Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 'Women's Movement' Gets Swift Backlash

On Thursday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rolled out a new program aimed at recognizing their female fanbase.

The RED movement is evidently the Bucs’ attempt to educate their female fans on the basic aspects of the sport, among other things.

Here’s a description of the program from the team’s official website:

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RED will provide female Buccaneers fans with year-round educational experiences focused on providing a better understanding of the game, along with unprecedented access to their favorite team. In addition, RED will re-invent the female fan experience by providing insight into topics such as: what goes on behind the scenes on gamedays at Raymond James Stadium; how to maximize their gameday experience; how to blend personal Buccaneer pride with the latest NFL fashions; as well as tips on sharing their experiences and ideas via social media platforms such as Pinterest.

RED members will also have access to exclusive networking events throughout the year designed to encourage interaction while providing practical advice on how to express their love for the Bucs into original design projects, fashion-forward team apparel and creative culinary creations.

"

Though a well-intentioned idea to engage a fast-growing demographic of NFL fans, the reaction to the RED movement has been...um…not great:

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@mikefreemanNFL I was fine until "game day fashion" & "culinary tips" were mentioned. Translation: look hot & make your man a sandwich.

— Trenni Kusnierek (@trenni) August 6, 2015"

Not everyone is upset about the program, however:

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just because Bucs do a women's thing doesn't mean all women have to go. i'm sure there are women who would benefit.

— rachel. (@hymnforrachel) August 6, 2015"

I understand what the Bucs were trying to accomplish with this “movement,” but it looks like it was a huge swing-and-miss.

It would have made more sense to do something different to recognize and celebrate their female fans while offering a similar “Football 101”-type program to beginner fans across the board, regardless of gender.

Instead, the program has been received by many as sexist and insulting to the demographic it was trying to reach. It’ll be interesting to see how the team’s public relations department responds to the scrutiny and if there will be any changes made to the program based on the public reaction.

Luke Easterling is a Featured Columnist covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and NFL Draft for Bleacher Report. He is also a Senior NFL Draft Analyst for Draft Breakdown. Follow him on Twitter @LukeEasterling.