What if...the media asked male and female athletes the same questions?
10 Questions for the Media to ask Male Athletics
The 2022 UEFA European Women’s Football Championship is at full power as this blog is written.
I’m no football fan; however, there is something special about seeing your national team playing football with the big nations on the big fields.
Yes, I admit, I’ve noticed I fall into that patriotic box when I watch ‘our girls’ as we call the Icelandic Female National Soccer Team. Watching them on the TV, heading into the field, the Icelandic National Anthem is played.
We do the same thing when our Men’s National Football team plays; we talk about ‘our boys’. And we proudly sing with them and stand up from our comfy sofa chair when they score, just as we do when ‘our girls’ are playing.
So, I cheer for both male and female national football teams, and in that way, I think, in some ways, it doesn’t matter what gender the team is.
Why Doesn’t Male Athletic Get The Same Questions From The Media?
However, one particular thing is entirely different during these matches. And that is how the media asks women football players completely different questions than their male encounters.
My first reaction to these questions was my same old ‘irritations’ - my body was trembling with inner anger and irritations.
Questions from the media to women in the Icelandic football team were: “How does it feel seeing your kid watching you play for your national team?” Or “How do you juggle being both a devoted mother and having a career in this sport?”
Gosh, this didn’t go well into my system. 🫣
Old thoughts and feelings of irritation with how slowly the whole world is moving towards more gender equity in our world stirred up within me.
At the same time, as a leadership coach and mentor, working with thought-leaders, entrepreneurs and the new paradigm politicians. I know from my own experience that when something comes up on the surface for us, something that creates such a reaction to your mind, body and soul as it did for me, there is something more that I need to explore for myself.
Something that I need to work on… for me!
After some deep introspection, I noticed that my irritations were not only around the thought process of “Why does the Media have to make such a big deal out of being a mother and playing a sport? They don’t do that with the fathers of their children?”
I could feel in my bones that I needed to go deeper.
Both women's and men's football team have worked their butt off to get to that league to play on behalf of their country.
I started to look at the outcome of these questions. “What were their answers?” And even more importantly, “What happened to me when I read the women’s athletics answers? “
Reading the women football players’ answers gave me a deeper understanding of them as a person. I got to know and understand them better, their challenges, their fears, their wins, and their authentic personalities.
That’s when I got my big A-HA moment!
The MEDIA has been hiding essential insights about the male players for decades! And I would love for this to be changed!
I know many fathers who are 100% committed to being fathers with every cell in their body, so what if… the media showcased that perspective?
It wasn’t about being irritated that MEDIA was asking women these questions.
It was about realising; that I wanted not only to know the authentic female football player but also the authentic person behind the mask as a male football player.
It was about my curiosity and desire to get the opportunity to hear and learn from male soccer players from that same angle.
- I sincerely wanted to know their answers; further, as I dug even further, I found ten questions that I would love the media to ask any male athletes.
Ten questions the media should ask male football players or male athletes.
How does it feel to be a father on the football field?
What are your fears for your families as a public figure in your sport?
How do you balance your professional and personal life as a male football player or athlete?
What do you keep in your toilet bag and trainers bag?
What are your biggest fear, struggles, and obstacles as a male football player or athlete?
Who takes care of your home when you are playing football?
How do you find time to relax and rejuvenate as a father and husband/partner?
What are your best tips for preparing your children and family before the tournament?
Who takes care of your children while you are in a tournament?
What is the hardest part of becoming a father AND having an athlete career?
(this last question is primarily for the NEW dads out there).
Now, you might be thinking I’m making fun of these questions that women get. My answer is today a 100% NO!
I truly believe there could be a massive shift in the sports world when these questions would be routine questions to ask ANY GENDERS!
The MEDIA could quickly become The New Paradigm for Gender Equality in our world.
Helping its subscribers/readers to:
Get to know the person behind the athletes.
Connect more profoundly with the athlete’s brands on a personal level.
Showcase what it means to be a human in the sports world, regardless of our genders.
Expand and even escape the stereotypical gender boxes related to sports.
Understand one another, and create more unity in our world.
What do you say?
Would you like to know the answers to these questions from male athletes?
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Written and published:
Sunday, July 17th 2022, Reykjavík Iceland
Rúna Magnúsdóttir,
Ambassador for The New Paradigm for Gender Equality. Co-Founder #NoMoreBoxes The Transformational Movement. An International Speaker, Author, Leadership Coach & Mentor.