The Term Shredita

[Ian Brill]

Hi,

I just wanted to share that at least one woman that I deeply respect is put off by the term shredita. I don't understand if it's a negative conotation or implication on a feminist point of view, but after reading the recent post regarding favoritism (and specifically the potential fairness of unisex judging) I felt I might as voice this concern, though it's light in another thread.

* I just clarified (with my girlfriend) over the concern. Apparently it's not so much a feminist response (like I have in this context). It is her degrees in creative writing and spanish that are active here.

Ita refers to a noun ending, like a blade of grass, and not an action. She says it would be like calling something a walk-ita. To be honest this is getting over my head as my grammar comes from New York City Public schooling.

Anyway, my feminist valuing girlfriend can get over the derogatory compartmentalization of I see in this term, but let it be known! A subjective criticism has been made upon our humble actions!

Personally I don't have a problem with someone saying:
"That babe can shred!". I wonder what the consensus on the word babe is. I do think that the term shredita downplays an individuals efforts.

Thanks for your time.

[Grade Zero]

so do we change it to "shredderita"? (noun + ita)

jk...sorry...don't kill me

[footbagi]

hmm.....

[Ian Brill]

so do we change it to "shredderita"? (noun + ita)

jk...sorry...don't kill me

I dunno. It's obviously too late for me to be posting- I just checked my grammar! How hypocritical of me!

I feel like responding this way. In the stone-ages, or at least the 1990's when I started playing footbag there was this attitude that the sport would make it to the X-games soon and eventually hit the olympics. It was a noble attitude and I still have it. Thing is, in widely accepted professional sports the women professionals are usually referred to as women, and these female competitors participate in woman's events, as opposed to say men's single freestyle.

So, in fewer words, my dream is that one day my favorite sport will be accepted openly by a larger audience and I feel that encouraging an atmosphere of integrity among the footbag community at this stage will help it in terms of a wider acceptance in the long term.

Also, I imagine although this term expresses strong male enthusiasm for female participation in the sport, it is actually a deterrent.

Here's an example:

A woman walks into a circle of scantly-clad, sweaty men of various ages and backgrounds. She shreds. Suddenly everyone else, all male, in the circle get excited. Including me. But we try to be cool about it, because cackling on about how redonkulous it is that we're kicking with some shredita "excludes" in its nature, and therefore it is not "inclusive". No matter how you look at it. Even if it's a compliment. Basically I think it is self defeating if you use an excluding term towards someone who you appreciate for having had independently decided to join you.

[PegLegHolly]

i personally dont really care about being called shredita. i like it a lot more than chick, babe, or hottie. i would take any one of those over b**ch, c**t, or p**sy. lol


ive heard a lot of women argue that the "ita" part of shredita is what bothers them. putting "ita" at the end of the word is supposed to mean small or little. this doesnt bother me, but ive noticed some other women find it offensive.



but why not use "girl shredder" or "lady kicker" or "female footbagger" if it is so offensive?


any girl that footbags knows that there is a small number of women that play. and sometimes there are people youll meet who arent sure of what that girl's boundaries/feelings are.


ive told this story before but it wont hurt to say it again.

i went to midwesterns last year with my boyfriend and i hadnt started kicking yet. i went because i wanted to watch and learn what footbag was. we pulled up at la raza and this boy points at my shoes and says "those arent lavers". i was like "what, whats that?" he looked over at brian and said "oh you brought her to cook." i hated him for a long time because of this, but he has promised to make me pancakes the next time i see him because he felt bad later.

i guess what i was trying to say with that is, when a guy calls a girl a "shredita" he normally isnt trying to hurt that girls feelings. and if the girl lets them know that "shredita" is offensive to them, they will apologise and its all good.

[Ian Brill]

Thank you for the feedback. Firsthand, experienced feedback means a lot to me.

I'm glad that I know now that babe is inappropriate too. The reassurance is helpful. I'm not being sarcastic. I used to tend bar...

