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TALKING POINT
BY SINETHEMBA MBATHA Female footballers often face more challenges compared to their male counterparts. From inequality in wages to lack of support from football boards and constantly being slammed and made fun of by individuals who are not supporters of the women’s game. This has been going on for years, and these are just some of the challenges female footballers have to constantly fight. For many years women national teams across the world have been fighting for equality, with many claiming that they are underpaid compared to men. The reigning world champions, the United States women’s football team is one of the leading teams in the fight for equality, however their fight recently suffered a huge blow after their bid for equal pay was dismissed by a court. After this announcement, I went through heartbreaking responses from mostly men who ridiculed women’s football stating: “they do not deserve equal pay because they will never be equal to men”.
Did you know that a women’s monthly menstrual cycle is a natural female occurance – which cannot be controlled – has a negative impact on their sporting performance? As a woman writing this piece, I can assure you that a woman’s body experiences many hormonal fluctuations leading up to, and during their menstrual cycle. This may differ from woman to woman. However, some of the common
EFFECTS OF MENSTRUAL CY
OF FEMALE F symptoms include, but not limited to: cramps, bloating, headache and a decrease in strength for most. In a recent study conducted by Dr. Laura Forest and Professor Chris Easton of the University of the West of Scotland in which female
rugby players participated in on menstruation; it was discovered that indeed symptoms during the menstrual cycle does negatively affect sporting performance. The study further touched on the negative psychological effects linked to female
The above statement is proof for women there are many challenges they have to overcome in order to be recognised in the same way as their male counterparts. Some of these challenges include nature which they cannot control. This is one of many articles aimed at highlighting different challenges women footballers face but do not converse about them.
SOCCERZELA.CO.ZA
ISSUE 6 JUNE 2020
