'Stupid Questions in Women's Hockey' Video Launches Convo on Inequality in Sports

It all started off with a creative writing project requiring students to group up and create a 'viral video.' Kirsten Toth, a member of the UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team, suggested they film something around the T-Birds because the more people in the video, the more it would get shared.

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

After tossing a few ideas back and forth, Toth wondered...what about a video where the teammates shared the dumbest questions they've ever been asked as a female hockey player?

saint_hutch / Via instagram.com

Only hours after the video went live, the team was contacted by CBC Vancouver to come in and talk about why they made the video, and what they hope to achieve now that a conversation about sports & gender inequality.

CBC Vancouver / Via cbc.ca

The broadcast sparked an article on CBC Vancouver's website, featuring Toth and her fellow teammates (and video stars) Stephanie Schaupmeyer and Cailey Hay. "We make light of it in this video, but gender stereotypes in sports and not just hockey is a huge thing, and it's serious," Schaupmeyer remarked in the article. "There's not a lot of televised female athletic events," Hay pointed out.

Kirsten Toth / Via Twitter: @globalbc

Where next for the team? It looks like Global BC is interested in setting up a piece. But what originally began as a simple school project has people talking on Reddit, tumblr, and even around the family dining table after the CBC interview. People are connecting to the video not just because it's charming and real—but because it's a social issue that crosses over all women in sports.