Written by Indiana fresh meat (Erin Whisler) & her group for a college project. We posted that she needed help with answering questions & the VR came through to help produce this piece o' work! All you geeks can get all excited now!
It was also presented with a badass PowerPoint. 20 something pages long. VR ON THE MAP!!

Erin can be reached at erinloveszombies@gmail.com.


----------------------------------------------
Group 4: Williams, Morrison, Sterrett,
Sakas, Whisler, Ross, Wittmer
December 11, 2008

Queer Roller Derby: Blurring Gendered Binaries and Creating an Interzone

Roller Derby, an American contact sport, was created for both men and women in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Over time, it has come to be affiliated primarily with a new wave of feminism in sports, and more recently has become a venue for queer women to build an underground community amongst themselves. Queer roller derby group The Vagine Regime (Vah-jeen) claims dynamically that they aim to "build an international community of queer derby girls" and that "through a commitment to inclusive solidarity [they] hope to create networking opportunities, cultivate acceptance, and foster derby girl love matches." Through fostering an underground community amongst queer women and bringing queer into the mainstream roller derby community. It also allows for a blurring of the binary of masculine and feminine ideals. Queer roller derby challenges the common sense notion of masculinity while acting as an interzone, giving lesbian athletes a place free from traditional gender roles and societal norms. "Gender is a situated accomplishment, not merely an individual attribute but something accomplished in interaction to others"(Fausto-Sterling:243)
In roller derby, the women take on the appearance of extreme femininity while at the same time exhibiting traditionally masculine behaviors, queering common sense notions of a binary system between masculine and feminine. Derby girl uniforms reflect traditional femininity through miniskirts, fishnet tights, and bright make-up. The bodies of contemporary queer roller derby women, however, often display more traditionally masculine characteristics. They sometimes exhibit tattoos, muscles, and athleticism for example. In addition, the women on the track are aggressive and strong. The body of the roller derby woman is a physical manifestation of a rebellion against gender assignments based on bodies.
The blurring of gendered assignments in queer roller derby is important theoretically because of the idea that gender roles and hierarchies create privilege and power for men. According to Judith Halberstam, these gender norms ultimately attach unearned power and privilege to being male. As for the past constructions of gender roles, she claims that "…models of manliness in the late nineteenth century were central to the consolidation of white middle-class power and that the middle-class masculine ideal depended on concepts such as self-restraint and independence" (Halberstam 49). Though this addresses the past, the same masculine ideals have passed from the nineteenth century and the hierarchies of masculinity and power are still intact in the present day, making the idea of a space of existence that distorts the very gendered conceptions that create these hierarchies important for women, queer and non-queer.
Through the venue of queer roller derby, the lines between gender and sexual binaries are deconstructed and therefore, undermine the very basis upon which the patriarchal heteronormativity of the United States rests: that masculinity is intrinsically male. In the heteronormative United States of America, gendered binaries rely heavily upon societal norms and patriarchy. Heteronormativity ascribes power and privilege to heterosexuality and maleness in various domains of social life. In addition, all deviations from male heterosexuality are marginalized, persecuted, and stigmatized. Heteronormativity relies on legible, unified, and stable gender and sexual categories and relations that are placed in binary opposition to each other such as male vs. female, man vs. woman, heterosexual vs. homosexual, masculinity vs. femininity, etc. Traditional understandings of gender ascribe masculinity to maleness. According to Judith Halberstam, however, masculinity is not at all a quality of being biologically male. Instead, Halberstam claims that masculinity is actually a concept formed through history and culture and ultimately made into the norm for male bodies. Queer roller derby confirms Halberstam's assertions that masculinity is not fundamentally tied to male bodies in that the bodies of the derby girls are neither feminine nor masculine, but rather combine elements of the two and rest in a larger in-between space.
Not only does the roller derby challenge and redefine traditional conceptions of what is "masculine" and what is "feminine", but it also functions as an interzone, an in-between space where women can negotiate and subvert traditional social and cultural practices. According to Mumford, the in-between can be described as an interstitial space of identities, politics, and cultural domain, a productive location where cultural practices allow for liberation (Mumford 20). "Roller derby's re-emergence and swift rise in popularity comes as a reaction to the monotony and homogeneity of our culture," (Cisar). The recent surge in popularity with the roller derby arose as a part of the 90's Third Wave Feminist movement, "as a backlash against the hippie-era feminism and focused on sex positivity and self-empowerment," (Cisar). In roller derby women can express both their very "feminine" natures as well as their very "masculine" natures. Roller derby is an extremely aggressive sport, and one of the few contact sports available to women. It is a space where women can display aggression typically associated with male sports. Matches can become quite violent, and it is not uncommon for fights to arise. For instance, game commentary can sound something like this, "She drops her elbow on the girl in front of her - they both go down...the jabs start connecting, a dog pile of women in roller skates builds high... I see a broken nose. I see audience members receiving damage by rouge skaters flying out of the ring...elbow drops, punches to the ass. Yeah, that's right: punches to the ass. I see a woman's skate connect to the head of her arch-rival. Oooo, that hurt! I see blood...." (Wells).
This aggression is not just limited to the physical, however. The roller derby is also a place where women demonstrate a sexual aggression that defies the heteronormative, culturally accepted view of female sexuality. In heteronormative, patriarchal cultures, women are quiet, domestic and submissive-sexual conquests rather than the sexual conquerors. Roller derby girls flaunt their bodies in bright, bold and risqué outfits typically consisting of revealing hot pants or mini-skirts and cleavage-bearing tops. Roller derby matches often contain half-time entertainment, where it is not uncommon for women to dance in a sexually provocative and promiscuous manner. In a video discovered on YouTube, the half-time entertainment consisted of women in red bras and black, cheek-bearing mini-skirts dancing with each other in ways that simulated various lesbian sex practices in a very exciting, fun and erotic way (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01-gBJoz49Y).
