What’s a soccer mom? How did it make it into the political lexicon

[Room101]

I here the term Soccer mom flying out the mouths of political pundits and politicians themselves. Where did this term come from? Who and where are these so-called Soccer moms? Are they swing voters or do they just swing? Do they meet secretly with Nascar dads and belittle each others meaningless sports until a fever pitch is reached followed by passionate heavy petting?

[proud patriot]

1. I think it all started with the TUNA boycott

The moms who buy the Tuna stopped until
the tuna could be Dolphin safe .

[Fixated]

2. .....

Your everyday at home mothers who care about their families. They drive their kids to soccer practice...get it?

[OneTwentyoNine]

3. I think car makers coined it.....

Might have come about when Chrysler had huge success with the mini-van which goes back years and years. Instead of mom hauling the kids in the old station wagon(where the hell did that name come from?) she now hauls them to soccer and other sports in a mini-van.

The political boys just latched onto it trying to sway votes...


David

[spindoctor]

4. Here are some "definitions"

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=soccer+mom

http://www.americandialect.org/excite/collections/adsl/003951.shtml

and this one I like the best

http://slate.msn.com/id/2255/

[StClone]

5. The first "Dictionary"

Linked was rather anti-white, anti-female, anti-mom. I never thought of Soccer Moms as a bad thing but apparently women are supposed to shut up and slave for their husbands and kids.

[bushisanidiot]

6. A Lot Of People Hate "Soccer Moms" like it's a radical group of women or

something. I don't get it. So, moms take their kids to soccer games/practice. Big deal. Why weren't they called baseball moms, basketball moms, football moms? Is it all due to the success of girls/womens soccer? are women becoming too involved in sports?

i have 1 girl and 1 boy and i am a HUGE sports fan. unfortunately, my kids don't care for sports so i never got to go to their games, etc. my daughter is in the school choir, so i guess i'm a choir mom! heh.. my son is in the computer club, so maybe i'm a compter club mom! hehe!!

i have no idea where the hatred towards "soccer moms" comes from. no idea. (no sarcasm intended)

[bobbieinok]

7. Hated??

Maybe because this was a group that liked Clinton's ideas and goals over those of BushI and Dole.

Clearly a radical group.

[Bombtrack]

8. It has nothing to do with soccer, everyone here misuses it

it's one of the most important things you'll learn in modern polisci when it comes to most big elections, particularly national.

Soccer moms and soccer dads are: white, suburban, college educated, middle class, married people(usually parents), between the ages of about 30 - 55, who regard themselves as independants.

They are the most important group in national elections and who decide them.

[realFedUp]

9. It's a misused generic term

used to describe stay at home mom types who
carpool their kids to atheletic practices
and games.

[Bombtrack]

10. you just misused it yourself

see my post above