It is important to teach our children that boys and girls are equal and they can be whoever they want to be, regardless of their gender. 

For me, the issue of stereotypes is the biggest concern. Stereotypes and judgements can be deeply rooted and widespread and have a larger effect on society than what one thinks. For example, female athletes can be tough, dominant, and aggressive and male athletes can be passive, kind, and talkative. There is no one way to be a man or a woman. Therefore, individual’s should not have to be put in a box because of their gender. 

In the nineteenth century, the central moral challenge was slavery. In the twentieth century, it was the battle against totalitarianism. We believe that in this century the paramount moral challenge will be the struggle for gender equality around the world.

Nicholas D. Kristof

We've begun to raise daughters more like sons... but few have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters.

Gloria Steinem

Thought Post

The page aims to educate it’s viewers about the current and real life position of gender’s role in sport. Gender plays a significant role for any individual who does not prescribe to the ideal social norms of what is expected of a man or a woman. For example, the US Women’s Sports Foundation reports that male athletes are receiving some $180 million more annually in athletic scholarship grants than female athletes do. This is a concerning statistic that radiates how important is reminds for the public to acknowledge that their is disparity in the sporting industry that in its simplest form comes down to gender. Gender lies at the heart of discrimination in sport because females in sport is historical unnatural and falls outside of these ideal social norms. Therefore, as concerned citizens, we need to take a stand and embrace the the unideal. 

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Article Link: https://www.genderstats.org/gender-inequality-in-sports/ 

The best female athlete in the world

Quick and easy steps that parents and future parents can implement that can raise openminded children that do not hold gender stereotypes. This type of thinking can be utilized across disciplines including the sporting community which will allow us to drop stereotypes of what it means to be a male or female athlete. 

“I’m not just a rugby coach, but also an advocate for those who cannot voice their opinion. I love that I’m working together with others for the future of the nation,

Kitiana Kaitu, a primary school teacher from Nasinu, Fiji

An interesting read that analyzes the island country of Fiji  which has implemented a new sport programme that is breaking gender stereotypes among students and coaches. The programme was developed for the Pacific region by UN Women in partnership with Oceania Rugby (the regional governing body for rugby unions), to promote gender equality and to prevent violence against women and girls. Rugby, often considered a male sport, is being used as a platform for change as both male and female teachers are getting trained as coaches and girls are playing rugby just like the boys. This can be very beneficial as rugby is a very influential sport in this country and changes like this can make a real difference. 

Article Link: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2019/6/feature-in-fiji-changing-mindsets-through-rugby

Sport brings together people from all over the global, from different cultures, genders, sexualities, and SES status making it an incredible platform to make a difference in societies, worldwide. 

Discrimination does not discriminate

The statement rings true when thinking about the feminist movement and discrimination in sport. First wave feminists of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries fought for the rights of woman of every social class, ethnicity, religion and racial category demonstrating how discrimination does not discriminate (Lorber, 2010). In the sporting world, this also rings true. People who are classified as different or out of the ordinary in a particular sport based on their gender or sexuality are ridiculed and judged. This type of treatment continue across disciplines where certain people are given certain privileges because of factors as simple as that they are male. For example, in the theory of equality that many feminists in the 19th century used, all men should be equal under the law, that no one should have special rights or laws (Lorber, 2010). Clearly, discrimination does not discriminate and that is why it should be everyone’s problem. 

Lorber, J. (2010). Gender Inequality: Feminist Theories and Politics. Oxford University Press. New York, NY. 

"How can we effect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the conversation?" - Emma Watson

Emma Watson’s #HeForShe UN Speech was moving and drew attention to the cause that was very beneficial in getting the conversation started. She spoke about being a feminist often being associated with the idea of man hating which is simply not true. Just like her quote says, in order for the conversation to really keep moving forward, both side needs to be invited to party and active participants, it just won’t work without unity through gender. 

"When at 15, my girlfriends started dropping out of their beloved sports teams, because they didn’t want to appear muscle-y, when at 18, my male friends were unable to express their feelings, I decided that I was a feminist."

Emma Watson

We need women and girls to succeed because that is how we build engaged communities.

Justin Trudeau

This short video produced by the UN Women’s Organization looks into how sport can be used to empower women and girls and why sporting role models of this generation can be used to empower women and girls in future generations.