Footballers read out misogynistic messages
“WOMEN shouldn’t be allowed to play sport or vote, it’s far too dangerous to leave in their hands” – just one of the misogynistic messages sent to Wales’ women’s football team.
Others include saying women have “taken over our beautiful game” and “get back to the kitchen”.
In a video released by the Football Association of Wales, Wales players read out the abusive tweets sent about the game they love, and the players’ reactions are brilliant and inspiring.
Jess Fishlock, Wales’ most capped player, responds to the comment about going “back” to the kitchen by saying: “Whoever wrote that, mate, I can’t cook. Never have been able to, never will. I’ll stick to football and you go back to the kitchen.”
But all the players are visibly appalled by a comment which said: “Is it Weight Watchers’ second team.”
In response to one of the comments, Kayleigh Green reads a message which says: “It was only a matter of time before they started taking over our beautiful game.”
She responds: “I’m sure women actually made the game more beautiful”.
The video is a joint scheme with the Welsh Government to launch unique educational resources aimed at tackling online hate towards girls and women.
It came about after female footballers saw heightened abuse across social media during the 20-21 season and hate speech directed at a Cardiff City player following the first live televised game of the top division in Wales. The idea is to highlight the need for education on the negative impact online hate speech and misogyny can have on women and girls, not only in football, but across society.
Resources for primary and secondary schools has been drawn up to talk about the importance of mutual respect between boys and girls, what online hate speech looks like, the term “toxic masculinity” and what role it plays in driving online misogyny.
Education Minister Jeremy Miles said: “Abuse, hate and harassment of women, whether it takes place online or offline, must not be tolerated and we will do everything we can to tackle it.
“A key part of dealing with online misogyny is to make sure that there are resources to support these important conversations to take place. It is vital to provide learners with opportunities to learn about their rights and the rights of others, as well as the impact of such abuse and the harm it causes. Importantly, the resources raise awareness of how to safely challenge online abuse, so that we can all play a part in making the internet a safer place.”
Fishlock said: “It was heartbreaking last year seeing the misogynistic abuse aimed at footballers from the league who were playing purely for their love of the game. Trying to put someone down because of something they love, is not big, smart or funny.”