An ode to the Orange Lionesses
With the danger of being scorned and cursed forever, I watch very little football. Yes, for our Orange footballers, I might toast and position myself on the edge of the couch when Ajax reaches finals too, but beyond that, I don't really get into it. And yet I find the Orange Lionesses bad ass and here's why.
They are the playing proof that men do not have exclusive rights in football land. There are even people who claim that the football of our (yes, I say ‘our’) Orange Lionesses is more fun to watch than that of the men. Now, I used to be a fervent supporter of football legs, but I believe it right away. The big difference seems to be: they enjoy doing it.
Only not everyone wants to embrace our Orange Lionesses. Acceptance seems to be quite hesitant, it is understandable that this takes longer because football is the national sport and there are quite a few emotions involved. And come on, it seems that men derive a certain masculinity from football and when the Lionesses play their way towards the final (and the men do not), then that is difficult. So they say. But the rule that women and sports only get attention when they perform is perhaps really the problem.
Honestly: when the men play football, we watch. Crying and cursing, we jump up from the couches, until the last miserable second. Everything is broadcasted. That was quite different for the women. In 2009, suddenly space had to be made for a match because they qualified for the European Championship. It was the first match of the Orange Lionesses that was broadcast live. If you are looking for equality in sports, then tennis is a nice example.
The KNVB only recognized the women's competition in 1971, before that it apparently did not exist. But they are making strides, as of 2019 (!). The KNVB wants to be an example in equal appreciation for men and women, the compensations are going up significantly. If it were up to the KNVB, those differences would disappear and it should be equal in 2023. A nice ideal, but the KNVB is only responsible for the income part that comes from commercial campaigns and not for the vast majority; that’s where UEFA, FIFA, and television revenues come into play.
To just call a spade a spade: at top clubs in our country, women earn between 700 and 2300 euros per month. The average salary of a man is 22,000 euros. Per month, yes. Until recently, no euros were spent on transfers among women, thank goodness that is changing match by match.
Some fun facts when you plop down on the couch for the match:
– This is only the second World Cup, in 2015 the Lionesses participated in a world championship for the first time.
– But in 2009, a match was broadcast live for the first time. Strange, strange.
– The market value of the ladies is gi-gantic growing, which I understand (however disrespectful market value sounds when it comes to a person).
– All the women from the team play at top clubs, which is bad ass anyway.
And the coolest thing I find is that if they win on Sunday, they will do something that the men have never succeeded in. Just saying. Speaking of equality...
Image: Instagram @oranjeleeuwinnen
