Do you think that in the future women will have the same recognition as men in football? What do you think of the salary differences? It can be combined elite sport and family life? These are some questions that the boys from the youth justice center in Montilivi have asked the Girona FC players. With the aim of breaking stereotypes coinciding with the 8-M, the interns have participated in a chat with three of the footballers. They have been interested in his career and his efforts to make a place for himself in a sport that is still too masculinised. “There should be more equality,” admits one of the boys. “It honestly makes you think,” adds another. In the end, one and the other making touches of the ball in the yard is also the reflection of break glass ceilings.
In the entrance corridor of the center there is two murals with sentences and drawings about the 8-M. One of them, with the silhouettes of young people’s hands drawing a flower. And in a corner of the classroom facing the courtyard, where they teach, there are also drawings and phrases on the occasion of International Women’s Day. They made them twelve minors that comply with judicial measures in the center of Montilivi (open, semi-open or closed).
Today, on the occasion of 8-M, young people have approached the world of women’s football, a sport that is still too masculinised. They have done it with first hand witnessesbecause the interns have had a chat with three of the players of the preferred team of Girona FC: English Dawnthe Paula Lloret -one of the captains- and the Laia Jimenez.
The three players, who are between 19 and 23 years old, have explained to the young people of the centre how is your day to day and what motivated them to play football. Also, if in the beginning they had to do it with boys or they could already train directly with a women’s team. The talk, and the final questions asked by the inmates – among which, what they thought about Rubiales’ kiss – has served to highlight that, luckily, many stereotypes have been broken; but unfortunately, with the women’s football still has a long way to go.
“When I was little, my football references were men, but now that has changed in no case are we on equal terms“, says Lloret. Among the glass ceilings that need to be broken is, above all, that of being able to become professional. Currently, although the women’s team of Girona FC is in the highest Catalan category, none of them are paid.
“For me, reconciling has been taking the pram to the pharmacy”
“Our great goal would be to make a living from football”, wishes Jiménez, in turn, saying that “it’s not just a team job, but of all the players”. “Being able to play women’s football, and being where we are, is a source of pride for us; hopefully it continues to grow, because we also work for the new generations,” adds Inglès.
“It honestly makes you think”
After the talk, the inmates of the Montilivi center gave away some roses textiles purple to all three players. They were accompanied by a card, on which there was a bow drawn and the sentence: “You are unique! Happy Women’s Day. Thank you for sharing it.” The three footballers, in turn, they have signed team posters for the boys.
One of the minors appreciates the experience and believes that “it is a talk everyone should have” to break gender stereotypes. “I understand that a professional first-team player earns a lot of money; but I don’t see how, when it comes to a player, there is no equality“, Explain.
“The important thing is to do what you like, regardless of gender,” says another of the young people in turn. He explains that at the juvenile justice center, on the occasion of 25-N and 8-M, they have worked on concepts such as gender violence that day equality. “Honestly, it makes you think, because it’s not true that, because of being a woman, you have limitations,” she says.
A minority in the arbitral collective
After the talk, some of the interns shared one soccer time with the three players. In the center of the yard, some have been making touches with a ball. And from this visit, the young people who are in the Montilivi juvenile justice center have also received an invitation: to those who are given permission, they will be able to go to see a Girona women’s match.
“Reflect and raise awareness”
The general director of Juvenile Justice, Gisela Torns, emphasizes that days like 8-M allow “talk, reflect and raise awareness” on equality between men and women and non-discrimination. Within this area, precisely, the Department launched a specific plan in 2018, which has made it possible to train more than 500 professionals to “carry out this transformative view within the juvenile justice system.” “The goal is power propose a vision that departs from the inherited culture that’s on the street and help us break down gender stereotypes,” concludes Torns.
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2024-03-08 13:15:02
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