When ‘Watch Out for Women’ Becomes Manbox Training
I don’t think I’m breaking news here when I say:
A) This is the common perception of all professional male sports leagues — the “look at the b**ches they get” storyline.
B) For many young men, this is a common goal in chasing their sports dream — the manbox-fed belief that the reward for achievement is access to women’s bodies.
But what’s more alarming isn’t whether this stereotype is statistically accurate — it’s that so many in a male athlete’s ecosystem treat it as the norm. And even when we think we’re protecting our guys by saying “watch out,” we’re reinforcing a worldview that dehumanizes women.
Think about it — if I’m always saying, “Don’t put the pu**y on a pedestal” or “These h**s be plotting” — I’m teaching young men that:
Sex is a conquest without connection
Women are always “down for it” (erasing the concept of consent)
It’s a game to be won, not a relationship to be respected
Yes, there are people who seek to capitalize on athletes for financial gain. But if that’s the concern, then the advice isn’t to demonize all women — it’s to tell our guys:
Don’t look for intimacy on Instagram
Know yourself well enough to define what you want in a partner
Respect your body — don’t view it as something to give to anyone, anytime
When we treat fantasies as facts and inevitable truths, we strip players of agency in their decision-making. And if you need proof of how deep this narrative runs, just read the comments under that post — coaches, parents, and fans all chiming in like it’s gospel truth.
Coach Prompt:
How do you talk to your players about relationships and attraction without resorting to stereotypes or scare tactics about women? What’s a healthier framework you could use instead?
Player Prompt:
Think about your own goals beyond the game. What qualities would you want in a partner that have nothing to do with appearance or social media clout?
