Male Allyship
A significant piece in fostering gender equality in a male dominated field is by creating a community of support and empowerment from both sides. It is so uplifting to see male athletes, like the late Kobe Bryant, advocate for gender equality because the larger the support system, the faster we can accomplish our goals. Here is our shot guide for male allyship: what we need more of and how to achieve it.
Change the language
As female athletes, we hear a lot of “the boys team is better”, “girls basketball is not as interesting to watch”, “you will never be stronger than him”, “I’ll come for the spandex”, etc, Let’s stop the disparaging comments that degrade female athletes and change the language around women in sports. Whether it’s a stranger through the TV screen, or a woman in your life, together we need to establish respect for female athletes.
Watch professional and collegiate sports games
We all have those days where there is “nothing” on the TV, those Monday nights where your team isn’t playing, those days where your only responsibility is to watch sports on the couch. Let’s start watching female games and making it a norm to have WNBA and NWSL playing in our living rooms; not only will increased viewership get female professional athletes more media coverage, it will also start to generate more of a normative relationship with women in sports.
Follow women in sports platforms (like Female Athlete Movement)
@houseofhighlights is an iconic media platform that covers a lot of sport news. However, it is also important to include female specific platforms on your feed. Some of our favorites are @highlightHER @girlstalksports.tv and @shewritessports. Also following blog accounts that post articles like these can help others understand the female athlete experience! Some of our favorite blog-like platforms are @stronggirlsunited @seeusmovement @gladiathers and @changehergame .
These three ideas may seem simple, but they can foster change in regards to female athletics and womxn in sport! Let us know other simple and priceless ways to increase allyship for female athletes! Contact us @femaleathletemovement or femaleathletemovement@gmail.com