Okay, so the other day, I got this itch. Saw folks talking online about Women in Sports Day, right? Lots of opinions flying around. Some people were like, “Why do we even need a special day? Isn’t that reverse discrimination?” And others were all fired up about it. Honestly, I didn’t really know enough to jump in. So, I decided to dig. Properly.
Starting Simple: Just Asking Around
First thing I did was put my phone to work. Texted a few friends who actually play sports – couple of guys, couple of girls. Just asked them straight up: “Hey, what’s your take on Women in Sports Day? Important or nah?” The guys were kinda meh. One said it sounded nice, but he didn’t get why it was needed. But the girls? Boom. Both lit up.
Anna, who plays college soccer, started ranting about how they always get the crappy practice field times compared to the men’s team. Said even their kits were cheaper. Then Sarah, a swimmer, chimed in about sponsorships – how companies throw cash at men’s events but barely glance at women’s competitions unless it’s the Olympics. Hearing it from them, firsthand, hit different. That was my first lightbulb moment: sometimes you don’t see the crappy stuff unless someone points it out.
Going Down the Rabbit Hole
Armed with that, I hit Google. Hard. Searched old news, articles, whatever popped up about women in sports over the years. Stumbled onto things I’d totally forgotten or never knew:
- Remember that 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match? Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs? Looked it up. That wasn’t just tennis – it was a huge middle finger to everyone who thought women athletes were a joke. Massive deal.
- Then I fell into a YouTube hole watching old clips of women trying to run marathons in the 60s and 70s. People literally tried to shove them OFF the track! Doctors warned running would make their uteruses fall out! Felt insane. Couldn’t believe that was real.
- Found stats too – stuff like less than 10% of sports media coverage goes to women’s sports even today. TEN PERCENT. That blew my mind. How can young girls get inspired if they never see women kicking butt?
Suddenly, that special day started making way more sense. It’s not just about “feel-good vibes.” It’s about shouting over the noise: “HEY! Remember us? We’re here! We fought to be here! And we deserve to be seen!”
Seeing the Impacts Up Close
Didn’t wanna stop at just reading. Called up Anna again, told her about the stuff I found. She got hyped and invited me to one of her team’s “Women in Sports Day” events last weekend. Just a small local thing – clinics for little girls, Q&A sessions with athletes.
Saw it for myself: little girls, eyes huge, meeting female college players. Shooting hoops with them. Asking about training. One girl, maybe 7 or 8, was glued to this university basketball player, just watching her dribble like it was magic. Player crouched down, showed her how to grip the ball properly. That tiny moment? That’s impact. That kid might stick with sports now, instead of thinking it’s only for boys.
Sat in on the Q&A too. Older girls asking things like, “How do you deal with people saying you shouldn’t be so muscular?” or “Did your parents support you?” Real, raw stuff. Real answers about ignoring dumb comments, finding support networks. That wasn’t fluffy inspiration – that was survival advice.
Wrapping My Head Around the “Why”
So, after talking, researching, and seeing it live? Yeah. We absolutely need Women in Sports Day. Here’s why it clicked for me:
- History: It forces us to remember the crap women athletes went through just to play. Stuff we forget or never knew.
- Visibility: It creates moments – like that little girl meeting her hero – that wouldn’t happen otherwise. Shows pathways.
- Conversation: It keeps the pressure on. Every year, it pops up: “Hey, how are we doing on equal pay? Decent coverage? Fair treatment?” Doesn’t let things slide.
Before I dug into this, I kinda thought it might be a bit… token? Now? Nah. It’s a spark plug. Keeps the engine turning. It reminds us how far things have come – and how much further there is to go. And honestly, after seeing those little girls at the clinic? Anyone who still asks “Why do we need it?” probably just ain’t looking hard enough.