When you think of people in sports, who do you think of? Messi, Ronaldo, Hamilton or even team owners like Ryan Reynolds? Do you notice something that all of those names have in common? Despite the Lionesses winning back-to-back European Championships, women’s football and women’s sport as a whole doesn’t get the publicity of men’s. In this fantastic article, Ellie, member of the Somerset Youth Parliament advisory group looks at inequality for women in sports.
In the world of sports, where talent, passion and hard work should be celebrated equally, women are still being treated differently from men. Why is this? I have been playing rugby for three years, yet I have never had the chance to play rugby at school, in PE lessons. But boys in the same school have been told to play since year seven.
How is It I discovered my passion for rugby later simply because I am a girl? But boys have had these chances all along? Are boys given more opportunities than girls?
Some say “most girls wouldn’t want to play rugby”. But what about the girls that do? Don’t they deserve the same support and opportunities? Who gave “them” the right to decide what sports I can and can’t play?
When young people are growing up, typically they look for someone to look up to, I was inspired by Greta Thunberg, at her age talking about huge matters making my young voice feel important. As amazing as she is, I wasn’t aware of any female sports players, feeling that connection to them. Roughly 95% of sports tv channels focus on men’s sports and only 5% for women, and not just rugby – all sport! Growing up, I couldn’t have a woman to look up to in sports, because I wasn’t aware of any, which is a huge issue!
We all desperately need positive, strong role models and without a doubt there are more male role models who are well known. Obviously being female, I can easily highlight the inequality of women in sports, but I also wonder if men and boys feel that they too are excluded from any sports or activities which are generally considered ‘women’s’ sports? (There used to be a stigma about men dancing for example). Is that still the case – let me know? We’d love to hear from you!
Ellie
Not just elected members
Did you know that Somerset Youth Parliament isn’t just it’s elected members? Any young person in Somerset aged 10-25 years can become a member of the Somerset Youth Parliament Advisory Group.
For more information about becoming a member of the Somerset Youth Parliament Advisory Group and to join, visit our Join Us page.
