The Northeast Ohio Women’s Sports Alliance organization is founded on one principle: women living happier and healthier lives through community-based sports, its co-founder said.
That principle is shared by 18 community sport teams for women 17 years old and older in northeast Ohio ranging from rugby, swimming, roller derby, hockey and tackle football.
Barbara Anthony of Boardman co-founded the alliance in 2017 with her colleague Elise Bigley. The two brought awareness to a larger issue faced worldwide: social justice in women’s sports.
Women make up nearly 40% of all sports participants worldwide, but receive only 4% of media coverage, and are oftentimes objectified, according to UNESCO.
“We’ve talked about how sports impact women in families, but we haven’t talked about how there’s a lack of access for women in inequitable socioeconomic places,” she said. “They don’t even have the opportunity to play.”
Inequities are evident in sporting clubs, and they're a microcosm of society as a whole, Anthony said.
“Who’s in charge of the sports [and] playing and who benefits from this the most? Then, who’s doing the work and still not benefiting?” she said. “Oftentimes, that is where you find the women in the community.”
Katie Markielowski is the president of the Youngstown Steel Valley Rugby Club, and also plays on the team. The rugby club is a part of the Allegheny Rugby Union, and plays teams from Akron, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Columbus.
Since Youngstown is an economically depressed area, Markielowski said one challenge is getting players to and from practice.
To see the full story from Mahoning Matters, click here.
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