I got thinking about the subject after listening to a recent Netball Nation podcast where expert umpire, Gary Burgess was interviewed. He surprised me by confirming he’d only ever been welcomed at netball courts & never experienced any sexism.
Firstly, I thought that was marvellous: kudos to the netball community. Secondly, I thought it was a shame that that experience isn’t reversed with women officials having the same experience in male-dominated sports. Perhaps that’s a conversation for another day.
I have long held the opinion that netball’s unique selling point is that it’s women- focused. That not to exclude males and I am 100% behind male involvement. Infact there is a huge market place there, particularly in the UK, that is begging to be untapped. Again, discussion for another day!
When we have such huge problems in this country with obesity, body image, other health care problems, confidence, empowerment, domestic abuse......the list goes on, which mainly effect females: why can’t Netball be a driver for change?
But I’m going off on a tangent!
So, to get back to the point, I don’t see much, if any, traditional, sexism in netball - we don’t have the male equivalent of cheerleaders wearing next to nothing at games. We don’t have male coaches sidelined because of their gender and to my knowledge male doctors are not suing anyone in netball for wrongful dismissal. (Look up Eva Carneiro - Chelsea Football Club)
I do see & hear everyday sexism that impacts on our game all the time though. But, for the majority of us, it’s so ingrained we don’t bat an eye lid.
Perhaps it’s the increase in feminist material I have been reading and listening to over lockdown - I have so many examples we’d be here until next week writing and reading them! So I will just stick to a few that are, in my opinion, the most impactful.
💜 I’ve been a coach a long time, delivering to a wide range of participants, at different ability levels, in different competitions and even in different countries. The one conversation or message that really irritates me is along the lines of ‘Really sorry I can’t make training / match, hubby has football / cricket / golf and there’s no one else to have the kids’
It irritates me because the football / cricket / golf coach is not getting the same message because the wife / girlfriend has netball.
💜 ‘You can’t train, you’re pregnant’
Netball is getting better at addressing this and the news recently that Aussie Diamond Gretal Bueta is Vice Captain of the Queensland Firebirds whilst pregnant this season, is a significant step forward. There is no reason whilst Netballers can’t train during pregnancy. In fact, there is research to suggest that stopping training when your body is used to it, could do more harm.
It’s an emotive subject for me as I was stopped from coaching during my first pregnancy whilst high profile coaches like Tamsin Greenway & England Roses Head Coach Jess Thrilby we’re continuing to coach during the same period. Consistency in netball’s messaging about pregnancy will only help improve in the fight against everyday sexism.
💜 Sexism in the Media: every time I think we have made a giant leap in this area, something pops up that reminds me many media outlets are still being run by middle aged men, stuck in their, mostly, egotistical & misogynistic, bubble.
Just today there is uproar in Australia, home of, arguably, the best netball league in the world, Suncorp SuperNetball.
Melbourne- based newspaper, The Age, published a review, before the opening game even took place, writing ‘Once just for schoolgirls and workplace bonding, this is now a full glamour sport for many’
The Age is owned by the same media outlet as Channel 9 - the free to air broadcaster who show Suncorp SuperNetball. The irony.......
I thought 3 examples would do my ‘sexism exists in netball but maybe not as you thought’ argument justice.
Forgive me for discussing just one more example though, as it’s really relevant to me, currently, & has got to be one of the most frustrating hurdles I sometimes, unfortunately, don’t overcome, in my coaching career to date.
Some of the biggest challenges I have faced in my coaching / facilitating career is, unfortunately, men with power. I make no apology for this sweeping statement because it is my experience. ‘Middle management’ male staff have made my journey to bring netball to those who need it most, far more difficult than it should be.
Whether that be a Leisure Centre Manager who refuses to host Back to Netball sessions as it wouldn’t make as much money as 5aside football, a Director of Sport not allowing indoor facilities for community use but uses the venue for his own cricket training or a private sports club CEO refusing to address abusive and antisocial behaviour at his facility because, well, he’s just not interested.
There is one exceptional to this rule. I was lucky enough to work for a fabulous, supportive & inspirational male Director of Sport when I started a new role in 2012. What impressed me most was his fairness & ability to lead a large & successful team with little or no ego.
Again, fairly uncommon in my experience!
Interestingly, but perhaps not surprisingly, I have found female staff in these type of roles much more amenable, understandable & knowledgable about the benefits of female sport and the impact sport can have on girls and women.
Examples include the College Deputy Head not only setting up netball for students but also, as part of the work / life balance initiative, for staff. The Supermarket Manager not only donating prizes to a charity netball tournament but also organising a staff team for the event and a Council Manager identifying & acting on netball opportunities for ethnic minority groups, Age UK groups and her own staff, to boost morale.
In my experience (and I really do hope it’s different for others) female managers / leaders have much more of a ‘can do’ attitude especially when overcoming challenges in sport. For women in sport there are far more challenges to overcome.
I am a person who tries hard not just to come up with problems but to suggest solutions too. Sexism in Sport isn’t going to be solved over night but I believe we have made some pretty awesome inroads the last few years.
For me, maybe because I have young daughters, the ‘see it, believe it, be it’ message is most important.
Having Claire Balding & Gabby Logan front & centre interviewing Geva Mentor, Serena Williams & Jess Ennis Hill is a far cry from when I was growing up. My bedroom walls didn’t have female sports stars on them because there were no posters of female sports stars!
We must continue highlighting and ‘calling out’ sexism in sport to ensure change continues to happen.
This is partly what this blog is about - how many of you have just accepted ‘I’m going to cricket tonight darling so you’ll have to give aerobics a miss? Or been told ‘sorry we can’t accommodate mums & kids yoga today as we might have the football in - those guys have been with us for 20 years!’
I suspect now you are thinking about it you can come up with your own examples!
Female Sport, netball, is on the rise, but to keep it escalating the Anna Kessel’s & Claire Balding’s at the top need some support at the foundation level. Let’s help them by building from the bottom - calling out the gender bias, drawing attention to sexism in the media & supporting those who have a voice.
Things may not change overnight but we owe it to future generations to give young girls more of a chance to become world class sports people, leaders in sports industry and the same opportunities to participate that husbands, brothers, dads and sons have. Let’s all be part of the change.
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