Gender inequalities are not chosen by black women: they are just thrust upon them, says Cheryl Roberts.
I’ve written extensively, though not yet exhaustively, about the litany of struggles and battles faced by women in sport, especially the hardships faced by working-class and black girls, and women’s participation in sport.
Despite some assistance here and there from national and provincial government, sports federations don’t have healthy sports budgets to focus on girls’ and women’s participation in sport.
Sport officialdom know about the gender inequalities in society which impact on women’s participation and affect how women are able to be assisted to develop and achieve.
Because sport in South Africa is male-controlled and influenced, women’s advancement and aspirations are heavily influenced by male control of the sports apparatus.
And this means that a feminist and gender-sensitive lens for analysis and support of women in sport is rarely employed to spotlight gender imbalances and eliminate inequalities.
I mention the gender inequalities in all of my writings about women and sport. I never tire of doing this because I believe passionately in eliminating the stranglehold which male control has on the sports network in South Africa.
Throughout my activism of the past decade, I have wanted elite and corporate women to not only speak out about the gender inequalities in sport, but to also support women in sport, with a particular focus on the marginalised black and working-class sports girls and sportswomen.
I have wanted black professional women, the rich black women and the elite corporate black women, to use their power to direct funding to sport to be used largely for the benefit of advancing black girls and women in sport. But this social responsibility from them has not been forthcoming.
Then we hear of black South African businesswoman Wendy Luhabe’s appointment as a director of the World Rugby executive.as an executive to the Board of the International Rugby Board.
And I think: “But I have never heard you or seen you being quoted speaking out for black sportswomen.”What makes a formerly oppressed black woman who has “made it” in democratic South Africa choose a largely male sport like rugby to give support and time to?
What makes professional, moneyed black women sit on corporate and parastatal boards in their own country and watch these boards and companies give money to men’s sport, while ignoring women in sport?
How dare these black women be complicit in ensuring gender imbalances remain in sport and that black women remain traumatised because of their struggle to get sponsorship and funding?I’m not attacking Luhabe.
I’m calling out powerful, moneyed, corporate, elite black women about their silence and non-support of black girls and women in sport. Don’t they ask why black sportswomen struggle in sport?
Why is athlete Caster Semenya seemingly the only South African black sportswoman to be achieving internationally?
Sportswomen are struggling to perform within the male-dominated sports pyramid. Corporate sponsorships of women in sport are few. Sports budgets for sportswomen and sports girls are also just a little here and there and very small. Haven’t the powerful black South African women noticed this?
Can the women not come along and help support black girls and sportswomen?Some black sportswomen are struggling after retirement from international sport; some are managing to set up foundations.
However, most black sportswomen need support and help while participating and competing in sport; financial assistance is particularly required, to cover all the expenses.
And then we see and approve of a black businesswoman’s appointment to an international sport federation and think, while congratulating her: “How could you by-pass involvement in women’s sport in your own country?”
Yes, I know the choices are personal, dependent on one’s own happiness and pursuit.
But remember that gender inequalities are not chosen by black women: they are thrust upon them because of structural inequalities, capitalist domination and patriarchal control.
And surely, black women, when they have achieved some power, can give back and assist to break the shackles and chains that strangle black women?
In this instance, I’m talking about black women and their much-needed support of struggling black sports girls and black sportswomen.
*Roberts is a sports activist, publisher and writer
The Mercury