My teenage daughter is watching the Euro 2022 tournament and, like so many young women of her generation, she found it an inspiration. It has been shown that they can explore and be successful in areas of life and professions that they previously considered male-dominated and perhaps off-limits.
The first time my daughter showed an interest in women’s football was three years ago at the Women’s World Cup, when she said all the girls at school were talking about England striker Ellen White.
I remember thinking that such an interest changed the game in terms of cultural and social attitudes.
Even girls who didn’t like sports interacted with these female role models.
That said, there is still a long way to go.
Ellen White of England celebrates with the fans and family following her teams’ victory in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 semi-final match between England and Sweden at Bramall Lane on July 26
Unfortunately, sexism is still everywhere. We’ve witnessed his most bovine form in recent weeks, with some men saying they wouldn’t watch the matches on TV. Some have ranted on Twitter, roughly saying, for example, that they’d rather see paint dry.
My answer is, ‘OK, keep going. Watch the paint dry.’
But I also feel sorry for such misogynists. How depressing to think they have young daughters. Do they really want to hold them back in life and prevent them from doing the things they want to do? Of course, not all young women want to play soccer or watch football, but the Lionesses’ high-profile success is so symbolic of what an equal society should be.
You will notice that I call them ‘the Lionesses’. How absurd that it has been suggested that this nickname – rather than ‘the lions’ – is sexist. Some people try to create controversy for no reason.
In fact, ‘the Lionesses’ perfectly describes the finalists of tomorrow. As a caller to Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour pointedly noted, female lions are known to work harder than males and do most of the hunting, while males mainly just laze around.
The whole tournament was so upbeat. My passion has always been to give opportunities. I am convinced that women’s sport has been an important tool in the fight for equality.
Crucially, the success of so many women at the London 2012 Olympics has also inspired other young women.
It’s a shame that women have found fewer opportunities before, but it’s so good that they now have an opportunity.
Today, young girls can have soccer heroes.
Specifically in the field of sports, the buzz of these championships will undoubtedly lead to more facilities for young people.
After years of tearing up school playing fields, fields and other areas are now being constructed to meet demand.
Sarina Wiegman celebrates with Alex Greenwood of England during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 Quarter Final match between England and Spain at the Brighton & Hove Community Stadium on 20 July 2022
Of course, this will have a knock-on effect on the health of a country where more than half of children in some areas are overweight or obese by the time they enter high school at age 11.
Never underestimate the power of endorphins released during exercise that boost health and vitality.
What young people also learn from the Lionesses are the values of teamwork and camaraderie.
As for the Lionesses’ chances in today’s final, the result is hard to say. Winning is in Germany’s DNA. England must act quickly or they will be punished. It will be tight, but England can win.
Germany Women’s Alexandra Popp celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 2-1 during the UEFA Women’s Euro England 2022 Semi-Final match between Germany and France at Stadium mk on July 27
In manager Sarina Wiegman, the team has someone with the unique ability to be both emotional enough to care about her, but also cool enough to make decisions without getting sentimental. Her players all love her.
I’ve always said that women’s football doesn’t have to be the same as men’s football. It is played at a different tempo. Women pass the ball and go on runs differently.
A colleague who directs TV coverage for the best men’s football matches says his camera crew needs to change the way they film games. He explained that women’s football does not follow the same playing patterns as men’s football.
England’s Jill Scott talks to the media at a press conference at The Lensbury on July 29, 2022 in Teddington, England
In men, there is a predictable way seizures develop. In women, it’s much less predictable and doesn’t follow a metronomic build—with more speculative attempts on target. This makes it very exciting.
There are fewer mistakes, fewer yellow cards and few rolling on the ground and that sort of thing. Women’s football has a purity.
I sincerely hope it retains these fine qualities as the whole tournament has had such a special family feel to it – a lovely atmosphere amongst the crowds at matches in Sheffield, Milton Keynes and all other stadiums across the country.
Recently I spoke to a young woman who had been watching a women’s match in Yorkshire and a man had shouted swear words at a player from the sidelines and said she was overweight.
An unpleasant and unforgivable insult, to be sure. But it proved that women’s football had arrived and that men took notice. Welcome to Equality!
But above all, my daughter’s generation now knows that nothing is off limits to them.