systemic sexism. For now, I'd like to draw attention the very different messages females and males are given in our society-in sometimes very subtle, insipid ways and ask some questions. What lasting effects might these messages have on an individual's ability to feel empowered and use her/his voice? What do these messages tell an individual about what characteristics are valued in her/his gender and how might these messages affect self confidence, self worth, self love and "success" in the future? Where are these messages "hidden" within our every day life?

Maybe it was "just" a synchro performance...but I don't think so because sometimes the devil is in the details.