We’ve done it again! We’ve allowed the discourse surrounding women’s sport in Ireland to shift to the unimportant. An ad appeared online and everyone went mad. Sexist, wonderful, thought provoking, ridiculous.... the list of adjectives thrown about online could go on forever. At the end of the day, it is an ad, just like the Hunky Dory ad, just like David Beckham in his underwear – it is an ad, not a comment on the value of the sport or person in question.
From a PR and Marketing perspective it’s a cracker! It is artfully shot; the small text means you have to really look at it to get the full picture and without a doubt it makes you stop and think. 10 out of 10 so far!
So what about the content? Is it sexist for TG4 to use the fact that the females playing the sport that they work hard to promote also have a critical role in the future of the human race?!
In my opinion absolutely not!
Giving birth to a child is one of the most dangerous, beautiful, painful and important acts of human existence. It is the essence of being female, the big divider between men and women. In terms of how gender roles are evolving, Irish society is becoming increasingly gender neutral. Perceptions of what a woman or man should or shouldn’t be doing are being challenged and redefined on a daily basis.
This is happening very clearly on the sporting landscape also. Rugby and boxing were traditionally arenas that were only suitable for men. The level of physical contact and aggression meant women apparently would not be able to compete, or even want to compete.
Not any more. Which Irish sportspeople have become national heroes over the last few years? Take a bow Katie Taylor and the Women’s Rugby team. On the reverse side – men’s hockey has become more visible to the masses along with Kieran Behan the artistic gymnast who won our hearts and minds during London 2012. The gender based expectations and perceptions in Irish sport are changing – people have broken the mould and changed our perceptions for the better.
It still stands however that there is one aspect to the female existence that will significant effect her life as a sports person – pregnancy. Regardless of how fluid gender roles are becoming it is highly unlikely that a male sports person will have to take a year out of competitive sport because they are pregnant.
Cliodhna O'Connor in 2014 ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
For the female athlete I believe people really underestimate the dilemma that can develop when it comes to having children and participating in sport at the highest level.
It is commonplace now that women have to make a conscious choice. Do I stay or do I go? Do I compete for another few years and retire to start a family? Do I have children now and come back? I personally know numerous ladies Gaelic footballers who were torn by this exact question. The two primary pillars of their identity competing against each other – I am a woman and want to be a mother; I am a footballer – which is more important?
Another recent example is the Irish rower Sinead Jennings. She is 38 and is back competing, hoping to qualify for her first Olympics – she has three young children. Only a mother can tell you what carrying a child and giving birth does to your body and mind. Getting yourself back in the physical, mental and emotional condition to compete at such a high level is spectacular. It should be applauded.
I am not an expert but you know maybe the genetics that prepare women to give birth play a big part in what makes us great sports competitors. We will never have the testosterone or muscle mass of our male counterparts– we are not designed to. But we are built to endure, we are built to have incredible mental strength, we are built to have the strength to support another human being inside our bodies for months – the physical and mental challenge that this presents should never be underestimated.
As a female sportsperson I am proud that it is my gender that gets the privilege of carrying and giving birth to children – let's be honest doing that job for nine months is much harder than marking Cora Staunton in an All Ireland Final!
I am for equality but I am not for a homogeneous society – sporting or otherwise. Everyone is different and women are different to men – that’s just biology! We should have no shame in celebrating all the wonderful aspects of being female, we should be proud of not just what we do but also what we are. TG4 highlighted that Gaelic players are women – what is the problem with that?
Some would suggest that we, 'women’s sport' should be grateful for the debate this ad has created – "sure aren’t we talking about women’s sport – that’s good enough isn’t it?" I am not convinced by this argument. We are not talking about women’s sport really; we are talking about whether we like an ad. In my book that is not the same thing.
What would be of service to women’s sport was if every person who posted an online comment, or clicked a like/dislike button voicing their opinion on the ad were to shut their computer and walk out the door this weekend to a women’s sports event. I know for a fact that there are plenty of opportunities to really support women’s sport this week. But maybe it is easier to click a button and call TG4 sexist?
Cliodhna O'Connor is an All-Ireland-winning goalkeeper with Dublin, who also won two All-Stars in an inter-county career which spanned from 2002 to 2014.
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