Aspires to be what she can see

"Where are the girl riders Dad?" An innocent question from my daughter Isla to my husband as they were watching the Tour De France. It was like a light bulb moment for my husband Josh. Don't get me wrong, Josh is an absolute male champion of change. But we are all blind to some aspects of inequality. And we don't know what we don't know! (He also doesn't see the dust on the bookshelf at times - but I digress).

Isla had a wonderful time watching the Olympic games last year and seeing all the women in various sports jumping, running, throwing, sailing, lifting, aiming, riding - just like the men. She is a pocket rocket herself and I am confident that she will smash through every glass ceiling that presents itself over her lifetime.

There has been an absolute explosion of female participation in historically male dominated sports over the last few years. So too the broadcast, sponsorship and advertising dollars that have flowed as people sit up and take notice that everyone is watching women play too in the AFLW, NRL, soccer's W-League for example. There are sportswear brands that have been created specifically to tailor to the female body and protecting it from physical impact of some sports. In Australia there are now an unprecedented number of opportunities and pathways for aspiring female athletes.

So the sports, and indeed all occupations, are becoming increasingly standing out like a sore thumb for their lack of female participation. Kids ask the innocent and simple question: Why are there no girls playing/participating/working?

Recently the SailGP had one regatta where the teams were 'made' to race with a female on board. The next regatta, they were back off the boats and back in the training squads. These sports need to wake up and take note that women and men are noticing and it needs to change. Don't wait until its mandated. The impact for thousands of young girls (and boys) at home watching the women on the boats, on the fields, on the bikes, is huge. If I can see it - see that girls can do it - then I want to do it too.

On the flip side, a question I have always pondered, is why is female tennis matches capped at 3 sets and men 5? I love that the Australian Open offers equal prize money to men and women, however, why the different length of the game? The dominant female players would no doubt change as a longer endurance game becomes a factor and not so much the shorter bursts of strength - but you know what....we can do it. Make it easier for me to answer these innocent and simple questions of my kids...why is it different for men and women? I would love to answer..."it's not".