"Girl" Pushups????

No one has " diminished women and reinforced gender roles by labeling a modified push-up a "girl push-up", they have been called this for 100 years and some way some how girls still manage to do regular ones when they are strong enough. It's crazy.

Anyone remember this guy? He was an idiot who liked to draw pictures, too.

This thread has very little to do with gender roles. It's really a question of whether girls can, and/or should be encouraged to do regular push ups. Pushing girls to step up when it comes to strength and athletics shouldn't really be a threat to a strong man.

The thread is actually entirely about gender roles. Assigning the role "girl" to a modified push-up first establishes that girls are "lesser" as it is a less physically demanding activity. It implies that girls are weaker and should shoot for the smaller, or lesser, success of performing modified push-ups. It finally implies that boys that can only perform modified push-ups are no longer entitled to their gender identity of "boy".

I really, REALLY appreciate where you went with the second half of your statement, though. The strength that women possess shouldn't be a threat to ANY man. Unfortunately, as we've seen in this thread, it still is.

This thread has very little to do with gender roles. It's really a question of whether girls can, and/or should be encouraged to do regular push ups. Pushing girls to step up when it comes to strength and athletics shouldn't really be a threat to a strong man.

The thread is actually entirely about gender roles. Assigning the role "girl" to a modified push-up first establishes that girls are "lesser" as it is a less physically demanding activity. It implies that girls are weaker and should shoot for the smaller, or lesser, success of performing modified push-ups. It finally implies that boys that can only perform modified push-ups are no longer entitled to their gender identity of "boy".

I really, REALLY appreciate where you went with the second half of your statement, though. The strength that women possess shouldn't be a threat to ANY man. Unfortunately, as we've seen in this thread, it still is.

It's not necessary that this have anything at all to do with gender roles. All it "implies" is that girls can't do real push ups. And by contrast, arguing that girls can do real push ups (and that perhaps we should just call them wimpy push ups or modified push ups) doesn't necessarily mean that girls aren't on average weaker than boys. Guess what? They are. And that really shouldn't be controversial or a shock to anyone. Again though, pushing girls and women to be stronger shouldn't be a threat to strong men, regardless of one's stance on gender roles.

By saying "It's not necessary that this have anything at all to do with gender roles.", you're ignoring the fact that the gender binary is a pre-existing social construct full of sweeping generalizations and one hell of crappy, oppressive regime. I know I'm belabouring the point, but this is my job. I'm an educator in this area. I give talks on the gender binary, gender identity and sexual dimorphism and how they're all very different things. I just hope I can open a few eyes and to those who want to keep their heads in the sand, so be it.

With regards to push-ups, to call modified push-ups "girl" push-ups is just inane. I will concede that men, on average have greater upper body muscular strength than women. We are, however, talking about push-ups and women are just as capable of performing full push-ups as men. Come the eff on.

Now that I'm warmed up...
Totally agree with the OP and the rational ones in this thread...scary some of the ones I'm referring to as rational :P (kidding before panties, thongs, boxers etc get wadded.)

The discussion has nothing to do with obese children or adults for that matter not being able to do push ups moose. It's the implication and sexism by associating the modified push-up version to the female sex. Obviously it's more of a measurement of fitness capabilities across the board. By referring to modified (and why is this only in push ups? But thankfully so and not ALL modified moves) push-ups as "girl" ones, 2 things are done: encouraging boys/men to feel inadequate if they need to start with the modified version as well as mocking by peers, AND discouraging the realization that a woman can do just about anything a man can do...and sometimes better.

But nothing new being said here.

I actually disagree on the last point above. My view though is that we should be pushing the boys to be stronger rather than expecting the girls to be weak. And yes, obviously some women are stronger than some men, but forgetting the physical differences is a mistake. Just my opinion.

You would go talk to the teacher about this, really?
Its just what they are called, doesn't mean boys can't do girl push ups, or girls can't do real push ups. They were called girl push ups when I was at school to, and it hasn't lead to a life of me or anyone else I know of thinking that's all im allowed to do and i'm physically inferior.

No, it's not just what they're called. They're called modified push ups or knee push ups; maybe even half push ups.

You would go talk to the teacher about this, really?
Its just what they are called, doesn't mean boys can't do girl push ups, or girls can't do real push ups. They were called girl push ups when I was at school to, and it hasn't lead to a life of me or anyone else I know of thinking that's all im allowed to do and i'm physically inferior.

No, it's not just what they're called. They're called modified push ups or knee push ups; maybe even half push ups.

Well you see, actually it is what they are called. If not, this thread wouldn't even exist and googling "girl push up" wouldn't populate 168,000,000 results.