“Girls Don’t Play Football” – Ending Gender Stereotypes in Sports
Let’s open the playing field for everyone, no matter their gender
It’s a warm Sunday morning in a typical Indian neighborhood. In one of the many open grounds where children gather to play, a group of boys is kicking around a football, shouting and running with uncontainable energy. On the sidelines stands Ananya, a 12-year-old girl, bouncing on her toes, eager to join the game. But before she can even step onto the field, a boy snickers, “Arre, girls don’t play football! Go play with your dolls.”
Sound familiar?
This scene has played out in countless parks, schools, and streets across the country. Despite living in the 21st century, the idea that sports—especially the rough-and-tumble ones—are reserved for boys remains deeply ingrained in our society. But let’s take a moment to question this age-old belief: Who decided that a football has a gender?
Breaking the Myth – Are Sports Really Gender-Specific?
If you ask someone why girls “shouldn’t” play football, you’ll hear a variety of creative responses:
"Football is too rough for girls."
Have you ever seen an Indian mother navigating a crowded local train with three bags of groceries and a toddler in one arm? If she can survive that, she can handle a football match.
"Girls aren’t as strong as boys."
Ever watched a woman making chapatis in the kitchen? That kind of hand strength can knock a football across the field effortlessly.
"Sports will make girls ‘masculine’."
So, does that mean every man who cooks will become ‘feminine’? Following that logic, half the world’s top chefs should be wearing sarees.
The truth is, sports have nothing to do with gender and everything to do with passion, skill, and determination. If a girl can run, kick, and strategize like a pro, why should she be held back just because of outdated notions?
A Look at the Real World – Women Who Shattered the Stereotype
Thankfully, many women have already proved that gender has nothing to do with talent in sports. Take Bala Devi, the first Indian woman to play professional football in Europe. She didn’t wait for permission—she just chased her dreams and scored goals (literally!). Or look at Mary Kom, who didn’t just step into the boxing ring but dominated it.
These women weren’t superhumans. They were regular girls who simply refused to believe the world’s limitations. Imagine how many more talented young girls we are discouraging because of ridiculous societal norms!
The Indian Mindset – What Needs to Change?
1. Parents Need to Stop Saying "What Will People Think?"
Many girls interested in sports give up because their parents worry about societal judgment. The fear of hearing, "Ladkiyan aise thodi karti hain?" (Girls don’t do such things) holds back countless dreams. But the truth is, once a girl becomes successful, the same relatives who criticized her will proudly claim, "Hum to pehle se hi keh rahe the, yeh to bahut talented hai!" (We always knew she was talented!).
2. Schools Must Encourage, Not Discourage
Many schools still don’t have girls’ football teams. Instead of telling girls they should stick to “graceful” sports like badminton or dance, how about giving them the same opportunities to play all sports? If a boy can be the next Sunil Chhetri, why can’t a girl be the next Bala Devi?
3. Media Should Show Women in Sports More Often
Turn on the TV, and you’ll find every cricket match hyped up for months. But when was the last time you saw a women’s football match being promoted with the same enthusiasm? When young girls don’t see female athletes on screen, they don’t think it’s a real career option. If Bollywood can make a movie about a man who becomes a cricket legend (ahem, MS Dhoni), where’s the movie about a woman football star?
The Joy of Playing Knows No Gender
At the end of the day, sports aren’t just about winning trophies. They teach teamwork, discipline, resilience, and self-confidence. Every child, regardless of gender, deserves a chance to experience this joy.
So, next time someone says, "Girls don’t play football," ask them a simple question: "Says who?"
Because the truth is, anyone who dreams of kicking a ball, scoring a goal, or celebrating victory on the field deserves that chance—whether they wear shorts or a salwar kameez.
And who knows? The next time you see a match-winning goal, it might just be scored by a girl who refused to listen when the world told her, "Football is not for girls." 🚀⚽