Powder Puff

Powder Puff is a reference to the division of an otherwise male dominated sport reserved for females regardless of the age of the participants.

Powder puff football games are an annual tradition at many high schools and universities in the United States and Canada. The game usually puts girls from the junior class against girls in the senior class or cross-town school rivals in a flag football or touch football contest. Boys from the classes, usually athletes, will dress in drag and be the cheerleaders. Funds from the ticket and concession sales for the game typically go to charity or to a dance afterwards.

The term originates from the powder puff used in cosmetics for powdering. Typical female behavior at the time the term originated included repeatedly taking out a powder puff and a small mirror to powder themselves in public.

Many schools will create T-Shirts or dresses that will be worn at different times in the school year.

Powderpuff games usually occur before Homecoming.

Name Controversy

Some female participants of a sport deem the term "powder puff" as derogatory since the name connoted frivolity of the division, that it is at best an auxiliary and should not be taken seriously. Actually, the term is prodigiously sexist and degrading and should be effaced. Our patriarchical society neglects the obvious sexism that is inherent in our culture, that is blatantly displayed in nomenclature such as this, and eschews those who righteously recognize it. It is completely counteractive and anti-feminist to refer to women's events as "Powder Puff" and anyone with the slightest inkling of moral conviction can see that. In Bicycle Motocross (BMX) the term powder puff referred to the female class of racers up until approximately 1982 when pressure from the girls class influenced the sport's sanctioning bodies to drop the term. As this quote from one of the sport's leading magazine illustrates:

"...We don't say "powderpuff" anymore because it has male Chauvinist pig connotations. And we sure don't want to get all them moon babes mad at us." ["Bicycle Motocross Action" September 1981 Vol. No.9 pg.85 (photo caption)] ----"Bicycle Motocross Action" September 1981.

How mad some of them can get is exemplified by the statement of Kathy Schachel, a top 15 year old racer at the time a few months later:

"The Teaneck girl doesn't think much of the name of her class, "15 and Over "Powder Puff". It's sexist! I don't like it!' she said-but she won it both Saturday and Sunday just the same.""BMX Plus!" April 1982 Vol.5 No.4 pg.82] ---"BMX Plus"! April 1982

However, this view was not universal with the female class of racers:

"Jenny Zeuner didn't mind the name Powder Puff--'I like it,' she declared, 'cause it's neat--it's been around a long time.' She took both wins in the 13-14 division of the class as if to back up her point." ---"BMX Plus"! April 1982

Cultural References

The "powder puff" concept was used in a 2007 episode of the TV series "King of the Hill" (season 12, episode 3).

End Notes

ee also

*Sadie Hawkins dance, an annual high school dance in which the girls ask the guys for dates