Jen Pawol’s first experience as an umpire came in the early 1990s when she umpired her school’s softball games for $15 per game. This marked the beginning of a long career for Pawol, who transitioned from an NCAA softball umpire from 2010 through 2016. It was then that Major League Baseball umpire Ted Barrett took her under his wing, encouraging her to attend an MLB tryout camp for umpires. Now, after calling 12,000 minor league games, Pawol makes history in 2025 by being the first woman umpire in Major League Baseball.
"I was overcome with emotion," Pawol told ESPN before her doubleheader in Atlanta. "It was super emotional to finally be living that phone call that I'd been hoping for and working towards for quite a while, and I just felt super full. I feel like a fully charged battery ready to go."
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"The hopes of this are that it inspires," Barrett said of his protégé. "Who knows, there'll be a young lady watching the game on TV and says, 'Hey, I'd like to try that.'"
Pawol’s inclusion into MLB’s “boy’s club” is a welcome one. For example, according to Pawol, Astros bullpen coach Javier Bracamonte told her that he has a daughter who plays sports and that it’d be good for her to see Pawol out there calling balls and strikes on a large national stage. Many other coaches and players sent out their congratulations and support.
“Baseball’s done a great job of being completely inclusive,” said Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “I’ll be watching. It’s good for the game.”
“I think if she is a good enough umpire, obviously she deserves to be here,” said Toronto pitcher Kevin Gausman.
“I love seeing the opportunity for her, and I’m happy for her,” said Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner. “I talked to her a little bit in spring training, and she seems like a great person, and I wish her all the best.”
This breakthrough caught the attention of the foundation of another MLB trailblazer, Jackie Robinson. The Jackie Robinson Foundation posted on social media, “The Jackie Robinson Museum offers a heartfelt congratulations to Jen Pawol, who will become the first woman to umpire a major league game this weekend. The trailblazing legacies of Jackie and Rachel Robinson live on through those who continue the fight for equality in today’s game.”
Pawol’s name is listed among several other women professionals who participated in men’s professional sports leagues. In 1992, Manon Rheaume was the first woman to play in the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning at 20 years old, and now has a son following in her footsteps as a professional player. In 1997, Violet Palmer was the first woman to referee an NBA game in a bout between the Dallas Mavericks and the Vancouver Grizzlies. In 2016, the Buffalo Bills hired Kathryn Smith as their special teams quality control coach, making her the first female full-time coach in the NFL. In 2020, Becky Hammon was the first woman to serve as head coach of an NBA team, leading the San Antonio Spurs when head coach Gregg Popovich was ejected in the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers.
@yahoosports Jen Pawol will become the first woman to umpire in #MLB when she works this weekend's Marlins-Braves series. #baseball #umpire #women #majorleaguebaseball
Pawol may be the first female MLB umpire, but based on the league’s and the fans’ reactions, there are likely many more to come.
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21 products that are gaslighting us into thinking they’re essential when they’re not
Some things in life are actually necessary—clean water, decent healthcare, basic human decency. But then there are the things that feel like they’re gaslighting us. The things we’re told we can’t live without, even though we survived just fine before they existed. Things like "smart" fridges, lawn fertilizer services, and yes—whole body deodorant.
Recently, our sister-site Upworthy asked their Facebook audience the question: What's a product or service that feels like it's gaslighting all of us into thinking it's necessary? More than 8,000 responses poured in. The answers were passionate, funny, and surprisingly unified.
Here are 21 products, services, and systems people called out for pretending to be essential—when they might actually be optional, overpriced, or flat-out invented.
1. Whole body deodorant
"Take a shower," said Shannon H.
“How did we ever manage all those years without it!! 😂😵💫” added Karen R.
Others noted it may help people with medical conditions—but for the average person, it's definitely a marketing creation.
2. Health insurance
It topped the list. Erica L. explained: “My doctor prescribes, the pharmacist issues meds, nurses care for people, surgeons do surgery—Health Insurance stands between health care and patients and says no, exclusively on whether they think it’s financially effective to treat you.”
