Takeaways from Women’s History Month
Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March mainly through declarations.
The 2022 Women’s History theme, “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” is both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the countless ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.
Women in sports are undeniably beacons of hope on the fight against gender discriminations and disparities. In our society today, there are a lot of odds stacked against women excelling in sports, starting from the social-conditioned perceptions that bar women’s participation in sporting activities, to forms of institutionalized sexism. That is why I see the women currently in sports as sources of hope and inspiration to those who are still held back by these social factors.
What it means to be a female basketball player
Alexandra Adala, who plays for the Strathmore Swords in the KBF Premier league and who is also a non-playing member of Saints Basketball in the KSBC League says, “for me, basketball is an opportunity to be the figure, a living example that sports is powerful and also doable. I see myself as an inspiration to younger players, especially young girls in my community. Many times I hear and see young girls in awe, “she plays basketball like a man, she shoots like a man” I want to show them that basketball is a sport for all, and not just a male sport. I want to change the narrative, to normalize and inspire young girls to play the game of basketball despite the odds.”
In most social aspects, sports remain a powerful tool for changing lives. It comes with the ability to push for gender equality by teaching women and girls teamwork, self-reliance, resilience, confidence among many other values. Women in sports defy a lot of gender stereotypes and social norms, they often make inspiring role models.
Impossible is nothing
Sports, originally the exclusive domain of men, has changed throughout history thanks to the milestones reached by women. Some have been victims of discrimination, but their fight and their achievements set a precedent and they became an inspiration to many others, for every hurdle set by society we have had women jump them, for every barrier both you and I know women who can or have knocked them down. Serena Williams for instance is an epitome of excellence not just in women’s sports but in sports generally. She has won 75 titles in her extremely lengthy career, including three Olympic golds and and 23 Grand Slams. She is also the only female tennis player to have been world number one for over 300 weeks.
At the age of 40 years and after having had a child, she is still one of the world’s best players. Serena among many other women have repeatedly demonstrated that impossible is nothing and women can excel in sports despite all the “mythical” limitations placed on there shoulders by society. But should it be so? Does this society we proudly claim to be an evolved one have to make it this hard for women’s sports to thrive?
Time for change
It is indeed time for women and men in sports to join hands or feet, depending on the sport and work together. It is time we tore down the divisive social structure and wove a new one on our own terms.
Sports is a powerful tool, it’s like a sagacious manuscript of directions written in an universal language. Sports is the same beyond borders, beyond gender differences and beyond all confines of classifications.
Just like we have witnessed all over the world sports being used to promote peace and discourage racism, it can also be used to fight gender discrimination and push for gender equity, but first we must rid our respective sports of any discrimination of the genders.
