How his-story becomes her-story

When LinkedIn asked me to write an article on my feed about the Matildas, I thought what should I write about? Should I write about the success of the tournament, the crowds, the tv audience or something else?

This is the something else. More than something. It's about what we value. The hard topic in all of this fun and excitement given to us on a plate. It's the driver for future participation, success and the ongoing fight that organisations like women's football (yes also soccer) has faced, will face and can face differently.

The Matildas are only set to receive prize money of $6.7 million if they win this record breaking World Cup. That is barely 10 per cent of the amount awarded to Argentina who won last year’s FIFA Men’s World Cup. Read that again if you must.

On top of that, the money being offered for the winning women’s team is $13 million less than what the Australian men’s team earned for being knocked out in the round of 16. (*Source News.Com)

Argentina received $65 million in prize money for their 2022 win, while the Socceroos scored a $20 million payday for the same tournament. So we have the facts now. What do we do? What can we do? What do we say?

Do we ride the wave and then make no further noise? Do we say "oh, but women's sport is not as good to watch as men's?" There is more sponsorship for men and tv rights with gambling ads that target men.. Men run faster.. You know -the blah blah blah blah excuses. The old legacy that is generational.

Or do we start to say what we are thinking. It's time. Time to get off bandwagons and re-balance the norm. The new norm of woman's sport getting the recognition they deserve. Getting the pay and funding for these sports at the grassroots levels for women. Understanding the grit and determination. The blood sweat and tears of all involved in growing and nurturing and fighting for these opportunities. Or that their passion is now our passion. It's evolved past normal. It can be great. It can involve you. It can be a movement for what is right to balance the movements of what is not just and right in the world today.

Don't get me wrong. FIFA and other sporting organisations around the world have been investing and making progress in all aspects of women's sport and what they deserve. Women's rights and pay in sports have increased. With Cricket Australia and Netball Australia leading the way and recognising it which is those first steps with some not yet taken. All sporting codes have to fight and this is a call to ideological arms.

This is an opportunity not only to change legacy mindsets, but to grow this into something we benchmark ourselves, our communities and our countries on. The noise needs to continue. The fight needs both women and men, young and old, bold and not sold on it's just a world cup or it's just sport. The heroes to so many inspire a complete story (watch the documentary on Disney+). It's time for the whole story to shine through for equality, growth and heroes for all.

My daughter woke up on Sunday morning holding a soccerball (yes also a football) and then looked at me and said "Dad, I can be a Matilda too"

This is her-story in the making.

This is the Matilda story. 'Til It's Done.