Soccer mom

A soccer mom is typically an American, Canadian, or Australian middle-class, suburban woman who spends a significant amount of her time transporting school-age children to youth sporting events or other activities (whether or not they are soccer-related). It came into widespread use during the 1996 United States presidential election and over time has come to take on an unfavorable connotation.

History

The phrase "soccer mom" generally refers to a married, American, middle-class woman who lives in the suburbs and has school-age children. She is sometimes portrayed in the media as busy or overburdened and driving a minivan or SUV. She is also described as putting the interests of her family, and most importantly her children, ahead of her own. The phrase derives from the literal, specific description of a mother who transports and watches her children play soccer. It was also used in names of organizations of mothers who raised money to support their children's soccer teams.

The first reference to the term "soccer mom" in the United States national media has been traced to 1982. In that year, the husband of the treasurer of the "Soccer Moms booster club" of Ludlow, Massachusetts, stole $3,150 raised for the benefit of a local soccer league (equivalent to $10,500 in 2025).

Indices of American magazines and newspapers show relatively little usage of the term until 1995, when, during an election for Denver city council, Susan B. Casey ran with the slogan: "A Soccer Mom for City Council." Casey, who held a Ph.D. and managed presidential election campaigns, used the slogan as a way of assuring voters they could trust her to be "just like them," denoting herself as "everyneighbor." The phrase addressed anxiety about women's achievements, and the stereotype that smart, accomplished women were not able to manage professional careers while showing love for their family. Casey won the election with 51 percent of the vote.