Category: Empowerment
Promoting Gender Equality Through Table Tennis
Focusing on combining these social aspects of the sport, the International Table Tennis Federation brought World Table Tennis Day to life. Every year on 6 April, marking also the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, people celebrate the sport of table tennis by promoting social causes and bringing together their community.
Its ultimate aim is to keep as many people as possible from all walks of life involved with table tennis. In accordance with this goal, the World Table Tennis Day is based on three pillars:
- POPULAR
The celebration aims at increasing the number of table tennis enthusiasts, hobby player, interested parties, and people who usually don’t play table tennis.
- UNIVERSAL
On 6 April, table tennis is taken to all the corners of the world!
- INCLUSIVE
The sport is made accessible to everyone, irrespective of age, gender, social status, cultural background or physical ability.
Since its first edition in 2015, the ITTF Foundation organises one main event with very different scenarios, different continents are covered with a varying focus. Between 2015 and 2019, we celebrated table tennis in the main street of Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires, inaugurated the TT4NepALL project in Kathmandu together with para players, showed the world the simplicity of adapted sports at the UN Headquarters in New York and the SportAccord Convention in Denmark, played with refugees in the Za’atari Camp at the Jordan border with Syria and practiced with kids at two projects in Uganda encouraging school attendance and giving hope.
Women Trailblazers in Sport: Gertrude Ederle
“I knew it could be done, it had to be done, and I did it.”
Gertrude Ederle’s accomplishments were not only in the water as an Olympic swimmer and the first woman to swim the English Channel. She also had a huge impact on the fight for gender equality in sports, and her acts inspired generations of sporting women after her.
The English Channel is part of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France and links to the southern part of the North Sea by the Strait of Dover at its north-eastern end. The straight-line distance which swimmers must complete is about 34 km, with water temperatures peaking at 20C in the summer and dropping to 5C in the winter. Even today, swimming the channel is one of the toughest endurance tests in the world. However, in 1926 at the age of 20, Gertrude Ederle became the first women to complete the swim. In doing so, she also broke the record previously set by a man – Enrique Tirabocchi.
Ederle was already an accomplished athlete when she first attempted the Channel swim. As a professional swimmer, she had seen success at an international level. This came at the 1924 Olympic games in Paris, where she won a gold medal with the relay in the 4 x 100 freestyle and bronze medals in 100m and 400m freestyle. However, the English Channel swim was a much greater task.
Ederle’s first attempt to swim across the Channel was in 1925, but after 9 hours she was pulled out of the water by her coach due to frigid and turbulent waters. This was a tough lesson for young Ederle from which she was committed to learn from. The swim was more than personal for her. Not only she was fighting to complete the distance, she knew that that this represented more than just a sporting challenge. At the beginning of 20th century, the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified and women officially got the voting right. This time-period was historically significant for women all over the world as it started the era of the independent women, who were prepared to stand for themselves and show the world that women deserve to be treated equally.
After failing to cross the English Channel the first time, Ederle was determined to do it again. She focused on her training and learning about the currents and acclimatising to the cold. Many people did not believe she could make it but she never doubted herself. On the morning of August 6th in 1926, Ederle set out from Cape Gris-Nez in France to attempt the swim again. After 14 hours and 34 minutes from when started in France, Ederle completing the crossing when she arrived on the English shore of Kingsdown, Kent. However, she not only became the first women to complete the swim, but she also broke the existing record of 16 hours and 33 minutes set in 1923 by the Argentine swimmer Enrique Tirabocchi.
About 4,000 Britons greets her on the shore, filled with the excitement and joy. They knew they were part of sporting history and that the story of Ederle will be passed from generation to generation for many years. People on the shore did not care if Ederle was an American, they just cared about the incredible distance she covered. Women and men welcomed her ashore where they celebrated a victory for all humankind. Ederle was later inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
“I had achieved my one ambition by crossing the English Channel.”
Sadly, the Channel swim significantly worsened her hearing, and she retired from swimming competitively in 1928 aged just 22. After that, she was toured around British towns giving swimming demonstrations and instructions. She also appeared in a short film about her life and career. In 1933, she suffered from a severe back injury and she was never able to compete again except at the “Aquacade” attraction of the 1939 New York World’s Fair. However, later in life, she went on to teach swimming to deaf children and passed on all the wisdom she had gained through years of training to the younger generation at the Lexington School for Deaf.
She passed away in Wyckoff, New Jersey, in 2003 at the age of 98. They named a recreational centre – Ederle Recreation Centre, which is complete with a pool that features her name on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The location has a significant meaning since the centre is located not far from where she grew up and first learned to swim.
Lessons To Be Learned
No one can describe Ederle’s achievement better than Heywood Broun did in an article for the New York World:
“When Gertrude Ederle struck out from France, she left behind her a world which has believed for a great many centuries that woman is the weaker vessel. Much of government, most of law and practically all of morality is based upon this assumption. And when her toes touched the sands of England, she stepped out of the water into a brand-new world.”