However, while roller derby is a space where all women can exert both a physical and sexual aggression most often ascribed to masculinity, it is in those very things that women also celebrate their femininity. In an article that appeared in the New York Times, the Associated Press asserted that the goal of the roller derby is, "to create an edgy kind of sisterhood, something like a light hearted fight club on wheels." (Associated Press 2006). Though roller derby girls exhibit a masculinity of sorts, they are in no way trying to escape or hide their femininity, but rather, embrace it. Roller derby is not a place where women try to act like men, or the stereotypical "butch" lesbian, but a place where femininity is redefined, where women can be aggressive, sexual and athletic while still wearing a skirt and in full make-up.
Contrary to mainstream female sports throughout history, women in derby leave no room for apologies, for their empowerment made through their competitive and athletic skill is clearly evident. "Basketball and soccer players face pressure to look sexually attractive in spite of their athleticism rather than because of it" (Stites: 1). Currently and in the past, contact sports like soccer, basketball, and softball have had many associations with having lesbian players, while also always trying to hide any and all gay identities. "The media has made sure to reveal popular female athletes as having "feminine hobbies like cooking and sewing, mention current boyfriends, and to discuss future marriage plans" (Cahn: 354). In fear of losing any homophobic fans or sponsors, lesbians in sport have been made private. Moreover, many still assume the "butch" or "mannish" stereotype that is attached with females in sports which leaves little room to be both feminine and aggressive. However, queer roller derby is transforming what it is to be a tough, athletic woman while also owning up to their redefined sexuality. Queer roller derby finally allows for the visibility of lesbians and queers in sport to exist because the women are actively claiming who they are, and are not in any way ashamed of it.
"Tattooed girls with tree-trunk thighs fly around a dangerously sloped track, shoving each other out of the way, and spills are frequent and brutal"(Stites: 46). The audience can clearly witness very competitive women who live to participate in this exhilarating sport. Both men and women come to see the player's sex appeal, but it is also very refreshing to see women being stronger and more powerful than ever. "The players' motions are fluid, and they seem to be able to do anything four wheels will allow-zigzag, skate backward, vault fallen bodies, and strut their stuff for the appreciative crowd" (Stites: 46). They are extremely forceful with one another, and it is the only female sport that allows for this much self expression and dominance.
The reason we consider The Vagine Regime Roller Derby to be outwardly queer is because it goes against all socially constructed ideals that have tried to define what is considered "normal" or heterosexual. These women all share varying levels of female masculinity because they do not adhere to qualities that have been correlated with female bodies and behaviors. "An obviously athletic female body, because it makes visible a willful rejection of feminine inactivity, seems immediately to be associated with lesbianism" (Halberstam: 58). They contribute to non-normative acts of aggression towards one another, while physically dominating without mercy. This subculture is inclusive to women of all sexualities, but they are all queer in theory, because of their non-heteronormative stance. The refs are usually men or transgendered men who wear skirts, and join in on the freedom of identifying as being queer. "I think one of the most amazing things about Derby is how it completely shakes up gender norms and throws them out for the public to view in a very acceptable and easily consumable way" (Roxy Shox). Only nonheirarchal, multidisciplinary teams can devise more complete or less false knowledge about human sexuality. 255
The same- sex relationships they share between the women are also considered queer because they often become more than friends, and embark on having long lasting kinships. Some may develop sexual attractions for one another, which can lead to serious affairs, but many, gay or straight, have innocent crushes. There is also the popular practice of forming "derby wives" in which the two women linked together are supposed to support and really commit to each other. "Kasey Bomber, who's credited with inventing the ritual, describes the relationship as a mix of having a best friend and an office buddy- the person to whom you vent about your derby day"(Stites: 48) Players sometimes even get formally engaged and go through an elaborate, staged wedding where they give vows to love and protect one another. These are not sexual "marriages" in the traditional sense of marriage, but the relationships between "derby wives" are plutonic. It is your best friend, someone who you admire for their skating ability, someone who you look up to, and yells at you to go to practice when you don't want to. Lola La Chola from Smog City Roller Grrls says this in an interview, "Your best friend and partner in crime is what a derby wife is" (Oz).
Dearly Beloved, Ladies and Broads, I take you to be my derby wife.... I vow to always take pictures up your skirt at after-parties. And to hold your hair back when you puke on the sidewalk. I will always be your first phone call from jail, even if I was the one who got you there in the first place. I promise to be your biggest fan ... unless we face off in a bout. Then I promise to hit you harder than anyone else on the team, because I'd never insult you by going easy.
"Roller derby lets women celebrate their physical power in a sport that isn't primarily played by men. Although, there are men's roller derby leagues, it is not as popular and does not draw the same attention as women roller derby. It shows women transcending the stereotype that rough means butch and femme means dainty, and opens up the question of exactly what determines how we judge and perceive gender identities" (O'Leary: 2). This is significant because every other contact sport is seen to be far more popular for males to play, but roller derby does not need to compete with patriarchy. The majority of the leagues are ran my women, so it is lets them have more independence to really establish it as a female sport. Queer roller derby will hopefully continue to grow and become an arena for women to reclaim their femininity in ways that will help others reshape their notions of what a real woman is supposed to represent. Being exposed to these women will drift people away from the "common sense and scientific constructions of 'normal' sexuality of repressive religious and traditional beliefs about gender roles"(O'Connell Davidson:3).

