Grocott's Mail
  • NEWS
    • Courts & Crime
    • Features
    • Politics
    • People
    • Health & Well-being
  • SPORT
    • News
    • Results
    • Sports Diary
    • Club Contacts
    • Columns
    • Sport Galleries
    • Sport Videos
  • OPINION
    • Election Connection
    • Makana Voices
    • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
    • Newtown… Old Eyes
    • Incisive View
    • Your Say
  • ARTSLIFE
    • Cue
    • Makana Sharp!
    • Visual Art
    • Literature
    • Food & Fun
    • Festivals
    • Community Arts
    • Going Places
  • OUR TOWN
    • What’s on
    • Spiritual
    • Emergency & Well-being
    • Safety
    • Civic
    • Municipality
    • Weather
    • Properties
      • Grahamstown Properties
    • Your Town, Our Town
  • OUTSIDE
    • Enviro News
    • Gardening
    • Farming
    • Science
    • Conservation
    • Motoring
    • Pets/Animals
  • ECONOMIX
    • Business News
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Personal Finance
  • EDUCATION
    • Education NEWS
    • Education OUR TOWN
    • Education INFO
  • Covid-19
  • EDITORIAL
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Traditional Healer rape case postponed due to delayed DNA test results
  • Rhodes University mourns the sudden passing of respected, award-winning alumnus, Eusebius McKaiser
  • Juniors football to make come back on Youth Day
  • Abuyile AmaTaliyane emva kwethuba elide
  • 9/10ths programme participants graduate from Rhodes University
  • Final report on Makhanda High Court move delayed until end October
  • Dozens of local kids turn out for Spelling Bee
  • Mbangeli makes a difference in the community through sports
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Grocott's Mail
  • NEWS
    • Courts & Crime
    • Features
    • Politics
    • People
    • Health & Well-being
  • SPORT
    • News
    • Results
    • Sports Diary
    • Club Contacts
    • Columns
    • Sport Galleries
    • Sport Videos
  • OPINION
    • Election Connection
    • Makana Voices
    • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
    • Newtown… Old Eyes
    • Incisive View
    • Your Say
  • ARTSLIFE
    • Cue
    • Makana Sharp!
    • Visual Art
    • Literature
    • Food & Fun
    • Festivals
    • Community Arts
    • Going Places
  • OUR TOWN
    • What’s on
    • Spiritual
    • Emergency & Well-being
    • Safety
    • Civic
    • Municipality
    • Weather
    • Properties
      • Grahamstown Properties
    • Your Town, Our Town
  • OUTSIDE
    • Enviro News
    • Gardening
    • Farming
    • Science
    • Conservation
    • Motoring
    • Pets/Animals
  • ECONOMIX
    • Business News
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Personal Finance
  • EDUCATION
    • Education NEWS
    • Education OUR TOWN
    • Education INFO
  • Covid-19
  • EDITORIAL
Grocott's Mail
You are at:Home»SPORT»Columns»What is a ‘woman’s’ sport?
Columns

What is a ‘woman’s’ sport?

Sarah ConnockBy Sarah ConnockSeptember 19, 2018Updated:September 27, 2018No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

The media recently has been filled with talk of Serena Williams, and many believe that her being a woman was part of the reason she was penalised so harshly. This has opened up the conversation yet again about how women are not treated equally or fairly in sport.

“She is not the first player to bang her racket on the ground, male players do that all the time, they also yell at officials all the time,” said Annelisa Fani, Sport co-ordinator at Nompucuko Comprehensive School, and manager of Young Ideas ladies’ soccer team in Marselle.

This discrepancy in sport isn’t just with her though, but rather a worldwide issue where women are paid less, supported less and less televised.

Abenathi Nqweniso, a young soccer player for Grahamstown’s (Makhanda’s) African Connection said that if she could change the face of sport, she would take away the idea of  “a man’s sport” and sports like cricket and rugby would be played by all. She believes that South African women who play sport are not promoted like the men are. “If the government officials would put more focus on sport then that would encourage [women]to be interested in playing sport.”

“There’s a difference between the amount of people and fans who come and watch men play compared to watching women play soccer.” Nqweniso said, and Sanel Sobahle, the sports officer at Rhodes University Sports Admin at agrees.

“Women are not watching sport,” said Sobahle. “There’s an issue with that in that we don’t even support ourselves.” She went to watch a netball match in Port Elizabeth where “the seats were empty. It was a televised match … The coverage was there, but the support was not.”

To Sobahle, the issue is deeper than simply sports players. “If you look at the federations, very few females are sitting in those federations.” She said, adding that there are very few people there advocating for women’s rights in sport.

Sobahle believes that this issue of gender in sport exists across the country, but at Rhodes “I’m not sure that I feel this whole gender divide. It is there in and across the country.” She said, adding that this discrepancy is not “in the same level” at Rhodes University.

Karabo Mavuso, the Chairperson of Rhodes Soccer Committee disagrees with Sobahle however, saying “Sports Admin will always see “Rhodes Soccer” as the men’s team, not us.”

“There’s a history of sportswomen not getting the applause and recognition that they need when they represent the university.” Mavuso said.

Ongezwa Magopeni, a netball player and student at Khutlisto Daniels believes this too, saying that female dominated sports such as netball are seen as “lesser” and that more male-dominated sports are televised. She says she wants to see a more equal representation of women in sport being publicised.

Grocott’s Mail hopes to continue this conversation about women in sport, and welcomes further engagement from readers on the topic. Anyone wishing to become part of the conversation my do so by emailing sport@grocotts.co.za, or contacting 046 603 7111.

Previous ArticleGrahamstown taxis join province-wide strike
Next Article Local artists on overseas tour
Sarah Connock

Comments are closed.

Tweets by Grocotts
Newsletter



Listen

The Rhodes University Community Engagement Division has launched Engagement in Action, a new podcast which aims to bring to life some of the many ways in which the University interacts with communities around it. Check it out below.

Humans of Makhanda

Humans of Makhanda

Weather    |     About     |     Advertise     |     Subscribe     |     Contact     |     Support Grocott’s Mail

© 2023 Maintained by School of Journalism & Media Studies.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.