Strong solidarity: football for girls and women in Thuringia!

Strong solidarity: football for girls and women in Thuringia!

The world of football is not just about goals and championships - it is also about equal opportunities and equality. There is currently an exciting collaboration in the works that focuses on precisely these topics. The Thuringian Football Association (TFV) and the Spirit of Football initiative have officially announced their collaboration. This partnership aims to increase the visibility and participation of girls and women in football. Loud [TFV]. de-kooperation/?tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&cHash=e7fb0429573ed408e3e8908fee741bd8) Not only is work being done in the area of inclusion sports and refereeing, but new priorities are also being set that specifically affect girls' and women's football.

A holistic approach is the hallmark of this collaboration. Various activities are planned, such as workshops and tournaments, which are specifically intended to support girls and women in football. Events in schools and clubs will play an important role in promoting values ​​such as respect and team spirit. The Thuringian Mini European Championship for girls is presented as a highlight in order to present the expanded goals of the partnership to a broader public.

Promoting gender equality in sport

At the political level, work is also being done on the visibility of women in sport. The Federal Ministry for Women's Affairs has initiated the project “Free from clichés in sport – no stereotypes” to promote a sports culture free of clichés. Federal Minister for Women Lisa Paus emphasizes how important the live broadcast of all World Cup games on public television is for the visibility of female athletes. According to BMFSFJ, broad media reporting should also break down stereotypes that hinder girls and women's access to football.

In particular, the upcoming FIFA Women's World Cup, which starts on July 20, 2023 in Australia and New Zealand, represents a great opportunity. Prominent voices, such as that of Celia Šašić, DFB Vice President, underline the importance of visibility for equality and diversity in sport. The Women in Football FF27 strategy, which was adopted in December 2021, is intended to promote the development of women's football even more specifically in the future.

Equality in football and beyond

For many people, the discussion about gender equality is far from over. There are still big differences between boys and girls in football. While in many clubs e-youth teams compete fairly against each other, access for girls in other clubs is still limited. A raised index finger is often not the right remedy here. Rather, they see the need to improve the structures in girls' football, as coach Jörg Heinold emphasizes. The Unionequaletics, founded by former students of the German Sport University Cologne, has made it its mission to combat inequality in sport.

Various educational offerings are used to raise awareness in the clubs. In addition, a French study highlights that female players' performances are often rated lower when their gender is known - a problem that affects not only football, but sport in general. The goal remains clear: a discrimination-free space for all genders in sport, where girls and women have equal opportunities to prove themselves.

The collaboration between the TFV and Spirit of Football as well as the initiatives of the Federal Ministry for Women's Affairs make it clear: It is up to all of us to promote visibility and participation in sport. Football in particular can act as a bridge builder and contribute to the development of an inclusive sports culture through the use of innovative forms. Let's get it done!