This week I was interested to see two different articles about supporting the future of women’s cricket and that it’s not money that is required (although that would obviously be helpful) but according to captain Sophie Devine “it’s about the resource, the structure, the staff, the systems that go in place behind it.” This argument is shared by the coaches of two regional teams, Joanne Broadbent, who coaches the Northern Districts, and Craig Cumming, coach of the Otago Sparks, who said change in systems and resources is needed.
This is the same as what was said by multiple people, players, coaches, and supporters, following Super Rugby Aupiki. It’s also been said numerous times, for most women’s sports. So I can’t help but wonder, how often do we have to say it for it to happen? I include a history/herstory section deliberately, to point out how the same issues keep coming up, every week, every month, every year. For example, this month alone, in March 2010, the women’s NPC was cancelled, in a world cup year, due to financial challenges for NZ Rugby, but no curtailing of the men’s NPC. And in March 2020, High Performance Sport NZ released survey findings that the system is failing top women coaches. History keeps repeating. We need big, bold change, which will take bravery, for sure, but the benefits will be monumental for women’s sport.
Shireen Ahmed wrote about this in the context of women’s sport in the U.S., with sports stars and teams making tweaks and the need for siginifcant changes, like Angel City FC, who I was gushing about last week. The Angel City FC model is different to traditional men’s football clubs, however, they are still playing in a league that mirrors the men’s. And while their commercial model has differences, such as donating 10% to charity, they’re still boxed in by a commercial model developed by and for the men’s teams. Which leads to me accomplices…
Last week I wrote about the need for more men allies in women’s sport after that nasty incident in Australian sport media. After sending HerStory last week, I came across the latest episode of Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach’s podcast ‘We can do hard things’, where they talk with Dr Yaba Blay, Black author and “runaway academic”. Dr Blay discusses the difference between being an ally and being an accomplice. She says if you need help and you contact an ally, they’ll ask how they can support you. If you need help and you contact an accomplice, they’ll jump in the car, be at your side, and help you burn this shit down, knowing they might get in trouble too. So I take back what I said, we don’t need more allies in women’s sport, we need accomplices!
For all the headlines on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the media this week, check out HerStory.
Alida Shanks 