Football is all very well as a game for rough girls, but is hardly suitable for delicate boys

Football is all very well as a game for rough girls, but is hardly suitable for delicate boys

Oscar Wilde, the renowned Irish playwright and author, was known for his wit, humor, and unconventional views on society. In the late 19th century, when Wilde was at the height of his fame, traditional gender roles and expectations were deeply ingrained in society. Men were expected to be strong, stoic, and masculine, while women were expected to be delicate, nurturing, and submissive. These rigid gender norms permeated all aspects of life, including sports.

In Wilde's time, football was considered a rough and physical game, more suited to the strength and aggression of boys than the delicacy and refinement of girls. The idea that football was a game for "rough girls" but hardly suitable for "delicate boys" would have been seen as a humorous inversion of traditional gender roles by Wilde. He was known for his subversive and satirical take on societal norms, and this statement would have been in line with his playful and provocative style.

Wilde himself was a man who defied conventional gender expectations in many ways. He was known for his flamboyant style of dress, his love of art and beauty, and his rejection of traditional notions of masculinity. In his personal life, Wilde had relationships with both men and women, challenging the heteronormative standards of his time. He was a trailblazer in the fight for LGBTQ rights and gender equality, and his views on gender and sexuality were far ahead of his time.