Sexism and women's football
There’s no better feeling than stepping out on the field and stunning them all by doing what none of them thought you could do.
Ashlyn Harris – USA Goalkeeper
In case you’ve been hiding under a rock, the World Cup kicked off this week. I love it when the world cup is on because prime time TV is trashed in favour of the “beautiful game” which means I get to catch up on the box sets I’ve been meaning to watch or films I’ve not seen in ages. I certainly won’t be going down to my local pub where the testosterone will be flowing, amateur and misinformed punditry will be at full volume and copious amounts of beer will flow in gay abandon! Scroll back to 2015 where the Women’s World Cup was being hosted by the amiable Canadians.
What is it about women's football that arouses such antagonism among a certain section of men? Call me naive, but throughout the Women's World Cup I was genuinely surprised by the huge levels of sexism on display. Reading the many, many negative comments on the coverage in the crappy British press – from the prosaic "women's football is shit" to the vaguely sinister "the flaws are quite possibly genetic" – I swung from depressed to annoyed to mildly hysterical!
Yes, generally women aren't as strong or quick as men and the game is far less developed. No, that doesn't mean women's football is therefore worthless, or a joke. And it certainly doesn't mean that women shouldn't play it. Football doesn't belong to men; women have the same right to play, coach, officiate, commentate or talk about it in the pub as men do. This fact is so self-evident that it shouldn't even need to be pointed out!
The cavemen attitudes to women's football were brought home to me when a couple of friends and I went to watch the Semi-final between England and Japan at my local, (quick question here boys, when was the last time England’s men reach a semi-final of the world cup? Oh yes, 52 years ago!!). I’d called the landlord in advance to check they would be showing it. He actually wasn’t aware that an England team was in the last eight of a World Cup, but "as it doesn't clash with anything else" they agreed to put it on. When the channel was changed from cricket, (possibly the most boring game in the world ever and yes, another sport invented by the Brits that they’re shite at!), to football just before kick-off, it caused an uproar.
"Women's football? That's f**king disgusting!" said a furious lone drinker, finishing his pint in one gulp and storming out, (No real surprise this gentleman was on his lonesome!). Another two men shook their heads and moved to another part of the pub, away from the TV screen, presumably so they wouldn't accidentally see a woman kicking an actual ball.
As the pub filled up, attitudes shifted to amused rather than angry. "Look! It's women playing football!" Then to surprised titillation: "That one's fit! And she's wearing makeup!" Because obviously all female footballers are butch lesbians. One man arrived during a confrontation between two players following a foul: "Ooh, handbags!" he said delightedly, launching into a string of sexist banter.
My friends and I were clearly the only two people there specifically to watch the match but as the game drew to its exciting conclusion casual onlookers became drawn in. We found ourselves in the never-before-experienced position of being the foremost experts in the pub. People started asking us questions and taking the game more seriously.
By the time it got to the nail biting conclusion, (it was one all with fifteen minutes to go), "Handbags" had apologised for his sexist comments, bought us all a drink and wished England luck (he was an Aussie). When the game was over, he commiserated with us and said he'd love his three daughters to take up football.
It's just one anecdote. But maybe it's part of the answer. Most people are never exposed to women's football. They wouldn't choose to watch it, or they don't know when it's on TV – or it's never on TV. Apparently, it was only a last-minute campaign that led to this game being shown on BBC2 rather than on catch up or the BBCs red button. Maybe if a match was showing in the pub sometimes, or if a club's women's team played directly before the men, it would become normalised. You never know, people might actually enjoy it – or at least not get so angry about it.
I’m delighted to say since reaching the Semi final of the World Cup, Women’s football has become much more prominent and names such as Lucy Bronze, Sam Kerr and Lieke Martens are becoming household names and for me, more importantly, fabulous role models for aspiring girls!
What’s on this week?
Head, Eyes & Teeth – Catwa Head, Rigged Eyes and teeth - Catya v3.2
Hair – [e] [elikatira] Kisa - Blondes
Skin – Amara Beauty - Anita - PACK A
Body, Hands & Feet – Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara V4.0
AO – [Body Language Sweet Lovely Cute] BENTO AO Kisetsu
Physics – Temptation – Maitreya Physics II 2018 Bento Realism Fatpack +
Shape – Elle et Lui SL Style, Sacha Shape for Catwa Bento Head Catya – Maitreya, (Adjusted)
Tattoo – [CAROL G] Nomadic Owl - Black
Bindi – ClarityMoon ~ StolenSun~Bindi
Necklace – Amias - IVONA 3 - Unrigged - Sale currently on - June 18
Sandals – Pure Poison - Nya Sandals - Nude - Maitreya - at this months C88
