Sporting woes for women in the real and reel worlds

In a country that boasts of sports greats like P T Usha, Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal, Sania Mirza and many others, women sportspeople have found it an uphill battle to find their footing in what is largely a patriarchal set up.

Over the years the glass ceiling has cracked but not completely given way.

What better a yardstick than our very own indigenous film industry, Bollywood. Films with sportswomen as their central characters are few and far between.When we move from the real to reel, there are just a handful of movies that can be counted as having a woman sportsperson as the central character.

Four such movies that come to mind showcase the issues plaguing the woman sports fraternity today especially the attitude of our society towards women who would want to choose sports as a career.

Chak De India- Though the movies centres around a male hockey coach and player’s life, it also touches upon some very interesting elements pertaining to the apathy shown towards women sportspersons. It shows how not only the families of women who want to play hockey, but also others in an administrative capacity in sports too may think that women belong in the kitchen, and are better off with a rolling pin in hand than a hockey stick. It depicts how a cricketer thinks his hockey playing fiancé is better off being a wife than a hockey player.

According to Roohi Dixit, an independent filmmaker, while the movie was a commercial success and highlights the many problems women in sports face, it is still one of the very few movies with sportswomen as their theme. According to her, women oriented movies are few and for that scenario to change, she believes the tribe of women filmmakers needs to increase.

Mary Kom- Like many other young women in sports who have made it big, this story would have been lost. However, Mary Kom’s journey to the top, her own struggle with balancing a family life and sports, breaks the stereotype that mothers can’t play a sport or represent the country. Soon Olympic-winning boxer Mary Kom will be seen in an animated avatar on India’s first girl superhero series, titled “Mary Kom Jr”.

Dil Bole Hadiappa- This movie shows how cricket continues to be a male dominated game and howa girl who wants to play cricket has to outfit herself as a man to join the team.

Bend it like Beckham- Shows how Indian parents whether residing in India or abroad look suspiciously at sports. The movie shows how playing soccer is not a ‘girlie’ activity and how the female protagonist is better off learning how to make a round chapatti than kick a ball for the former will at least help in securing a good husband.

O.P.Padma, who played university and national level hockey in the mid to late 1960’s and recently retired as the Head of Department, Physical Education at Miranda House, Delhi University says, “ women from small towns have taken hold of opportunities to showcase their talent, represent their country and stand victorious. Yes over the years things have changed and gotten better in terms of facilities and parental support and opportunities to make a career in sports. Back in the day there were very few sports that had a men’s and women’s contingent. Today most sports are open to women and we have federations that cater to both.“

67 years after wresting independence from our colonial rulers, it’s worth pondering over why we are not able to shake off the manacles of patriarchy in various spheres of our lives, including sports.

(image credit- shutterstock)