In 2015, a conversation with Emma Hayes, the manager of Chelsea FC Women, began on a somewhat awkward note. The seemingly simple question posed was: “Can women ever achieve equality with men?” Hayes pointed out the obvious gap between the men’s and women’s game, acknowledging the significant head start men’s football had. However, what truly seemed to frustrate her was the persistent comparison to the men’s game. She questioned why women’s football couldn’t be appreciated for its intrinsic value, recognized as a “great product” in its own right, irrespective of the male counterpart.
Seven years later, while progress has been made, the disparity remains. As a young reporter, the perspective Hayes offered was initially difficult to grasp. With women’s football gaining traction, it felt unjustifiable that female players were expected to be grateful for wages barely meeting London living costs, while their male counterparts earned fortunes.
However, with time, the wisdom in Hayes’ words has become clearer. There’s significant merit in recognizing the women’s game as a distinct entity, primarily because it is fundamentally different, and this difference presents unique opportunities. Notably, women’s football largely remains untainted by the excessive commercialization, misconduct scandals, and toxic fan behavior that plague the men’s game. There’s a chance to steer women’s football clear of these pitfalls.
One of the most refreshing aspects is the undeniably family-friendly atmosphere at women’s matches. The Women’s Euro tournaments are a testament to this, drawing large crowds of young women and girls. The stark contrast to the often boisterous and occasionally unruly atmosphere at some men’s games is palpable. It’s less likely, for instance, to witness the kind of disruptive drunken behavior at a Women’s Euro match that can sometimes mar men’s games.
This year’s Women’s Euro has shattered attendance and viewership records, solidifying women’s international football as a force to be reckoned with. The level of skill and talent on display has been remarkable, exemplified by dominant performances like the Lionesses’ semi-final victory against Sweden. While not every game is a thriller, the same variability in excitement is true for men’s football as well.
Image: Emma Hayes, a leading voice in advocating for the independent appreciation of women’s football, pictured during a Chelsea FC Women’s match.
Since the professionalization of the Women’s Super League in 2017, a movement partly intended to encourage top English clubs to invest seriously in their women’s teams, the “#oneclub” approach has gained some traction. The idea is that valuing a club means valuing all its teams equally.
While theoretically appealing, the reality is that football isn’t yet an equal playing field for men and women. Comparisons are necessary to highlight the existing disparities.
Furthermore, minimizing the differences between men’s and women’s football can be counterproductive. Slogans like Volkswagen’s “#NotWomensFootball” during this summer’s tournament, while perhaps intended to elevate women’s football, inadvertently position it as a derivative of the men’s game. This approach doesn’t fully encourage appreciation for women’s football as a “great product” in its own right, especially considering aspects of the men’s game that are undesirable to replicate.
However, there’s no easy answer. Treating women’s football as entirely separate can also reinforce societal expectations placed upon women. The perception of women’s football as more “family-friendly” can stem from stereotypical views of women being inherently gentler or less prone to aggression. Yet, incidents like Spain’s Misa Rodriguez’s touchline outburst at the Women’s Euro challenge these very stereotypes. Even commentators at the tournament have expressed surprise when female players display behaviors considered commonplace in men’s football.
The scrutiny faced by Arsenal Women’s players for a Dubai trip during strict Covid restrictions in 2021 further illustrates this point. There’s often a higher expectation of conduct placed on female athletes compared to their male counterparts. They are often expected to be ambassadors, not just athletes focused solely on their game.
Image: Enthusiastic fans at a Women’s Euro 2022 match, showcasing the growing popularity and family-friendly atmosphere of the tournament, in contrast to typical “euros mens” events which are sometimes associated with more aggressive fan behavior.
The most significant issue, and a major flaw in the “one club” model, is the vast pay gap and disparity in investment between men’s and women’s football. Paradoxically, this disparity is both a reason why some prefer women’s football and a barrier to achieving equal recognition. The common, often dismissive, refrain from some male fans that “WOMEN CAN’T FILL STADIUMS” ignores the systemic reasons why this might be the case.
Historically, the 1921 FA ban on women’s football, based on the assertion that it was “quite unsuitable for females,” significantly hampered the game’s growth. This ban occurred despite women’s football enjoying considerable popularity at the time, with record attendances. The repercussions of this ban and the prevailing male-centric structure mean that women’s top teams often rely on the financial backing of their male counterparts. The example of Charlton Athletic Women, sacrificed due to budget cuts after the men’s team’s relegation, is a stark reminder.
However, alternative models exist. Professor Jean Williams, a historian of women’s football, points to Angel City in the US National Women’s Soccer League as an example of a successful, independently founded women’s club. In contrast, in many parts of the world, “women’s football is a sub-brand of the men’s game.”
The fundamental question for governing bodies like the FA, UEFA, and FIFA is whether they view women’s football as merely a revenue opportunity or a matter of moral obligation. Do they, and the men’s teams that have historically benefited from a patriarchal system, have a responsibility to invest in and develop the women’s game, even if it requires initial financial sacrifices? The answer to this question will determine the future trajectory and true potential of women’s football, allowing it to step out of the “Euros Mens” shadow and shine in its own right.