Timeline
Rolling away from the history of the sport, it came up through grass roots organizations in cities through the United States and the world.
2001-Bad Girl Good Woman Productions (BGGW) was formed, creating a new generation of roller derby, open to women only
Summer 2002-The Founders formed four teams, and staged their first public match in Austin, Texas
Late 2005-the revival then began in earnest, with over 50 similar all-female leagues in existence
2005-leagues across the US formed Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) to govern the sport
January 2006-The first all-female Canadian league of fifty members, the Terminal City Rollergirls was formed
February 2006- More than 80 leagues created
Mid-August 2006-more than 135 leagues created
In February 2006-the first national tournaments were held
January 18 2008 The Vagine Regime MySpace page launched: 200 members in a week
June 2008 Rollercon (Roller Derby Convention annually held in Las Vegas)-Vagine Regime "coming out", sponsored events and scrimmages
In 2008 the held the third nationals tournament Vagine Regime sponsors Pant's off Dance Party for Nationals
Currently there are an estimated 600 members or supporters of VR.



Work Cited
Ann Fausto-Sterling: Toward a Theory of Human Sexuality.Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality. New York: Basic Books, 2000. 233-255
Cahn, K. Susan "From the "Muscle Moll" to the "Butch" Ballplayer: Mannishness, Lesbianism, and Homophobia in U.S. Women's Sport" Feminist Studies, Vol. 19, No. 2, Women's Bodies and the State. (Summer, 1993), pp. 343-368.
Cisar, Katjusa. "Women on wheels: Roller derby grows up." 77 Square. May 2008.
http://77square.com/sweat/story_284798.

Judith Halberstam, Perverse Presentism: The Androgyne. The Tribade, the Female Husband, and other Pre-Twentieth Century Genders. Female Masculinities. Durham: Duke University Press 1998.
Kevin J. Mumford interzones: black and white sex districts in Chicago and New York in the early twentieth century, New York: Columbia University Press, 1997
O'Leary , Brietta. Sisterhhod on Skates, The Winnipeg Roller Derby Prepares for action. http://www.outwords.ca/content/roller.html
The Associated Press. "Elbows Body Checking and No, It's Not Hocky." The New York
Times. September 10 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/10/othersports/10rollerderby.html?_r=3&oref=slogin
The Vagine Regime. Interviews 2008
The Advocate: Jessica Stites. Article: Derby Dykes. Issue 1010 July 2008
Julia O'Connell Davidson and Derek Layder, "Social Research and Everyday Life" in Methods, Sex and Madness. New York: Routledge, 1994. 1-28
Wells, Steven. "Roller Derby gets a good punking". Guardian.co.uk. May 23 2005.
http://www.gaurdian.co.uk/sport2005/may/23ussport.stevenwells.