“Like a girl”: what makes you think soccer isn’t for women?

Despite the fact that there are almost no exclusively female and male sports left, it is quite difficult to talk about soccer as a game of “equality”. Ratings of World Championships involving men are much higher, a huge number of people watch what is happening on the field in the stands and in front of TV screens, multimillion-dollar contracts of soccer players break all records. What is there to say, women themselves prefer to cheer for “men’s soccer”. Why does this happen, and is it just sexism?

To understand the present, you need to know the past

Let’s dive into history. The birthplace of women’s soccer is Britain. By the way, so is men’s. Back in the mid-1880s, on the initiative of the famous aristocrat Lady Florence Dixie, the British Ladies’ Football Club was founded. Although, many evidences suggest that the first matches among married and unmarried ladies took place in the 17th century.

However, the miracle of women’s acceptance into the ranks of professional sportsmen did not happen instantly. In those days, as we can guess, there was no place for ladies in this sphere. Even doctors in one voice frightened with terrible diseases, loss of grace, grace and other charms.

And what about in Russia?

Women’s soccer in our country began to develop not much later than men’s. Already in three decades in the capital worked two circles, and on the field fought several university women’s teams.

One of the most famous women’s FC of those times – “Pushkino”. Its participants even had the opportunity to fight with men, but lost with a score of 2:8.

The best soccer times

The First World War breathed a second life into women’s soccer and became a powerful impetus for its development. Many girls had to leave home and work in factories. They were all teenagers, and the harsh working conditions had a negative impact on the psyche. Then the Ministry of Military Industry decided to organize permanent leisure time, and the third most common form of it was a seemingly crude male game. Apparently, it was much easier to relieve stress this way.

And, although in 1912, the English Association showed the first notes of discrimination, issuing a decree in which prohibited ladies to play in stadiums where matches of the men’s league, a few years later there was an important event.

In April 1920, the world’s first international women’s match took place. A charity match between French women and the Dick, Kerrʼs Ladies soccer club was held in Liverpool with about 50,000 spectators in attendance. The remaining 10,000,000 willing spectators were reportedly simply no longer allowed into the packed stadium.

However, the numerous bans and restrictions did sideline the fairer half of humanity.

Qualitative shifts occurred only in the late 60’s with the growth of feminist movements in the democratic world. Of particular importance then was the unofficial World Cup in England. Since that time, women’s soccer federations began to operate in several countries, national tournaments were held.

And who are the referees?

For the first time, a woman was allowed to referee matches of the highest league in Brazil. Lucky was a radio columnist Lea Campo, she served matches in Mexico, France, Italy, Guatemala, Portugal and Spain. Then famous Portuguese soccer player Eusebio defined her as a woman who understands soccer perfectly.

On the contrary, the male members of the society of referees categorically refused to participate in women’s matches, arguing that it is simply impossible to “talk” soccer players, and any penalty ends in tears. Well, quite a strong argument, if, of course, true. And the FIFA leadership once again froze in indecision and waiting.

Second Breath

In 1991, the first Women’s World Cup was held. The USSR national team did not take part and, to be honest, did not even aspire. The team wanted to gain experience in friendly matches.

In subsequent years, Russian players tried themselves in foreign tournaments, go to the quarterfinals of the European Championship. In 1996 women’s soccer was approved in the Olympic Games program.

In 2009 Perm Zvezda reached the final of the Women’s Champions League, the highest achievement of Russian women’s club soccer.

In 2015 Elena Fomina, a former national team player, became the second woman in history and the first Russian to lead the country’s national team.

And, it would seem, everything is fine and no infringements are felt. But the girls are not happy, and for nothing?
You must have seen the video released by the German women’s national team, in which they ridicule prejudices about what women should do.

And it’s partly justified. It’s not about discrimination by men. The main problem is that the world of big sports (most of them) is considered to be a world of male values. Physical exertion, rivalry, aggression, competition – all this is not about girls. These things are quite tightly associated with “masculine” qualities in society as a whole. Well, if you show weakness, submission or unwillingness to go to the conflict – “behave like a girl”.

But these qualities are not separate about boys and girls for a long time, and we understand it perfectly well, but it still does not fit in the mass consciousness for some reason.