There are always constraints that women have to overcome on the way to the world of traditionally male sports. They should struggle to find recognition and prove they can equally protect their rights to be engaged in different kinds of sport. In order to enter the world of boxing, Maggie, the main heroine of Million Dollars Baby, had to overcome the adversities connected with gender stereotypes. She is tough enough to ignore all mocking on the part of male boxers because the dream is everything she lives for.
Only laborious work, constant training, and persistence helped her attract the attention of Frankie Dunn, a respectful trainer. Being under the pressure of Dunn’s despises and reluctance to train her, she says, “[boxing] is the only thing I ever felt good doing. If I’m too old for this, then I got nothing” (Haggis, n. p.). Having nothing, but boxing is a persuasive reason to cede a place to a woman in the world where males rule.
Throughout the history of sport development, gender differences have always been the major obstacle for women to overcome. Similar problems are brightly illustrated in the movie called Million Dollar Baby, where the main heroine Maggie Fitzgerald is ready to sacrifice everything to become famous. People, irrespective of their gender and racial distinctions, have the right to freedom of choice. This also means that the dream is part of people’s choices. Maggie is destined to be a fighter because all her life, she has been struggling for recognition in this world.
Notwithstanding all possible adversities she faced, including her family disapproval, she was determined in her intentions to become a great fighter and achieve a certain position in this world. Her confidence in her power helped her reach her dream irrespective of all existing stereotypes that had been immediately blurred as soon as the world saw her fights: “It’s the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you” (Haggis, n. p.). So, Maggie took a chance and put everything at stake to make her dream come true.
There is no compromise in the world of sport, and this fact is unquestionable. Moreover, there is no place for compromise when it comes to male dominating sports. In this respect, Maggie had to forget that about her nature to become equal and considered among males: “Maggie always did like taking ’em out in the first round” (Haggis, n. p.). She is the winner of her nature, and this does not relate to her gender affiliation. She is the fighter in her soul. Hence, women have had to come up with dominating masculinity, risking everything they have to be acknowledged, and, after all, produce masculinity to blur gender distinction and penetrate to the world of males sports.
In conclusion, it should be stressed that all people, irrespective of their gender affiliation, have the right to choose the way of life. However, when it comes to a sports career, a woman has to forget about existing stereotypes and prejudice to become successful in boxing that is traditionally considered a male profession. The heroine of the film has demonstrated that women could surpass all obstacles on the way to their goals. However, they should risk everything to be accepted in the world of sports. All these struggles against nature impose a number of challenges that are still making women’s sports career much more complicated.
Works Cited
Haggis, Paul. Million Dollar Baby. Warner Bros. Pictures. 2004. Film.