Cross Check

In Cross Check, Chelsea Curto critiques the patriarchal double standards endemic to professional sports, where women like Amelia are subjected to a level of scrutiny their male counterparts never face. The novel argues that to be seen as legitimate in a male-dominated field, women are forced to meticulously regulate their emotions, appearance, and personal lives in ways that men are not. This systemic bias punishes women for behaviors that are often ignored or celebrated in men, holding women to an impossible standard. Ultimately, the narrative suggests that true progress requires not only female resilience but also active allyship from men willing to dismantle systemic inequality and interpersonal bias.

From the outset, Amelia navigates a world rife with misogynistic attitudes that question her authority and expertise. During the novel’s first section, she endures a disastrous date in which her companion dismisses women in high-level sports positions as token hires meant to fill a quota, sneering, “It’s a men’s league. Always has been […] The women coming into the league aren’t more qualified than the men. It’s a check in the box. A quota the teams are trying to fill to look inclusive” (9). Curto’s novel suggests that this perspective is institutional. When Amelia becomes a head coach, reporter Simon Buttecker immediately questions her ability to “regulate [her] emotions” and avoid being a “distraction” to her male players (500). Amelia pushes back, demonstrating that male coaches are never subjected to such inquiries. Her awareness of this double standard pushes her to modify her behavior—she avoids wearing jewelry or makeup behind the bench, fearing that any expression of femininity could be used to undermine her professional credibility.

The novel contrasts the hostility and misogyny the female characters face in the NHL with the supportive internal culture fostered by Grant and his teammates, presenting an aspiration portrayal of male allyship. When Grant overhears Amelia’s date’s comments, he’s immediately disgusted by the man’s sexism. Grant consistently pushes back against sexism—both interpersonal and institutional—throughout the novel. The DC Stars’ locker room actively rejects misogyny, with Brody explicitly shutting down the “toxic locker room shit” and rejecting the notion that “boys will be boys” (18). Later, when player Brady Williams makes derogatory and sexually charged comments about Amelia, Grant’s immediate and violent response emphasizes a commitment to protecting her reputation and rejecting the venomous culture Brady represents. This portrayal of male allyship provides a model for the kind of internal reform necessary to combat the league’s wider systemic sexism.

The disparity between Amelia and Grant’s punishments after their relationship is exposed to the league reinforces the entrenched misogyny in the NHL and pushes Grant and his teammates to take action for change. While Grant receives a minor one-game suspension, Amelia is suspended for eight games and threatened with termination. The league views her as the one who abused her power, despite the fact that their relationship is consensual and she has never been Grant’s direct superior. This institutional double standard reinforces the novel’s central argument: For women in sports, the path to success is not only steeper but it is also governed by an entirely different, and unfair, set of rules. Rather than leaving the work of fighting for change to Amelia and other women like her, Grant takes action himself, confronting the NHL commissioner directly, identifying the hypocrisy and stating that the only reason for the discrepancy is because Amelia is a woman. He and his teammates research the league’s bylaws, draft a proposition for an amendment and fight to see it passed, modeling active allyship.