“Equality is not a concept. It’s not something we should be striving for. It’s a necessity. Equality is like gravity. We need it to stand on this earth as men and women, and the misogyny that is in every culture is not a true part of the human condition. It is life out of balance, and that imbalance is sucking something out of the soul of every man and woman who’s confronted with it. We need equality. ”
– Joss Whedon
I’m cross. Very cross. In fact, I’m absolutely steaming right now!
I was having a perfectly lovely Saturday; I’d slept well, I’d been for a walk in the restful colours of autumn, I’d even managed to reorganise the chaos that was my kitchen. The rain had held off until I was in my car. There was soup for lunch; a very tasty little chorizo, tomato, and potato number. The throw on the sofa was warm and snuggly. Life was trundling along beautifully. And then ….
I picked up my phone. A Twitter notification (These days, I only use it for hockey related content, so I thought it was pretty safe) about an article that had been published had come through. I followed the link to see what was being said about my beloved sport, and that’s where I took a step into an alternate universe. It’s the only possible explanation. Because, in this world, in a world where women have been fighting for equality for centuries, why would any self-respecting woman write and publish such utter twaddle?
This article (published in the Financial Times no less) explains that women only watch ice hockey because we’ve started reading hockey romance novels, and we have a thing for the players.
What. The. Actual. Hell?*
*Please, please, can I have some credit here for the number of swearwords I managed to not include here. It took a herculean effort, and I’m very proud of myself.
Firstly, as someone who states in the first sentence that she’s never attended a hockey game before, why does she think she’s qualified to explain how the rest of us feel? Secondly, how is it possible to get it so wrong? And, thirdly, why would any woman write something that demeans and minimises women to such an extent.
This is my main issue with the whole thing. Why write as if we weren’t capable of appreciating a sport for anything other than the pretty faces and bodies of its participants? As if we can’t see and appreciate the skill and dedication that it takes to play our sport well. As if we don’t get our adrenaline rush from the competition, from the nail-biting moments, the fights, the checks, and the goals. Same as anybody else. Why take hundreds of years of fighting for equality and just discard it as if it doesn’t matter? Why sabotage an entire gender and give fuel to the fire that burns in the hearts of certain individuals who already believe that women have no place at a hockey game? She can no doubt swan off into the sunset now, having made her money … leaving female hockey fans to deal with the lingering aftermath.
As someone who has travelled all over the country (and indeed the world) to watch hockey, I can categorically state that this woman, this so-called journalist, is wrong. Her points are incorrect in the extreme, and honestly, she should be ashamed of herself for the piece of drivel to which she has put her name. I’d also like to take a moment to appreciate the number of other women (and men) who have taken to social media to point out her idiocy.
But the damage is done.
Another setback along the road to equality. Another speedbump that young women will have to surmount.
I’ve written more, repeatedly, and then deleted it because it’s just reiterating my outrage. I’m going to continue steaming about this one inwardly instead. While watching hockey and planning my next two (alright, three!!) trips.
…. and muttering. There might be muttering too.
absolutelynotnormal 