Written by: Molly Martinka | Freelancer

Content Warning: This article contains references to sexual assault

“No matter what life throws at you, or how unfair you think it is, never give up. Pick yourself up and go on.” — Megan Rapinoe, soccer player

Since the beginning of time, society has demonstrated the importance of hierarchy. Whether it be women against men, race against race or right against wrong, there has always been a society where divide is a normality. Though many can admit that the adversities that permeate society are harmful to mankind, people seldom take the initiative to make a change. These feelings of hesitancy commonly arise from the idea that one person is not capable of making a difference for a change that must occur by the masses. There are some female athletes, however, that have changed this narrative, and took it upon themselves to make a change in the capacity that they can.

Sports are of great importance in the individuality and collectivism that shapes our cultures, and the idea of an “athlete” manifests in various forms. Such a captivating force is the ideal platform for athletes to make changes in the fabric of society, whether it be miniscule alterations or mass diversion. Female athletes have faced discrimination for centuries, and continue to face adversity today. This, when combined with other social repressions, creates the urge for change to cultivate within some iconic athletes such as Simone Biles, Serena Williams and Megan Rapinoe. These three women highlight the importance of feminism in sports, and racial equality in the world. 

Simone Biles is undoubtedly one of the most prominent figures in the Olympic and gymnastics community, but her success did not come without hardship. Biles has demonstrated perseverance, grit and strength that many women take deep inspiration from. Though millions recognize her for her skills and agility, there is far more praise to be given for her role in the women’s movement of female athletes. Not only did Biles express the importance of women’s mental health when she stepped back in the Tokyo Olympics, but she also brought justice to thousands of women by exposing the sexual abuse caused by Olympic doctor Larry Nassar. By demonstrating the fearlessness to speak out on a male perpetrator at such a high profile, Biles reminded society that no matter the cost, justice takes precedence over press. Though she was aware of the negative backlash she could potentially face, she took the step towards change and away from gender inequality. 

Serena Williams also demonstrated feminism and called for change when she spoke out against unequal pay for black female athletes. Her statement, “I’m a black woman in a sport that wasn’t really meant for black people,” in an interview with The Hill emphasizes the social culture historically surrounding tennis. Williams knowingly entered a sport that was often for the highest profile white wealthy families, and became one of the icons of the sports for years to come. 

Williams takes action in many ways, including opening secondary schools in Kenya, representing UNICEF as an ambassador and creating her own venture capital firm which invests in technology companies created and run by African American women. These actions help further the women’s movement in sports in parallel with the Black Lives Matter movement, serving as inspiration to millions. 

Megan Rapinoe is a female soccer player, who took a stance to speak on the hardships of calling for change. She has spoken out fearlessly against systemic racism, homophobia in sports and abuse of women within the industry. She calls for a “paradigm shift,” and encourages other female athletes not to hesitate to speak out against injustices. One of her most prominent actions to further the women’s sports movement is her lawsuit against unequal women’s pay. Her call for change created a ripple effect amongst female soccer players, and the lawsuit ended in a $20 million settlement and a promise for equal pay in the future. 

Though the women’s rights movement will never be complete, and there is still great room for change, one cannot overlook the strength and progress that has been made thus far. These female athletes helped craft a safer future for oppressed athletes all over the world. A call for change has been spoken, and these powerful icons answered that call. Though their work is not done, a newfound courage has been sparked in sports fans everywhere. Together, the fabric of society can change, and these female athletes demonstrated just that. 

The women’s rights social movement will continue to grow and evolve, and sports will remain one of the most compelling platforms for political expression. With the power of these strong female athletes, evolution is inevitable. It takes one match to start a fire, and these women have done just that. 

Contact the author at mmartinka23@mail.wou.edu