Ladies’ Arm Wrestling Is a Thing
Courtesy of soggydan via Creative Commons
Arm wrestling — formerly a machismo-tastic test of brute strength — has been reborn as the latest in lady-on-lady empowerment sports.
The Collective of Lady Arm Wrestlers (CLAW) was conceived in Charlottesville, Va., in 2008, and has since caught on in 10 cities. It works like this: The female competitors, who are vamped out in awesome themed costumes and sport stage names like Pushy Galore and Jackie O’Nasty, arm-wrestle for charity in a splendid spectacle that showcases raw feminine strength, theatrics, and general pageantry.
Obviously, CLAW shares striking similarities with roller derby — clever get-ups, hilarious nicknames, and, most importantly, the sense of female empowerment. Both, too, are celebrations of women’s collective ability to brutally compete with passion and strength. (And, should you think ladies’ arm wrestling is little more than namby-pamby handholding: women have actually broken their arms during matches.)
The New York Times posted Sunday about a ladies’ arm-wrestling event in Williamsburg — the proceeds of which went toward a health outreach program that benefits lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender teens. Interestingly, the Times post has “feminism” in its headline, but besides the generic empowerment of women through a contest of strength — albeit a contest that sounds both awesome to watch and beneficial to good causes — it’s not completely clear why this is a feminist endeavor. Yes, it’s females doing something cool. As with roller derby, here are a shit-ton of like-minded people who probably feel very strongly on things like reproductive rights, equal work for equal pay, women’s healthcare, and a general message of promoting women as people. Don’t get me wrong: What they’re doing is awesome. But should ladies’ arm wrestling really take off (which I suspect it will), it would be nice to see these women use their collective arm strength for something not just awesome, but maybe a little bigger, too.
The photo used in this article is from 2005′s all girl arm wrestling competion at the Tin Hat in Ballard Washington, that was the second year the competion was held and the second year they were able to raise over $1,100 for Home Alive, which is a chairity for teaching self defence to women. Each year afterwards the amount has substantially increased raising up to twice that amount and has included other charities such as the Cathrine Booth house for battered women and children. The competition is still being held once a year at the end of September.
…the proceeds of which went toward a health outreach program that benefits lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender teens. Interestingly, the Times post has “feminism” in its headline, but besides the generic empowerment of women through a contest of strength — albeit a contest that sounds both awesome to watch and beneficial to good causes — it’s not completely clear why this is a feminist endeavor…
I’m unclear as to why this is not a feminist endeavor. Feminism has been defined as: the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men. So a woman-organized, woman-run, woman-centric movement that includes men, and celebrates many different versions of femininity and womanhood AND has raised tens of thousands of dollars for woman-founded and woman-run charities benefiting women isn’t a feminist endeavor? What pray-tell is?
“What they’re doing is awesome. But should ladies’ arm wrestling really take off (which I suspect it will), it would be nice to see these women use their collective arm strength for something not just awesome, but maybe a little bigger, too.”
Huh? CLAW has raised more than $175,000 for small local charities in dire need of funding all while having a great time and kicking ass. What “bigger” thing would you like us to do!?
It seems this blogger has not researched the cause very thoroughly, beyond reading the New York Times article. The movement has been around for almost 4 years, blowing up all over the country. As the mission on the CLAW USA website states, CLAW USA works to “empower women and strengthen local communities through theater, arm wrestling, and philanthropy”.
There are many things you can question in your blog about this particular cause, but feminism is not one of them. The movement is women banding together to empower other women and their strength, not just of biceps, but of character and willpower. A lot of these matches embrace the crazy spirit of the lady participants. There’s something deliciously feminist about all of it.
Perhaps before questioning the grander purpose and impact the movement poses, this blogger should attend a match, get the sweat splashed in her eyes, and really root for her fellow ladies wrestling to make a difference.
Agreed with the above. Even if one ignores the massive sums of money that LAW women around the country have managed to scrounge up to support women’s issues through innovative and entertaining events, the medium is still the message: arm wrestling events like these propose a new, flexible, and uninhibited kind of feminism and “femininity” — women performing, boasting their strength, and supporting one another while swaggering around like pro football players. It’s subversive, empowering, and provocative, and it makes ladies — those participating, watching, and benefiting — feel great about themselves and their gender. The author needs to attend a brawl and get back to us.
What a rich discussion.
I am a Charlottesville native and I have been involved intimately with the start up of two leagues now and have participated in CLAW on the national level since its inception.
I have seen women of all stripes come at this event, either with clip boards in hand or persona ideas in mind, and end up excited, purposeful, challenged and empowered. I have watched ladies arm wrestling communities start in living rooms and expand to selling out theaters. I have witnessed, as a wrestler, an organizer and a writer, how this event invites endless ways to have fun, let loose, growl and display strength, whether it be through theatrical grit, or organizational ferocity.
The diverse number of roles that are welcomed and created in this event is what, for me, strikes at the shifting definition of feminism and the freedom it strives for as well as some of the complications it brings. Ladies Arm Wrestling is a feminist event that is as multifaceted as the word itself.
As has been mentioned in previous posts, considering the movement is just under 5 years old, the growth since 2007 has been astronomical.
The national coalition, formed just last winter, has plans for a inter-league championship in Charlottesville this Spring (http://www.clawusa.org/), dreams of a road show for 2013, and long term visions and hopes for Ladies Arm Wrestling to expand its reach into the realm of education (junior league?) encouraging young girls to expand their sense of personal possibility, not only in identity, but in their social power.
Perhaps the most exciting thing to me about Ladies Arm Wrestling is that personal joy and public service are not seen as separate but instead two forces that are inextricably linked. Social good and personal expression collide in wonderful ways, and in my opinion, this merging is truly unique. Perhaps it points towards a new, more sustainable vision of charity.
Tara, if you or anyone would like to explore this phenomenon a little more, here are some good articles to start with, in addition to the recent Times article. Also, there’s a section called ‘the real lives of wrestlers’ on the CLAW USA site that looks at the creation of personas that might be cool to check out too. (http://www.clawusa.org/the-real-lives-of-wrestlers/)
Brooklyn Rail: (includes an interview with the co-founder, Jen Tidwell): http://www.brooklynrail.org/2011/06/local/five-boroughs-ladies-arm-wrestling-is-born-on-a-stage
BUST:http://bust.com/blog/ladies-with-clawshtml.html
Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2010/02/26/ST2010022606090.html?sid=ST2010022606090
Also, check out a bout in Austin! (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Clawstin/1442372589894290). They just raised 6, 200 at their last event. Crazy.
Dear Ms. Salty Eggs,
That would be a great wrestling or roller derby name. Have you asked to be part of a show?
The fun in fundraising has risen immensely since the “ladies” started their “thang”.
The feminism is apparent in the high-falutin’ wyms who have released the shackles of proper behavior and absorbed the power that comes of meeting in large groups to cheer for each other. Add in that all proceeds go to provide sustenance to small non-profits who benefit from the exposure as well as the cash. Wym power!
Hey everyone! Thank you so much for all of your insight and commentary. Tara has responded here: http://saltyeggs.com/lady-arm-wrestling-feminist/