Today (February 2nd, 2022) marks Girls and Women in Sports Day in the USA, which aims to break the stereotypes of gender in the sports industry.
This year, the event has been adopted by clubs and sport organisations in the UK.
This landmark day was first observed in 1987 to commemorate the Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman as she pushed to promote equal representation of women in sport, despite the fact that women had started their own sport’s clubs a century earlier.
Nowadays, this annual celebration has evolved to recognise all female athletes and their achievements, as well as pushing for further equality whilst also recognising the progress that has been made over the past 35 years.
Aberdeen FC have recognised this commemorative day as they have partnerships with clubs and grassroots football in the United States.
Lancashire Cricket have also been celebrating Girls and Women in Sports Day as they have been interviewing their women’s Lancashire Thunder squad about who their role models are and, what challenges they’ve faced when trying to get into professional cricket.
Bowler Phoebe Graham has her own business away from cricket called TipnFlip which aims to change perceptions on women’s sport and inspire the next generation.
“The main objective is for women’s sport to reach its potential and so young girls can confidently follow their dreams without compromise,” Graham told Lancashire Cricket TV.
“I think that ‘without compromise’ is the most important part, that I want young girls to be able to aspire to be professional cricketers, professional footballs and for them to have full time roles and play the sport that they love.
“Sport can teach you your life lessons, your values, resilience, strength and all these qualities you need throughout your life, so it’s so important that everyone has the opportunity to play sports and it’s equal for both male and female.”
With the Winter Olympics on the horizon, they’ll be another great opportunity for the talent of young women athletes to shine through and show people how fantastic women’s sport is.
Words by Lucy Roberts for Female First, who you can follow on Twitter, @Lucy_Roberts_72.