Soccer World Cup proves all athletics can evoke emotion, pride
Although the United States women's national soccer team may not have declared victory over its Japanese opponents in the thrilling World Cup final, the players have certainly won a much larger battle for the popularity of women's sports. In a world dominated by men's sports, the task to propel the other gender's competitions onto television screens and into hearts of millions has been difficult until now.
Women's sports have struggled to gain momentum in the shadow of their male counterparts. Women's sport organizations like the Women's United Soccer Association have either gone under quickly or are currently struggling to stay alive. In my opinion, these organizations typically pay salaries well below what these athletes deserve. This is not to say that women's sports have the same advantages as men's sports.
To give everyone a quick history lesson, women's sports in the United States were not fully accepted until 1972 when former President Richard Nixon signed Title IX. This made it possible for any educational institution receiving federal aid to lose its funding if it discriminated people based on sex. Before this time period, women struggled against an overwhelming amount of adversity in the field of sports. For instance, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the 1940s had to attend charm school for social etiquette and beauty routines, such as how to best retain their hair's "natural style despite vigorous play." Before that, the Olympics prior to 1912 barred women from competing in games, and doctors constantly warned women of the harmful effects strenuous sports could have on their organs.
Cultural obstacles provide another problematic hurdle that hurts female sports' popularity on an international scale. Uniforms necessary to play in sports like soccer and basketball have trouble meeting all of the cultural restraints set by religions that require women's heads or skin to be fully covered during play.
Despite all of these challenges, there has been significant progress made toward equality. With salaries and awareness rising, the U.S. women's soccer team proved that Americans truly do care about all of our sports teams regardless of gender. Players like Hope Solo and Abby Wambach have forged such an imprint on the minds of Americans that they have some serious marketing potential, a crucial factor that has been a hindrance to women's sports' popularity.
I believe that the United States' appearance in the Women's FIFA World Cup has been both inspiring and unforgettable. Although this tournament was a heartbreaker, I hope it has allowed those who were previously close-minded to realize any sport has the ability, despite gender, to evoke pride and even sadness at your team's loss. While there are future tests for women's sports to endure, this tournament has convinced me they stand a fighting chance.