Ederle showed that with determination and focus, a woman can achieve whatever her heart desires and whatever her mind determines. She showed that women should be presented with the equal opportunity and that they should not be underestimated. With her acts, Ederle empowered many girls in understanding their rights and to take pride in participating in sport.
Sports is hugely powerful in shaping norms and stereotypes about gender. However, we all have the ability to challenge these norms by promoting women and men in sport equally – irrespective of gender. We should learn from the actions of those like Ederle, and strive to make sport a safe, inclusive, and respectful experience for all the people of all genders.
Nastja Govejšek
Women Trailblazers in Sport: Kathrine Switzer
“I felt like I had successfully passed a torch to the millions of women around the world who have had their lives transformed by running,”
Although Kathrine Switzer is running royalty, her name may not be familiar to those outside the sport. However, the contribution of her and her actions in the fight for gender equality in both athletics and wider society cannot be understated. Here is her story.
Over 50 years ago, Kathrine Switzer broke down a significant barrier in gender equality in sport by officially entering the Boston Marathon. There had not been a female runner to officially participate in the 70 year history of the World’s biggest Marathon. At the time, there were wide misconceptions and sexist notions regarding women in sport: they were unattractive; they are too fragile to
compete; they cannot do what men do. However, Switzer was committed, and trained, registered and competed in the 1967 Marathon, wearing the #261 bib and a coat of lipstick at the starting line as the sole women amongst hundreds of men.
She did not get far before facing some adversity. Switzer recalls the infamous scene of the event’s manager, Jock Semple, chasing her furiously down the road in an attempt to remove her from the race:
“A big man, a huge man, with bared teeth was set to pounce, and before I could react he grabbed my shoulder and flung me back, screaming, ‘Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers!’”
Despite being shaken by the ordeal, Switzer was determined to finish the race, considering what was at stake not just for her, but for all women everywhere:
“I knew if I quit, nobody would ever believe that women had the capability to 26-plus miles…If I quit, it would set women’s sports back, way back, instead of forward. If I quit, I’d never run Boston. If I quit, Jock Semple and all those like him would win”
Switzer eventually completed the race in 4 hours and 20 minutes. However, her decision to participate was not without retribution. Switzer was disqualified and expelled from the athletics federation on grounds of running with men, fraudulently entering the race and running without a chaperone. Her actions and the subsequent consequences she faced sparked a desire for gender
equality in the world of running. So much so, the organisers of the Boston Marathon eventually succumbed to public pressure and allowed women to compete in the event just five years later. Her unrelenting attitude to stand up to the status quo and overcome limitations she knew to be false holds important lessons for all looking to make change in sport and in wider society:
Unwritten Rules Are Made To Be Broken
“He (Brigg) checked the rule book and I checked the rule book. Even though it had been a men-only race for 70 years, it said nothing about gender…it wasn’t a deception.”
Switzer and her coach, Arnie Brigg, reviewed the rules of the Boston Marathon prior to entering the race. On paper, there were no formal rules prohibiting women to take part in the race, nor were there questions on the race application enquiring about gender. She signed her application form as ‘K.V.Switzer’ – as she had always done – that prevented event organisers from seeing she was a girl
when her application came in. She never did anything illegal or forbidden, yet managed to spur international interest stemming from her defiance of misconceptions of women in sport.
Repercussions Can Lead to Opportunities
“I wanted to create opportunities for women in the sport because everybody was saying, ‘Oh, well, women’s running doesn’t count. Nobody else is going to run.’ I knew other women would run if they weren’t afraid of it. I wanted them to feel what I felt.”
Switzer’s expulsion from the athletics federation prevented her from participating in many races across the country. However, she continued to compete where she could, rerunning the Boston Marathon in 1970 and winning the New York City Marathon in 1974. In 1978, she went on to create the Avon International Running Circuit of women’s-only races in 27 countries. Since then, well over a
million females have participated in the races. The momentum gathered from these races helped convince the International Olympic Committee to include a women’s marathon for the first time in their 1984 Olympic games. Her actions inspired a generation. Today, almost half of all participants in
the Boston Marathon are female.
Telling Your Story Can Be Revolutionary
“It’s been a social revolution. The women out there running are not running to be Olympic athletes. They’re running because they feel a sense of fearlessness and empowerment.”
Switzer’s transition into a symbol for women’s rights began the day after the events of the Boston Marathon, immediately taking her story from local Rotary Clubs to high school athletic departments. Today, she is a renowned speaker at much larger events, and published a memoir highlighting her struggle for equality – Marathon Woman: Running The Race to Revolutionise Women’s Sports.
Switzer set up the ‘261 Fearless’ movement. They are global non-profit organisation that use running as a vehicle to empower and unite women through education programs, local women-only 261 running clubs and social events.
