The Unlikely, Once Marginalized Custodians of a Rivalry Most Fierce
HAL PHILLIPS Author |“ Sibling Rivalry”
The following is an excerpt from the latest book by Hal Phillips about the Mexico-USA soccer rivalry.
The North American Derby does fascinating things to the footballing attachments of young Latinas. Meet Alexandra, whom Professor Erick Calderon interviewed in May of 2024. The date is relevant. Two months earlier, El Tri Femenil had shocked the four-time-world-champion Americans in a group-stage match at the CONCACAF W Gold Cup.
Calderon asked Alexandra whether, as a Mexican American, she experienced any feelings of conflict when these two national teams squared off.
“ Yes. I have it every time,” she replied.“ Where it’ s like,‘ Oh, I’ m supporting the U. S.,’ but internally I feel like I should be supporting Mexico and knowing more about the Mexico team. And for some reason, I just haven’ t done it.”
Upon reading this quote, a startling collection of what I shall term“ demographic truths” crystallizes for us in the world of North American women’ s soccer.
According to Calderon, an ethnic studies professor at Shasta College, young Latinas have“ relied on the USWNT for years now as an identity figure … a peculiar one because it does not stop at ethnicity. The USWNT plays a bigger role socially in the United States as they have contributed to the advancement of women’ s sports nationally, have fought for equitable fair pay and are routinely activist for LGBTQ + rights. Supporting women’ s national teams is not just a way of manifesting national pride, but a way of supporting feminism. It is because of this that Mexican-American women find themselves caught in a struggle with identity when they face the Mexican women’ s national team.”
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