PROFILE: REBECCA HLAWNCHING

By PHONG HUYNH | APRIL 13, 2018 | PROFILE

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) —  The expectations of masculinity and brute strength involved in wrestling tend to be exclusively associated with male players; however, the membership of Rebecca Hlawnching, the only female member of Stanton College Preparatory School’s wrestling team, departs from this social-sports norm. As the only female surrounded by male players of the team, she has experienced a unique circumstance because of her gender difference and her participation in a male-dominated sport.

“It’s not really expected that a girl should be fighting or stronger than a guy. It is already kind of predisposed that ‘oh the girl is weaker, she is gonna lose,’” said Rebecca Hlawnching. “By me wrestling, it’s going against that — yeah I’m weaker but I can become stronger and smarter.”

Female participation in wrestling has gradually risen over the past few years. According to the Florida High School Athletic Association, there was a rise of 14,587 female participants last year from 2,474 in 2000. This increase in sports female involvement indicates a shift in the social acceptance of equal gender abilities that people have come to agree upon in modern society.

However, over the years Hlawnching has noticed certain disparities between her and her male counterparts. These differences reveal a lingering mindset in the male dominated sport.

“Some of them [male players] are very fair and they treat me pretty equally, but there are some who go a bit easier on me,” said Hlawnching. “[I also noticed] whenever a girl wrestles at a tournament, everyone claps for her if she wins.”

Since the beginning of the wrestling season, Hlawnching has chose to remain on the team in spite of the absence of other female players. She is adamant about staying on the team, firmly asserting that her gender among a male team does not persuade her to quit. When she steps on the mat, for her, gender is no longer a factor.

‘I’m a girl, I get beat up all the time — l don’t see why I have to go easy,” said Hlawnching.

The male members of the team accept Hlwanching as an equally important member of the team in spite of her gender. In their perspective, her presence as the only female on the team is unique but not out of the normal. They treat and respect Hlawnching not for her gender but as another valuable, capable team player.