I appreciate that you made the distinction that you don't mind the term but that you acknowledge others do. It gives a clearer, honest, and helpful impression to me of what the dynamic must be like.

Although you say that you don't mind it, the fact is some might. The other important thing that you brought up is that there is still some outlandish misogyny in the circles. I feel that by making conscious efforts to try to avoid simpler things like avoiding terms that may dissuade further woman from participating in this sport that we can all encourage a climate that is less sympathetic to other, more intolerable behaviors and actions.

[Rieferman]

From my understanding the term is intended by all to be an affectionate/polite/no-disrespect nickname. People see me (at 6'2") and say "hey big guy". I know they have good/kind/informal intentions so it doesn't worry me. Since that's the honest context, no need for a change in my opinion.

[mosher]

I know that Pengpeng has never really liked it. She can't really relate to the whole latina thing.

It sorta bums me out that our only useful term for a female footbag player is sorta awkward and makes some people feel unwelcome.

[pips]

Shredita never bothered me. It is just a way to state that someone is a footbagger and she's a she. Where did the term come from anyways? Did Jane make it up? I'm sure whoever did was probably just kidding around and mentioned it, never expecting it to get big or stick around in the footbag community. Like Holly says, I'd rather be called that than chick, babe, or hottie. Depends who you are and stuff to be entitled to call me those and not get a mean look.

[mc]

I think it sounds funny and I don't really like it. I prefer to use the non-gender-specific terms "shredder", "freestyler", and "kicker".

and fer fuck's sake, don't try and even it out by calling me Shredito.

[slapdash21]

yeah, sounds too much like dorito anyway.

[King Monkey]

Ive never used that term and never will, i dont see the point of having some kind of discrimination based on sex, even if it is merely a label. Im just happy to have other footbaggers around.

[footbagi]

I think it sounds funny and I don't really like it. I prefer to use the non-gender-specific terms "shredder", "freestyler", and "kicker".

I couldn't agree more. Twas never a word that I enjoyed hearing or saying, at all. If it upsets people than I'll continue not to use it.

[Ian Brill]

Ive never used that term and never will, i dont see the point of having some kind of discrimination based on sex, even if it is merely a label. Im just happy to have other footbaggers around.

This is immediately how I felt when I first was exposed to this term. I'm not sure how best to draw larger attention to this but I'm glad that it has been at least acknowledged and that others understand my concern.

Thank you everyone for your continued feedback.

[Dave Da]

I mean is politically correctness necessary EVERY FUCKING WHERE? It doesnt mean anything really. I bet it was a girl who came up with the word anyway. The sport of footbag is male dominated thats why someone came up with it. I neveru sed it myself I do not see a taboo against using it I just think it sounds dumb.

[mc]

I just think it sounds dumb.

yeah, that's pretty much the long and short of it for me too.

[Grade Zero]

and fer fuck's sake, don't try and even it out by calling me Shredito.

ew..."shredito"

yes, definitely stick to something like "kicker"

[Blue_turnip]

While I actually havn't ever used the term I think people who get offended by it should get fucked. Honestly. Instead of winging or even caring about it, why don't you donate time and money to countries that have actual problems with the regard to treatment of women. You know, REAL discrimination - where women are denied education, freedom, and the rights to jobs and/or equal pay.

Jesus Christ I hate people.

[King Monkey]

I think people are talking about it because its a totally relevant issue to the sport, it concerns making the sport more appealing to both sexes and reducing alienation or segregation within the sport. Plus theres bugger-all else going right now Granted there is more critical discrimination going on across the world, but why discuss it on a footbag forum?

If you dont think its relevant, why are you bothering to read the topic, let alone post?

[Blue_turnip]

If you dont think its relevant, why are you bothering to read the topic, let alone post?

Well I didn't know exactly what the topic would be about until I actually read some of it - by which time I was pissed off enough to make an enraged post of my own.