Matildas: Inspiring a nation, one kick at a time
BY ZAARA KHAYER
You know, I bet many of us vividly recall the memory of screeching at an LED screen with our butts perched at the edge of the sofa, desperately wanting to go to the bathroom but couldn’t because our eyes were glued to the screen. Just to catch a glimpse of our favourite player scoring, of what otherwise might be known as the most important moment of our lives.
The reason behind this fever of excitement can be put into one word, the Matilda’s. These remarkable athletes have overturned misconceptions of women’s sport as well as the place of women in contemporary Australia. Until 2008, the team shared the name ‘Socceroos’ with the men’s football team. Having their own name cemented the Matildas as their own people, rather than sitting in the shadows of their male counterparts. Despite the Matildas' loss against Sweden, they’re the reason for our sweaty joy, reminding us that they transcend sport and are the epitome of strength.
Who can forget the historic moment when the Matildas clinched their biggest win ever, triumphing over France 7-6 in the Women's World Cup semi-finals? In front of a huge crowd of 49,461 , the Matildas went toe-to-toe against France in a back-and-forth clash as we cheered in support. This was a catalyst for what would become the most prominent platform for advocating gender equality. As we know, in Australia, there’s a significant Gender Pay Gap, with women earning only 77.2 cents for every dollar earned by men, resulting in a 22.8% pay disparity. Hypothetically, if this gap were applied to a 90-minute soccer game, women would only be compensated for the first 68 minutes. Consider this my friends: What if these athletes decided to stop the moment they had earned their pay and walked off after 68 minutes? I'll tell you, it would have robbed us of witnessing one of sporting history’s greatest moments.
And get this, afterwards a new contract system was implemented for the Matildas, increasing their salaries from $66,000 to $100,000, putting them on par with the Socceroos. The Matildas can also enjoy the same access to off-field benefits as them, such as business-class flights and more. Here’s the thing, this isn't solely for female soccer players; it conveys a message of equality to all working women.
Now, let's talk about a stereotype that's way past its expiration date. The stupid thing about women’s soccer we often discuss is the number of lesbians who play, and the associated stereotype that if you play, you must be a lesbian. In February Sam Kerr ran onto the pitch wearing a jersey with rainbow colors. “We have such an inclusive team,” she said. “Always have and probably always will.” Kerr had experienced gender inequality in East Fremantle, Western Australia, where she played for the boys' team and kept her gender a secret by wearing her hair shorter. Back then, soccer was considered a men's sport. Us women were deemed unfit, regardless of our skill.
Now look how far we've come. Young girls will now flock to the sport inspired by this World Cup; young boys will grow up with high-profile female sporting role models. The quarterfinal had an average audience of 4.17 million, making it Australia's most-watched sports event since Cathy Freeman’s time. The ratings peaked at 7.2 million, meaning more than 25% of Australia's population came to cheer for the gals. Believe me, this number will only grow.
Picture this: if more than 4 million people watched the FIFA semi-finals and half of them were women, that's potentially 2 million women who were inspired by these athletes. After the Matildas’ historic Women’s World Cup run sparked an unprecedented outpouring of support for women’s football, the Albanese government has promised $200 million to improve women’s sporting facilities and equipment. This promise is about seizing the opportunity for the next generation of women and girls in Australia. Women’s football is one of the fastest-growing sports. Australia and New Zealand hosted the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023, participation in the sport in 2022 was up by 21%. Young girls like us idolize Sam Kerr. But it's not just a love of the game that we have in common with the Chelsea striker; it's the confidence she exudes and instills in us.
Despite the success the Matildas have carved out for themselves, society still has a long way to go to give women the proper recognition we deserve. Some idiots view women with a prejudiced eye that will last longer than religion. Some think women don't belong in the realm of soccer, but from the biggest captain to the littlest girl, we are here to show them why they’re wrong. As they say, my friend... the rest is history.