Men’s vs. Women’s World Cup

With the start of the World Cup, countless people crowded around every screen they have access to keep track of the scores and winning teams. So many emotions come with each loss and each win, intensified by political tensions and displays such as the Iranian team not singing their national anthem and Russia being excluded from the competitions. It was hard not to get emotionally invested in the games.

 With the men’s World Cup coming to a close, fans have begun to anticipate the women’s World Cup. However, excitement and media coverage for the women’s competition is little compared to the men’s. The lack of representation that the media and the global community give in general to large women’s tournaments in athletics is disappointing. Sports can uplift a community with love and excitement, yet women’s tournaments are severely downplayed. But why is that? When asked for their opinion, an unnamed student  blatantly stated that “men just play soccer better than women as they take it more seriously.” The male-dominated nature of sports such as soccer often leads to the assumption that women’s sports are not as competitive or challenging. Women's soccer is viewed as lesser than due to misogynistic ideas and habits. It is assumed by many that men are just simply better at athletics, or fitness in general. Women will put their heart and soul into their work just like men do, and then some. 

For far too long, women have been trying to prove themselves in a patriarchal world.. There are so many powerful and strong women who are amazing athletes, but most people would never expect them to be better than a man. At the end of the day, both men and women are devoting their life to and loving the same sport. In the future, media, fans, and governments alike should promote and support women’s tournaments as much as they do men’s competitions.