Soccer mom

In North American social, cultural and political discourse, soccer mom (and less used soccer dad for the male equivalent) refers broadly to a demographic group of middle- or upper-middle class women with school-age children.

Defining the soccer mom

The term has been traced to Ludlow, Massachusetts, where a report came out that a man absconded with $3,150 raised for the benefit of a local soccer league. It is unclear weather a newspaper story or a television news report was the 1st to use the term. ^[1]

• It came into widespread use in the 1990s, notably during the 1992 and 1996 presidential campaigns and has been in use ever since.

Literally, soccer moms drive their children to play soccer.

The term has found a life as shorthand for a stereotype, or set of stereotypes, far beyond its literal meaning.

Most widely, perhaps, they are associated with driving Volvos, minivans, or SUVs.

• In the US sitcom "The New Adventures of Old Christine" Christine ends up using a loaner SUV -- and more or less meets all the soccer mom criteria during some of the episode.
• US sitcoms have been using the stereotype off and on (either as a direct cultural reference or as a visual) since 1996.
• In Canada, no such thing has happened with the Hockey Mom concept, although the Royal Canadian Air Farce comedy show may have used the domestic stereotype since going to TV in 1991.

In Canada

Usage in Canada is broadly similar to usage in the United States, but it is taken more literally, having much to do with active, busy parenting and generally having less to do with race, little if anything to do with religion, little to do with political affiliation except for a small tendency to moderation, and with very little correlation to social conservatism. Middle class status, a skew towards minivan or SUV ownership, and to a lesser extent university or college education and suburban or exurban residence are associated with the term. Much of the meaning underlying "soccer mom" has also transferred to the term "hockey mom". Poor or reckless driving skills have also become associated with the label.

In Australia

The phrase "soccer mum" has recently started to be used in Australia in the context of Australian national politics. In May 2007 the conservative Liberal Party government announced that families will receive up to $8000 per child in a one-off election-year bonus to reduce the cost of childcare. It was reported that the payments were aimed at the group known politically as "the soccer mums".^[2]

In popular culture

• "Soccer Moms," a poem by Paul Muldoon, was originally published in The New Yorker, and it appears in Horse Latitudes (2006).

• Volvo Driving Soccer Mom By Everclear is a humorous take on soccer moms and how they were out of control teens.

• In the book and film Little Children the character of Mary Ann is portayed as the typical soccer mom.

Footnotes

1. ^ "Soccer Mom Nonsense". slate.com. Retrieved June 19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
2. ^ "Childcare cash splash to mums". news.com.au. Retrieved June 19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

See also

• Security mom
• NASCAR dad
• South Park Republicans
• "Volvo Driving Soccer Mom" (song)
• "Kicking & Screaming"
• Stage mother
• Marge Simpson
• Peggy Hill

External links

• "SoccerMom Camp: Community Building Events and Helping Fight Breast Cancer