To read more about Kathrine’s story and find out how she helped shape women’s sport, click here.
How to be inspired with social media?
With the lockdown, social distancing measures and the winter break, we are all spending a bit more time on our phones and many of us might be finding ourselves drawn to social media. The FLOT project wanted to use this opportunity to share with you a few resources to help keep you motivated and empowered, a reminder that hope exists and there is light at the end of a dark tunnel.
Why not check out these Instagram Accounts?
- @feminist.herstory – shares regular content of women who have shaped our everyday life
- @feminist – possibly the most famous Instagram account of the selection, promoting equality, sorority, empowerment, and of course, feminism
- @march – shares empowering posts
- @feminist_talks – daily feminist content
- @soyouwanttotalkabout – dissecting progressive politics and social issues in graphic slideshow form
- @justwomenssports – shares daily successful women in sport and interviews that will inspire you!
- @i_weigh – based on advocacy and inclusivity
Or have a listen to the following Podcasts?
- I weigh with Jameela Jamil: from the Instagram account presented before, she receives activists, influencers and leaders to discuss topics such as the fight for body neutrality and inclusiveness and she is an advocate for mental health. It has been ranked in the top 10 best podcast of 2020 by Apple.
- Pretty Big Deal: This podcast is a confidence booster. Ashley Graham is a model and fierce advocate for body positivity and empowerment of women of all shapes and sizes.
- Girls Gone Boss: This podcast will empower you and motivate you to achieve your dreams!
- Women Leaders Podcast: In every episode Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in College Sports will talk with strong, resilient, inspired, and passionate women whose career paths you will find inspirational and empowering.
Finally, why not have a look at the following YouTube Channel:
- MAKERS: this channel aims to accelerate the women’s movement through stories of real-life experiences
On this article: Successful Women Empowerment Campaigns, we shared with you campaigns that could also inspire and empower you!
Gender Equity in Sport for All: Participation, Empowerment, Leadership
On Thursday 12 November 2020, TAFISA’s webinar series in collaboration with the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) was launched with a first webinar in partnership with the African Women In Sports Association (AWISA). With nearly 200 registrations coming from 74 countries around the world, the webinar “Gender Equity in Sport for All: Participation, Empowerment, Leadership” addressed the topics of women participation, empowerment, and leadership.
The webinar featured presentations and interventions from a variety of AWISA and AUSC representatives as well as AUSC Region 5 CEO, Stanley Mutoya, and TAFISA Business Development and Fundraising Manager, Keri McDonald. Contributions from these two project partners provided an invaluable opportunity to present the FLOT Project to a global audience.
All the participants were asked how gender equity could be achieve in Sport for All. The word cloud below summarises the hot topic of the webinar: we need empowerment and education. And these indeed go along with tolerance, sorority, determination and respect.
TAFISA, AUSC and AWISA would like to express their gratitude to all participants and the speakers that gave thought-provoking insights on the topic of Gender Equity in Sport for All. Stay tuned as TAFISA and AUSC will announce new webinars in the coming weeks!
If you wish to watch the full webinar again, you can access it here:
Successful and Powerful Women Empowerment Campaigns
We created a playlist with some of our favourite campaigns featuring Women Empowerment, Selflove and Women in Sport to remind you that you are unstoppable!
We all sometimes need a boost of motivation, here you can find some inspiration, and remind you that you can do anything just by being yourself:
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- Nike – Dream Crazier
Dream Crazier is for the female athletes who broke the barriers put in their way and instead inspired athletes to follow their dreams, regardless of their gender.
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- Dove | Beauty on your own terms #MyBeautyMySay –
Beauty on your own terms is an answer to how women are judged, using appearance and beauty against them, rather than their achievements. This campaign features stories of powerful women who achieved their goal and stood up for their own beauty.
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- Sport England – This Girl Can – Phenomenal Woman
This campaign from Sport England is to celebrate women and send a message that women can achieve anything and be proud of themselves.
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- ON Running – Nicola Spiring Superfrau
ON Running features stories of athletes. This one is the story of Nicola Spiring, a successful Swiss triathlete who qualified for her fifth Olympic Games while being a mother of three children.
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- Nike: What are girls made of? –
This campaign destroyed the cliché of what women are expected to do. Women can be whoever they want to be!
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- Nike – What will they say about you
This campaign is to empower women and celebrate breaking down barriers. It highlights women showing what they were told was impossible was possible.
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- Dove Real Beauty Sketches | You’re more beautiful than you think –
This campaign is emphasising the gap we create, between how we see ourselves how the others perceive us. An artist drew someone’s face based on their description and the same person based on the others’ description, the results are surprising.
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- Always #LikeAGirl –
The Campaign “Like a Girl” breaks down the expression “… like a girl” and turning it into a pride. Being a girl is awesome, and not an insult, neither degrading!