Can I be a feminist and still watch WWF wrestling?

Ah, the age old question… Okay, it isn’t ages old at all, but it is a question that I struggle with. I know. Why would I even care enough for this to be a struggle? Professional wrestling is silly, fake, violent etc. At least that is what I always thought about it. The thing that I never imagined until I sat through an episode of Raw is War one night with the lads at my place was that it is fun to watch, and is certainly no more violent than football or hockey (and as long as no-one is in a 'roid rage, rarely does anyone actually get hurt).

The parts of WWF wrestling that I enjoy - the soap opera story lines, the high-flying stunts, the cute, ripped guys and the Homoerotic subtext - are all a blast. Some of these guys are incredibly talented. I never imagined that it took skill to perform these stunts, but if you aren't really trying to injure the guy you are landing on/kicking/punching/powerbombing (yes, I am learning some of the names), you have to really know what you are doing. And some of the stunts they try are just visually amazing. I am partial to the high-flyers like Edge, and not just because he is a total hottie. I love the jumps and flips and everything but the big guns like Kane are often equally interesting to watch as they pick a 300lb man up with one hand.

The parts that I hate about WWF wrestling, the ones that lead to my present dilemma are anything involving a woman other than Chyna (or Stephanie McMahon, the daughter of the owner of the federation). They are irreconcilably awful. Stephanie and Chyna are the only even remotely positive role models for girls/women in the whole organization. Stephanie doesn't do much on the show, but she dresses like a normal woman and stood up to her overbearing brother whom was trying to control her love life. Chyna is tough and takes the guys on. She isn't a great wrestler yet, but hopefully she will get more training and stop spending so much time playing second fiddle to HHH. The rest of the women though... <shudder>

The other women involved in WWF are all tarted up and stereotypically over-sexualized. I know that the show is appealing to the lowest common denominator, but come on; you can't get any lower. I am as much of a fan of scantily clad women as the next person, but this goes much farther than trampy clothes. The female wrestlers (except Chyna, of course) simply call each other sluts then engage in hair pulling, scratching fights - often in order to tear off each other's clothes. Misogyny anyone? There is also a "pimp" wrestler who comes out with his "ho train". The crowd goes wild! Hey, kids, pimps aren't evil abusers. They can be fun! Then there's Miss Kitty, who's only role seems to be as trailer-trash eye candy. Oh, and it just so happens that she is the girlfriend of one of the (way too old for her and creepy) commentators. Hey, girls, if you are pretty and put out with creepy old men, you too can be on TV! Well, I guess she isn't the first to be a representative of this, but dating this guy is unforgivable.

And then there's Debra who deserves a whole paragraph all to herself. She is the "manager" of one of the wrestlers, which means she walks out to the ring with him (or that is all being a manager seems to mean. I could be wrong). Despite the fact that he is a total prick - among other things, he repeatedly states that men are the dominant species and that women should be subservient - and she gets really angry with him all the time, she always lets him drag her off with him after the match. I say drag because she is usually pulling away and resisting, but then enters all happy with him the next time they come on. Hey, girls, you should stay with him even though he treats you like crap! Debra gets to send not just one, but (at least) two negative messages to all the men, women, boys and girls. Her schtick involves showing off her breasts to try and distract the prick's opponent, which really makes no sense because you can see everything any time she is out there because all she wears is a short skirt, a blazer and a bra. But wait, there's more. Her breasts are referred to (and frequently) as "the puppies". I don't think I can put into words how horrified I am by this. People in the audience chant that they want "puppies". The creepy commentator goes apoplectic when she shows up. It is unimaginably awful. It is infantilizing a woman's sexual organs, which to me seems paedophilic. I cringe every time she shows up because she is doing herself and all women such a disservice by her role in the federation. Not just because she seems to have accepted that her only possible contribution is her breasts, but because she let this thing with the "puppies" continue past the first misguided reference - likely "Get a look at those puppies".

I know that professional wrestling isn't meant to stand up to deconstruction, but I really want to be able to enjoy it guilt free. Should I walk out of the room if any of the women are there? Is it enough to loudly vocalize my dismay (which I do anyway)? Should I write letters to the WWF telling them my opinions (at which they will likely laugh heartily - give up the crowd-pleasing tarts for an uptight feminist, not likely!)? Or do I have to give up my new vice in order not to be kicked out of the club? The last is likely the only true feminist option, but what if I don't wanna?