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A new campaign by Hope United has been timed to combat sexist hate online just before Euro 2022 kicks off in England this week.
Clips and messages from high-profile players at the men’s and women’s games – from England and Barcelona defender Lucy Bronze to England and Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson – are urging hope the men have their share of the problem and the misogyny ceases that what promises to be a wonderful summer of great international football at a home tournament isn’t becoming a focal point for men to articulate their astounding insecurities on social media.
In a YouTube video, Gareth Southgate passionately argues that men should stop “smothering women” with “sexist hatred,” and makes no bones about the fact that men really are at the heart of the issue here. “If sexist hatred starts with us, it has to end with men,” says the England coach.
Unfortunately, when EE, the initiative’s sponsor, posted about Southgate’s comments, a cursory scrolling down of responses was predictable. EE sticking to connectivity and Southgate sticking to football was one of them. Many were much, much worse, suggesting the campaign was actually pretty well targeted.
It is often the case that a footballer – or in this case a football manager – will be told to comply if what they are not complying with at that moment is something the poster disagrees with. At Marcus Rashford, he stuck to football, not politics, after using the power of his celebrity to force the government to pledge hundreds of millions of pounds to feed hungry children. The same goes for any footballer who takes a knee against racism in general.
It hasn’t really stuck with soccer for female players, but instead of kicking a ball around a patch of grass with their legs and feet — appendages they happen to share with men — they should stick to cooking or cleaning or whatever fantasy ideal they have Head of the misogynist exists what women should be doing while watching soccer themselves, or talking about soccer, or playing it horribly on weekdays and weekends.
Imagine if the roles were reversed: the next time Harry Maguire had a bad game, the torrents of insults would push him back to fixing the car or drinking beer or, again, whatever men are doing with their time are meant to do in the minds of those who insist on existing firmly within the confines of the stereotype.
But that doesn’t happen, and it’s misogyny that particularly irritates footballers. Bronze, who will play Austria in England’s sell-out tournament opening game at Old Trafford on Wednesday, said in an interview with The times that what upsets her most as she scrolls through the reactions to her performance is misogyny. She can take fair criticism – she probably thinks so herself – but can’t take it when sexism is thrown in for no reason.
For example, if Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi is angry on the pitch and it is seen as “passion”, when players act the same way they are often perceived as “too emotional”.
Bronze revealed that women footballers are now being insulted in a sexist way almost every day. “Not only has it become an inescapable part of the game, but also of a woman’s life in public. But that’s not how it should be. That’s why we’re asking men to be women’s allies this summer and help eradicate sexism online.”
And misogyny doesn’t just begin and end on the internet. Many women have stories of sexism and even sexual assault just trying to enjoy football.
There was the woman with one hand pushed up her skirt to feel her bum as she got caught up in the chaos outside Wembley during last summer’s Euro 2020 final. There was the woman who, after a game, was followed in a chilling manner by a group of male soccer fans on the subway and to her home. The woman who was so horribly molested during a train journey on an outward journey that she had to dodge to the furthest carriage to escape.
As manager of the England men’s team, the job comes with a certain status and prestige among the men. And with this platform, Southgate is digging into this murky swamp of sexism and sexual assault, trying to change the opinions and views of those he finds underneath.
“I hope we can talk because sometimes the privilege of being a man clouds our vision,” says Southgate. “And there is a clear problem that we all need to address. Sexist hatred has oppressed women for far too long. Designed to devalue and damage, disregard remains strong. Whether online or offline, the purpose is clear. It only reinforces the climate of intimidation and fear.
“Because football is football, no matter who kicks the ball. And the same goes for life, life is for everyone.” If he puts it that way, it’s a good job Southgate is choosing not to stick with football.
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