PETITION: To remove the label of “Lady” before the team name, “Wolves” at Desert Mountain High School.

To whom it may concern,

At the most basic level of our team spirit: we are the Wolves. The separation of teams by gender is an acceptable and adequate moniker to differentiate athletes’ accomplishments. Since the gender of sports is already apparent e.g. girls’ soccer, boys’ basketball, girls’ golf, boys’ tennis, etc. It would be redundant to clarify gender again.

There is no issues with the distinguishment between “girls” and “boys” sports teams. The issue is that the term “Lady” eliminates the unifying element that should be implied by “Wolves”.

One thing society may fail to recognize, is the social dynamic created by the distinction between gendered teams. Most female athletes can recall a time at which the label “Lady Wolves” has been mocked. Not to mention the countless times they have been told that they are secondary to their male counterparts. To many, “Lady” is used to recognize the accomplishments of female athletes. We know we are females and we know that we are athletes. Therefore, we understand that we are female athletes and do not need separate recognition at the “Wolves” level.

The removal of the label is not so that we feel better about ourselves, but would be a powerful and symbolic statement that the school views all of its athletes as equal, able-bodied competitors regardless of gender.

We are one school; we are one student body; we are one team; we are all Wolves.

Sincerely,

Desert Mountain Students