Wesley Hall - Real Women Watch Football

         I was very intrigued by the motives and differences in why women and men watch the game. According to this data men watch it because they are avid fans and love the game itself. However, apparently women watch the game because of the commercials, social factors, and the halftime show. I also thought it was interesting that women are more intrigued by the players themselves and how they want to reach them on a human level. I would like to use the women in my life and Super Bowl XLVII as a reference point.

        For example, during this last Super Bowl I thought that the commercials were funny but I did not put much of an emotional investment into particular ones. My girlfriend on the other hand, almost cried during the Budweiser Clydesdale commercial.

       As for social factors, nobody wants to be out of the loop. I have a theory that women watch the Super Bowl in order to create a bond with their family or significant other. For example, before we met, my girlfriend had little to no interest in sports but since I love them she wants to watch and follow them so that we can share a common desire and interest. Also, Super Bowls are synonymous with Super Bowl parties and in my opinion women enjoy getting the whole group of friends or family together more than men. I personally would watch the Super Bowl alone if I had to. I couldn't care less who watches it with me as long as I get to watch it.

      When it comes to halftime shows, I enjoy them but I also feel that they are not absolutely necessary. Don't get me wrong, I loved watching Beyonce up on stage shaking her hips and singing her heart out. However, I did not feel as strongly towards it as the female members of my family did. They absolutely loved her performance and for a few of them it was the highlight of their night.

      As we were watching the game, I was more interested in Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers read-option pistol offense than who he is as a person. I didn't care to know that he has a humongous pet turtle or that he recently met John Legend but now I know these things because after the game my girlfriend started following him on Twitter. This coincides with the evidence found that women care more about the athletes as human beings and want to reach them on this level and find out who they are.

      I would also like to add that Victoria's Secret has a line of NFL apparel for women. My girlfriend bought herself an Atlanta Falcons shirt from there a few weeks ago (that's my girl, Rise Up!). All in all, this was a really interesting article and for me it really hit close to home.