‘Women are paying for it’: Woman says clear bag policy at sports stadiums is sexist. Why aren’t more people talking about it?
There’s a reason “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is one of the most iconic American songs. Attending a professional sporting event is a one-of-a-kind experience.
As thrilling as it can be, the stadium experience does have its drawbacks: long lines, high prices, rude people, and of course, the possibility of losing.
Getting through security is one of the more annoying aspects. It’s arguably even worse than going to the airport. At least TSA doesn’t require you to put all your things in a clear bag like stadiums do. Nothing says high fashion like cheap plastic, right?
One woman says that the clear bag policy isn’t just inconvenient, it’s sexist.
Gigi (@gigio1373) says this rule is an example of “women paying for men’s mistakes.”
In a TikTok that has over 600,000 views and nearly 2,000 comments, Gigi says women don’t have a problem with bringing prohibited items into stadiums—men do.
“Women don’t have a problem with guns. Women don’t have a problem with safety. That’s men. Men have that issue,” she says, clearly incensed by the injustice.
“But we’re paying for it.”
Gigi says women always pay for men’s “mediocrity,” “lack of emotional intelligence,” and “lack of just being good … people.”
“It’s just insane to me and obviously I shouldn’t have to say this. As a whole men have this problem, right? So if you’re a [expletive] man watching this, shut the [expletive] up already,” she concludes.
The dawn of the clear bag policy
Not so many years ago, you could take an average-sized purse or bag into a stadium. It was subject to security, such as metal detectors and being searched, but at least your wallet, phone, and menstrual supplies weren’t on display for the world to see.
Then, in 2013, the National Football League implemented a mandatory clear bag policy.
The NFL’s current policy states that you can bring a clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″. If you don’t own one or simply don’t want to buy one, you can also carry your things in a gallon-sized plastic freezer bag.
Some stadiums do still allow you to bring in a clutch-sized (read: tiny) purse. These hardly fit anything other than a phone, ID, and some cash, so many women begrudgingly resign themselves to the clear bag.
Unfortunately for the anti-clear bag crowd, the NFL started a trend. Now, collegiate sports venues typically have clear bag policies. Concerts and other large events often do too.
This is supposed to make us safer and expedite security. In Gigi’s mind, it’s simply penalizing the wrong group of people. It’s as easy to carry a knife or a gun in a pocket as a purse, and if both go through a metal detector and are subject to being searched, what’s the point of the clear bag policy—other than inconveniencing women?
The pink tax
Charging more for goods and services that are marketed to women is known as the “pink tax.”
The pink tax is so pervasive that in 2016, the Senate published a report about it. Its key takeaway is that it exacerbates the gender pay gap and hurts women’s buying power.
“Manufacturers and retailers may claim that the price difference is due to higher costs for producing women’s products or providing services for women, but there is a great deal of evidence that there are significant price differences for practically identical products,” the report states. “In some cases, the only difference is the color.”
The clear bag policy can’t technically be called a pink tax, as anyone can opt not to carry a bag and the bags cost the same no matter your gender. But it is similar in that women are far more likely to carry one than men, meaning they have to buy one, because almost nobody just has a clear plastic purse lying around.
Lighting a pyre
Gigi’s post solicited a furious response from women.
One woman clarified that women aren’t simply paying for “men’s MISTAKES,” they’re paying for “men’s CHOICES.”
Another said she’d “rather have a no man policy than a clear bag policy.”
“It would almost guarantee everyone’s safety,” she added.
Others pointed out that certain items of clothing, such as cargo pants, coats, and suits, fit more items than a clear bag.
A few offered workarounds, such as putting an empty purse or clutch in your pocket or even inside a clear bag when you go through security. After you clear security, transfer your items into the purse or clutch.
From the comments, one thing is as clear as those bags: women hate them.
As one woman quipped, “Our entire existence is paying for men’s mistakes.”
@gigio1373 #fyp #stadium #clearbag ♬ original sound – Gigi
Gigi didn’t respond to an inquiry posted in a TikTok comment. Her account doesn’t accept messages from people she doesn’t follow.
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