Important note: Health insurance can provide life-saving access for many—but what people are frustrated by here is the profit-first system, not care itself.
3. The wedding industry
Multiple people slammed the high cost of modern weddings.
JoElla B. put it plainly: “We spend too much time and money planning one day, and not enough thought on how to blend two lives in a mutually beneficial one.”
Others called out expensive dresses, venues, and pressure to perform for social media.
4. Bottled water
Carole D. said: “Water in plastic bottles! Get a cup!”
While bottled water has value in emergencies, it’s often just filtered tap water—sold for profit in plastic.
5. Baby product overload
“Most baby products,” wrote Kelli O. “They really aren’t as needy and complicated as companies want us to think.”
6. Fabric softener
“It’s bad for clothes, bad for the Earth, bad for the wallet, and totally unnecessary,” said Gail H.
Some experts agree—many softeners contain chemicals that can reduce fabric lifespan and irritate skin.
7. Smart appliances
“Adding ‘phone controls’ to every appliance instead of making them last as long as they used to,” wrote Sherry S.
When your fridge needs a software update, something’s gone off the rails.
8. Makeup and anti-aging products
“Anything anti-aging,” said Melissa T., “Please just let me age into the gargoyle I was meant to become.”
Others questioned products designed to “fix” eyelashes, eyebrows, pores, and graying hair.
April S. added, “Products that women are convinced they MUST have in order to be ‘beautiful’ and therefore ‘loved.’”
9. Cosmetic surgery
Ron P. called out the industry as a whole. And while body autonomy matters, many commenters questioned whether insecurities are being commodified and sold back to us.
10. Ticketmaster and “convenience fees”
“Let’s go back to waiting in line at a record store,” wrote Nicole C.
Zaida B. added: “Convenience fee for online purchases—then charging $10 more at the actual event.”
11. Engagement rings
James P. didn’t mince words: “Engagement rings.”
The diamond industry has long been criticized for manufactured scarcity and marketing-fueled necessity.
12. Lawn chemicals and services
“Plant native grasses and you don’t have the pests or need for constant watering,” wrote Jamie B.
Environmental groups have raised similar concerns over runoff and unnecessary pesticide use.
13. AI and generative tech
“This stuff squeezes the lifeblood and individuality out of the human experience,” said Teresa L.
Saskia D. and others echoed skepticism about its necessity, even as many of us are being pushed to use it.
14. Funeral services
Amy W. shared: “My parents both have already paid to have themselves cremated and are very adamant that they do not want anything big done for them. In their words, ‘I won’t care, I’m dead.’”
Of course, some families find comfort in tradition—but the cost and pressure can feel overwhelming and predatory.
15. Rinse and repeat
Amy D. nailed it: “It’s just to sell more. Not even sure you need it at all.”
16. Credit Card Surcharges
Shawn S. took aim at the extra fees popping up at checkout: “That is the cost of doing business and shouldn’t be the burden of the purchaser.”
Many questioned why customers are increasingly being asked to pay extra simply for the convenience of using a card.
17. Constant phone upgrades
“Apple are notorious for releasing the same shit every year,” said Steph S.
Diana H. added, “Needing to upgrade our phones so frequently.”
Built-in obsolescence and marketing cycles drive most of the demand.
18. Vitamins and supplements
“If I took every supplement they say I NEED I wouldn’t need food. Nor could I afford it,” said Tausha L.
19. Fake pockets on women’s pants
Jessica W. said, “I have to buy men’s pants for work because women’s pants would just get torn up too fast!”
Form over function, and then they charge more for it.
20. Disposable everything
“The ‘convenience’ of disposable everything,” said Rick R.
It’s killing the planet—and draining wallets.
21. Tipping
“I’m sick of supplementing for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage,” wrote Susan V.
Tipping culture has evolved into something far removed from its original intent, and for many, it now feels like a burden shifted onto the customer.
The bigger picture
People aren’t saying all these things should vanish tomorrow. But when we start seeing convenience sold as necessity, and insecurity turned into billion-dollar markets, it's worth asking: who benefits from all of this?
And more importantly—who pays?
This article originally appeared earlier this year.