When Girls Talk About Sports: Stories Behind Female Sports Journalists

“I don’t discuss soccer or any other topic with women” said Martin Liberman, journalist from Fox Sports, to María Sol – Messi’s sister – on Twitter.

Every day, men like Liberman despise women and girls who talk about sports, mainly when the subject is soccer. Since childhood, girls face the fact that sports are not for them. Soccer is a sport for boys. They play it, they watch it and only they understand it.

But in the real world is not like this sexist society wants it to be. Girls like soccer, they play it, they talk about it or about any other sport they want to. They are part of this world as much as the boys are.

In Journalism, the scenario does not change much. When a woman chooses to be a sport journalist she will deal with a lot of sexism and challenges because the world of sports is ruled by men. According to the International Sports Press Survey (ISPS), just 8% of the sports news around the world are written by women. The information about anything related with sports has less credibility when a woman reports.

Gabriele Martinez, casperian and TV Cultura’s intern, loves soccer. Since she was a little girl she watches all the games, always catch up about everything that happens in Brazilian and International teams. Gabriele emphasizes how hard women have to work to convince the colleagues and the boss that she really knows about sports. “Women have to work twice more than any men to earn her deserving place in the journalistic team”, says Martinez.

Gabriela Martinez in Brazilian stadium (Photograph from Social Media)

Fernanda Zalcman is another casperian working in sports journalism. She collaborates with the radio “Jovem Pan” at Saturdays. Fernanda told about when she first started the internship: “In my first day the boys came to me and asked: ‘Do you really like soccer? Do you really know the player’s name?’. Questions that they usually don’t do to men”.

The Cásper Líbero’s student also tells about how men hit on women in the radio studio – even married ones – and how women have to be careful with every step they make to do their jobs. The help from male colleagues can be perceived as bad for them by others.

Fernanda Zalcman in a soccer game (Photograph from Social Media)

In January 2017 a sad event occurred in the bleachers in France. During a Lyon’s game, spectators displayed a flag with a sexist message saying “women don’t belong in stadiums, they belong in the kitchen”. Events like that show us that the sexism is a reality and not so far from us. There is inside the media but also in the stadiums and our day life.

The two Cásper Líbero’s students are happy in their jobs but know that the way to a great carrier as sport journalist will be tough. “Women are taking their place in sports world, but have a long way to fight for”, conclude Zalcman.

Banners from Lyon’s game in January 2017 (Photograph from AS.com)

• journalism
• sports
• women