Women In the Arena
Just the other day, I was attempting to socialize with a neighbor by suggesting that we watch the Women’s World Cup (WWC) since I knew this particular neighbor was a fan of the beautiful game. Little did I know that he was specifically a fan of men’s football. He laughed at me when I suggested we watch women play soccer. In response, I tried explaining how the games have been so exciting, and the narratives are compelling: Team USA attempting a three-peat, the Reggae Girlz fighting simply to play, Marta, arguably the best women to ever play the game, competing in her final Mundial, Colombia shocking Germany based on the inspired play of Linda, a teenage Afro-Colombian childhood cancer survivor, and the list goes on and on, all with the backdrop of women’s football federations around the world speaking out against abuse and advocating for equal pay.
No beans. His rebuttal: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and the other greats of the men’s game would destroy the best women on the pitch. “Imagine LeBron James scoring hundreds of goals on those women footballers,” he confidently theorized. “Well, you’re just a misogynist,” I jokingly shot back. He shook his head in disbelief as if I was the one who was blind. The whole exchange made me wonder how we got here.
When the 2023 WWC started a few weeks ago, I was browsing Wikipedia to catch myself up on the history of the tournament, the bios of the players, and the profiles of the nations when I read that the first WWC took place in 1991. Huh? The first world cup was hoisted by a woman in my lifetime?? Could it be that women so recently discovered soccer??? Of course not! It turns out that women playing football was banned in England and several other countries (that’s right: banned!) until 1971. Apparently, the early 1900s were a golden age for women’s soccer with 53,000 fans once filling a stadium to watch women play in 1920, but the powers that be (read: men) locked women out of club football venues in 1921 and ushered them back into the home where supposedly they belonged.
Fast-forward to 2023, and we’re still stuck on this 100-year-old talking point that soccer is a "most unsuitable game, too much for a woman's physical frame." Was my neighbor suggesting that women are only good for cleaning, cooking and childbearing? It’s a subtle yet stubborn belief that men belong in the arena and women in the home. Yet despite the haters, I hope that the women in your life and mine will continue to choose where they want to perform, and if it’s on the pitch, I’ll be watching and shouting GOOOOAAAALLLL.
Peace,
Alan
P.S. Speaking of women performing in the proverbial arena: if you or someone you know is looking for a therapist, I know a really good one, and she’s starting to see clients! https://mindgration.me/
P.P.S For the Swifties:
Let's see, Arsenal keeps on breaking massive attendance records. San Diego Wave just sold for a 9 figure amount. Kansas City Current have a sold out stadium specifically for women's soccer. Could go on and on.
been wanting to read and respond to this for a while but just finally getting some time.
thank you for the info about the history of women's soccer. the 1971 and 1991 dates are really wild to hear and def put things in perspective. like even if we take the misogynistic argument about the excitement at face value (which we shouldn't...) no one was necessarily watching mens sports 20-30 years into the development of professional leagues and tournaments. the following that men's WC or the NBA or anything receives now is built on decades and decades of history... but most of the time that argument is not really made in good faith and mostly it is like you said, misogyny.
it is a tough cycle to break because the average person needs to be told what to do. we care about things and follow things because there are ads and money invested in telling us to do so. but then those with money say they cant make the investment because there are no eyes. I dont know how to break that cycle. if Nike just started pumping money into women's sports, they would become a lot more popular (though still battle sexism and patriarchy... money doesn't solve everything). The same people that say the WNBA isnt excited also turn into like the Wizards and Pistons playing on Tuesday night in March. you canNOT argue that the wizards or pistons were excited to watch last year. CANNOT.
hopefully your neighbor is less quick to disparage women's soccer after your discussion? though probably shouldn't hold our breath either.