Religious School Bans Female Referee from Officiating Boys' Game

Posted by Melissa McEwan, Shakesville at 6:03 AM on February 19, 2008.

This would be unbelievable if it weren't just so gosh darn believable:

Kansas activities officials are investigating a religious school's refusal to let a female referee call a boys' high school basketball game.

The Kansas State High School Activities Association said referees reported that Michelle Campbell was preparing to officiate at St. Mary's Academy near Topeka on Feb. 2 when a school official insisted that Campbell could not call the game.

The reason given, according to the referees: Campbell, as a woman, could not be put in a position of authority over boys because of the academy's beliefs.

Which are basically that women are second-class citizens who must defer always to the menfolk. Thoroughly modern, Millie.

In good news, her fellow referees are standing by her.

Fred Shockey, who was getting ready to leave the gym after officiating two junior high games, said he was told there had been an emergency and was asked to stay and officiate two more games.

"When I found out what the emergency was, I said there was no way I was going to work those games," said Shockey, who spent 12 years in the Army and became a ref about three years ago. "I have been led by some of the finest women this nation has to offer, and there was no way I was going to go along with that."

Right on.

[Thanks to Shaker KarateMonkey for passing that along.]

Tagged as: gender, religion, sexism, sports

Melissa McEwan writes and edits the blog Shakespeare's Sister.