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“Not Bad” For a Girl
How Women’s Sports is a Place For Empowerment
“Not bad, for a girl.”
The amount of times I — and most women — heard this phrase growing up is immeasurable. More often than not, it is not spoken with ill-intent. There is no spite in any syllable. Rather, it is believed by many as a statement to encourage young girls. To help them keep their chin up as they try and keep pace in a man’s world.
It is a platitude at best. More often, insulting.
The words followed in my footsteps as I entered the world of contact sports; seven years old and spitting out my mouthguard in naïve defiance — I am surprised every day that I can count all my teeth and only a few chips.
With every tackle I made, from rugby union to AFL, the boys on my team would mock me with those damn words. Meanwhile, the dads on the sidelines would clap me on the back as they smiled through their perceived reassurance.
From seven- to eight- to eleven-years-old, the frustration of constantly having to prove my worth in competitions due to simply being born female would make me see red. Being the only female in the local competition in two different sports was as isolating as it was infuriating. It was a constant uphill battle that had no end in sight.
“We can’t celebrate…
