As women’s football continues to grow globally, numerous players are taking a stand on important issues encompassing the sport to ensure that it’s great success is sustained for future generations.
One of the world’s most prominent players, Ada Hegerberg, spent seven years away from her national team to in an attempt to raise awareness about the various problems rooted within the Norwegian national team. Her voice has amplified the need for reform as she has repeatedly pushed for equal access to opportunities within women’s football.
The Norway Captain grew up in Sunndalsøra where she played football for Sunndal Football alongside her sister, before moving to Kolbotn. She grew up in a supportive family, with her parents being her main source of encouragement as she dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. Their emboldenment fuelled her passion for football as she became determined to cement her name as one of the world’s best players, whilst also working to drive the game forward.
However, Hegerberg recognised that not all young girls are as fortunate to grow up in such a nurturing environment which often prevents many from reaching their full potential. She realised that there is still a long way to go in disbanding the traditional stereotypes associated with women’s football and rewriting the narrative of the sport on a global scale.
Throughout her career, she has used her voice to highlight the damaging inequalities between women’s and men’s football. Hegerberg continues to inspire on and off the pitch as her advocacy has resulted in crucial changes at both grassroots and professional level.
In 2017, she bowed out of the Norwegian National team due to a pay dispute with the Norwegian football federation. In a swift response, the federation reached an agreement to double the women’s pay, effectively closing the pay gap between the women’s and men’s teams.
However, Hegerberg still didn’t return to international football and instead continued her activism to further raise the standards. She effectively paused her international career in order ensure that the players around her were receiving adequate support which demonstrates her dedication to fighting for change.
At the time, the USWNT were also fighting for better rights as key players such as Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan sued the US football federation. This was in a bid to end institutionalised gender discrimination and achieve higher levels of support from their footballing federation.
As a result, a $24 billion settlement was agreed to ensure that the men’s and women’s teams receive equal pay from tournaments. This shows that the players’ concerns were listened to and valued, which demonstrates the impact that speaking up to promote change can have.
Their fight for equality is a microcosm of the ongoing battles between national teams and footballing federations worldwide as teams are forced to make a stand against issues they are facing.
In addition, she is at the forefront of environmental activism, leveraging her partnerships with various brands to champion both gender equality and sustainability. One example of this is her collaboration with Nike where she promotes the Climate Challenge; Nike’s campaign to strive for zero carbon and zero waste. She also wore Nike boots which were made from 50% recycled material, making them one of a kind in the footballing world. Her determination to raise awareness about the environmental impacts of football encapsulates her desire to create a more sustainable future for the sport.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Hegerberg articulated the reasons behind her activism to push for higher standards and greater investment in the women’s game.
“If we (players) don’t push for change for women’s football to go in the right direction then it won’t come by itself”
She went on to highlight the many challenges faced by young girls who aspire to become professional footballers:
“It’s not always about money either. It’s about attitude and respect. We’re talking about young girls getting the same opportunities as boys, giving them the same opportunity to dream”
“If you can change attitudes in the beginning, things will change”
Hegerberg’s advocacy work is aimed at increasing the opportunities and support available to young female footballers whilst also promoting equality. The Norwegian internationals’ impact goes far beyond the pitch, as her legacy will be one of determination, passion and inspiration.
There are still many nations who are fighting for equal rights, which represents the need for further change to be made. One example of this is Denmark’s national team, as the men’s team refused a pay rise to ensure that the women’s team could receive equal pay.
This move also included a 50% increase in the women’s team media coverage, increasing the visibility and promotion of the women’s game in Denmark which could be huge for the future of women’s football in the country.
Hegerberg will not only be remembered as an incredible player, but also as an influential figure who repeatedly fought for reform at all levels of the women’s game. Her strong desire to drive the game forwards has empowered other footballers to speak out against the inequalities they face and call for change.
Photo – https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/news/0252-0ce4d6fbe983-c6ecd00d29ad-1000–lyon-and-norway-forward-ada-hegerberg-a-salute-to-the-his/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-soccer-women-soccer-stars-settle-equal-pay-la wsuit-24-million-rcna17138
