Female Athletes 4 Change
Weeks ago, fans booed as the Kansas City Chiefs listened to “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and paused for a moment of silence to stand against racial injustice in the United States; fans booed at the sight of athletes using their platform to speak out against injustice and systems that need to be changed. However, that will not stop athletes from around the country from leading the charge on many social justice issues. Here are four female athletes and teams that are sparking much-needed change in our world.
During recent months, Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players and teams have consistently taken stances against racial inequality. For instance, after the murder of Jacob Blake, the Washington Mystics, coordinated white t-shirts that spelled out Jacob Blake on the front and on the back had seven bullet holes printed. Arguably even more powerful, players from the Atlanta Dream and various other teams, spoke out against Atlanta Dream co-owner and Senator Kelly Loeffler after she stated that Black Lives Matter was a movement that went against the values of the Atlanta Dream; athletes started to outwardly support her opponent in the Senate election. WNBA players have proven that they are committed to social equality and support Black Lives Matter, using their platform to fight racial inequalities and injustice.
Last year, the United States Women’s Soccer Team won the World Cup, yet still was not receiving equal pay, forcing 28 players to sue the United States Soccer Federation on the basis of gender discrimination. Megan Rapinoe, is a large leader of the fight for equal pay on social media and spoke out against the current administration and refused to go to the White House after the victory. Rapinoe believes that is less about the money and more about the investment the federation puts into the men's team, despite the women’s better record. Earlier this month, the Brazilian Football Federation announced equal pay for their teams, evidence that gender equality is not impossible or radical, but rather necessary and practical.
An individual player who is on the forefront of direct change is former WNBA player, Maya Moore; Moore quit the WNBA in order to devote her time and following to reforming the criminal justice system, specifically cases involving Black men. Moore decided that she wanted to take her large platform and highlight the discrimination that occurs in the justice system to her followers through her own organization, Win with Justice.
Naomi Osaka, winner of the 2020 US Open, not only took home the trophy, but also demonstrated her activism while doing it! Since her first match, Osaka has worn seven different black masks all with the names of individuals who have died due to interactions with law enforcement and the systematic racism infecting the US: Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Philando Castile, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery and Tamir Rice. Knowing that tennis is watched all over the world, Osaka took the opportunity to bring awareness to these victims and used her platform for activism.
These professional female athletes have done exceptional jobs fighting for change they wish to see. The beauty is that they used sports, a platform that unifies people from around the world, as a stage for activism. But, you don’t have to be a world class athlete to spark change in your community. Find a social justice issue you are passionate about and run with it, make the world a better place. Check out our Instagram as we highlight several platforms that can help you get started on your activist journey!
Sources
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a33820375/wnba-shirts-bullet-holes-jacob-blake/
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wnba-players-stance-senate-candidates-black-lives-matter/story?id=72187228
https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/09/us/megan-rapinoe-interview/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/03/football/brazil-equal-pay-women-football-spt-intl/index.html