Time: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
RSVP: By Wednesday, February 7 to clarkeforum@dickinson.edu. Space is limited. More information will be sent once we receive your RSVP.
At the 2023 World Cup medal ceremony, Former President of Spain’s Soccer Federation, Luis Rubiales, kissed player Jennifer Hermoso without consent. The fallout that ensued brought issues of sexism in women’s sports to a global stage. Prior to the World Cup, the Spain women’s national team had complained of subpar training facilities and transportation, as well as a hostile and monitored work environment, leading 15 players to withdraw from World Cup consideration in protest. These accusations were not taken seriously before the medal ceremony media fallout. Even now Hermoso is experiencing repercussions from speaking out about her experience, such as being excluded from the national team’s recent roster.
Additionally, in 2022, following a six-year legal battle, the United States women’s national team received a fairer contract regarding pay. Tensions rose when the United States men’s national team earned an overall higher salary than the women’s team, specifically in regard to international tournament payments (like the World Cup). Even though the women’s team had performed consistently and comparatively better than the men’s team they received less pay.
Sexism has historic roots in women’s sports both economically and physically. This salon will explore questions such as: what effect do the environments of such sports have on an athlete; are there are specific procedures in place to ensure a healthy and safe environment for female athletes; how does widespread media coverage influence the handling of cases rooted in misogyny; and who do sports teams ultimately protect? The discussion will be facilitated by Layla Ilarraza ’26 and Katie Schweighofer, director of the Women’s & Gender Resource Center and contributing faculty in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies, and is sponsored by the Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues.
Prior to the conversation, be sure to look over the following materials in the order provided:
“A Kiss After Spain’s World Cup Win Prompts Many to Cry Foul,” The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/20/world/europe/hermoso-kiss-world-cup-spain-rubiales.html
“U.S. Women’s Soccer Team Sues U.S. Soccer for Gender Discrimination,” The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/08/sports/womens-soccer-team-lawsuit-gender-discrimination.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article
“A new NCAA report show the stark gap in funding for women’s sports,” NPR
https://www.npr.org/2022/06/24/1107242271/the-ncaa-says-that-funding-for-women-in-college-sports-is-falling-behind
“Introduction: The Politics of the Ponytail,” Points of Change in U.S. Women’s Sport
https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/j.ctt5vk0cg.5