Karlsruhe (mine). “Where’s your friend?” Women outside the curve, because the curve alive! “A football stadium is not a place for women!” Women can hear such phrases in the stadium, even today.
The traveling exhibition “Fan.Tastic Females – Football Her.Story”, which can be seen and experienced in the Karlsruhe regional council until 3 November, draws attention to the numerous women who are involved in football across Europe. The Karlsruhe fan project made sure that the exhibition came to Karlsruhe.
Still male domination
“Football is still a male domain,” explains Sophia Gerschel of the KSC fan project of the City of Karlsruhe Youth Committee. “Women face discrimination and hostility and face it regularly. This is a theme of the exhibition. Another much more important thing is that the focus is on the strengths and resources brought by everyone and especially here by women. There is room for everyone. This is what the exhibition is meant to show, “says Gerschel.
On the pop-ups, visitors to the exhibition will not only find small texts and images, but also QR codes with which they can watch videos of women involved in the fan scene, the ultra scene, clubs and football-related organizations.
Gerschel is particularly pleased that a video of Iranian women is part of the exhibition in Karlsruhe.
Good odds of women in the KSC
“We are delighted that you have chosen us as your tour location,” explains Joachim Fischer of the regional council. “Because that’s how we attract a different audience.” Otherwise, trade and trade fairs are shown in the regional council. Until 3 November Fischer is looking forward to “bringing the young football fans home”.
And this should be both a male and female football fan. Because even though the KSC doesn’t have its own ultra-women’s group like Bern (Bern Girl), many women are involved in football here. In addition to Sophia Gerschel in the KSC fan project, Maike Bänsch is a woman as the second chairman of the board of Supporters Karlsruhe, which has 585 women, 17% women, explains president Marco Fuchs.
Overall, the KSC has about 30% female members, explains KSC chairman Holger Siegmund-Schultze. This is already a good rate, said the president of the KSC at the opening of the exhibition. The proportion of female visitors to the stadium is increasing and changing, including with regard to the new stadium. Because there is simply more comfort here, Siegmund-Schultze knows.
Football was and is female
“Football has always been feminine and is becoming more and more feminine,” explains Sebastian Staneker of the KSC fan project. “Maybe even through such an exhibition. It is important for us to continue to support and accompany this process ”.
The organizers of the traveling exhibition “Fan.Tastic Females – Football Her.Story” have deepened the football culture. Not women’s football, but women who are involved in football or who support their team as fans. Because women are still in the minority at the stadium. The organizers of the Football Supporters Europe network allow football fans, employees, ultras and supporters from all over Europe to have their say and tell their stories.
KSC game in A4 – “This is my place”
Its story began in A4, explains Maike Bänsch of KSC Supporters. With a friend she went to a KSC match in the fan corner. “And it was immediately clear, this is my place.” Even if their first match was terrible. Rain, draw, … “But it was clear, I will stay here and I commit myself”.
But Bänsch is not the first woman on the board. There were three women on the board before her. But there is no type of quota. “We want to represent all the fans.” So they’re happy with everyone who wants to get involved, explains Fuchs.
Video for QR-Code
The exhibition in the Karlsruhe regional council shows how things work in other European countries until 3 November. If you want to listen and watch the stories, about 80 hours of material, at your home, you can buy a QR code on site for a small donation or visit the exhibition on site.
