During the run-up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final in August, the most noticeable rhetoric surrounding the event was the possibility of an increased interest in women’s sport. The finalists, England and Spain, were both seeking their first win at the event; both countries were rallying behind their teams in a relatively rare display of enthusiasm for the women’s game.
In the days that followed Spain’s victory, the headlines were not dominated by scenes of joy and celebration in Spain, but rather a video of what appeared to be an instance of sexual assault – the victim being Spanish team member Jenni Hermoso. Frustratingly, the newspapers were not celebrating the women’s historic achievement; they were focusing on the actions of one man. How disappointing that once again, news about women’s sport itself was overshadowed.
Luis Rubiales, the former President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, forcibly kissed Hermoso in an apparent act of celebration. In the days that followed, a media storm erupted; many were calling for Rubiales’s immediate resignation, whilst he maintained that the act was consensual. Rubiales’s mother even confined herself within her church, stating that she would begin a hunger strike in condemnation of her son’s ‘unfair’ treatment.
However, Hermoso’s team rallied behind her in a show of support. A total of 81 players signed a letter stating that they would refuse to play for Spain’s national team unless there was a prompt change in leadership. This followed repeated controversy surrounding the team’s former manager, Jorge Vilda. He has since been replaced by Montse Tome, who recently announced her new chosen squad: a group of top female players, 15 of whom played in the World Cup, but notably excluding Hermoso herself. It seems that her career has been tarnished by her decision to stand up for herself in the face of sexual assault.
Hermoso found victory in Rubiales’ eventual resignation. He has now been legally ordered to stay at least 200 metres away from Hermoso at all times.
Although the end result of the World Cup incident was promising, the process was unsettling and showed a clear lack of support and protection for Jenni Hermoso and her teammates. How is it, that when an instance of sexual assault is internationally televised, that there is no immediate reckoning? It baffles me that it was ever a case of ‘he-said, she-said’. The lack of consent was glaringly obvious to any viewer.
20 years ago, at the 2003 Oscars, ‘Best Actor’ recipient Adrien Brody strode up to the stage, grabbed presenter Halle Berry and kissed her without consent or permission. There was no similar public outcry, despite Berry’s comments on her discomfort with that moment. Only years later has Berry spoken out about the incident, admitting that it was unexpected and shocking. The discourse around the event is only just beginning to change, 20 years on.
The progression in feminist discourse in a post ‘Me Too’ era is highlighted when comparing these two incidents. It is a promising improvement in the fight against casual sexism and sexual harassment, which is still prominent, but showing to be on the decline thanks to the overwhelming support directed at Hermoso.
In spite of this, the fallout has shown that the feminist movement is far from concluded. There is little doubt that Hermoso’s career has not come away unscathed; her omission from the new Spanish national squad shows that some believe her reputation to be tarnished, even though her only ‘offence’ was defending herself against sexual harassment and assault.
“Jannifer Hermoso7 – Reguero” by Alejandro Reguero is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related
The aftermath of the Women’s World Cup in a post ‘Me Too’ world
During the run-up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final in August, the most noticeable rhetoric surrounding the event was the possibility of an increased interest in women’s sport. The finalists, England and Spain, were both seeking their first win at the event; both countries were rallying behind their teams in a relatively rare display of enthusiasm for the women’s game.
In the days that followed Spain’s victory, the headlines were not dominated by scenes of joy and celebration in Spain, but rather a video of what appeared to be an instance of sexual assault – the victim being Spanish team member Jenni Hermoso. Frustratingly, the newspapers were not celebrating the women’s historic achievement; they were focusing on the actions of one man. How disappointing that once again, news about women’s sport itself was overshadowed.
Luis Rubiales, the former President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, forcibly kissed Hermoso in an apparent act of celebration. In the days that followed, a media storm erupted; many were calling for Rubiales’s immediate resignation, whilst he maintained that the act was consensual. Rubiales’s mother even confined herself within her church, stating that she would begin a hunger strike in condemnation of her son’s ‘unfair’ treatment.
However, Hermoso’s team rallied behind her in a show of support. A total of 81 players signed a letter stating that they would refuse to play for Spain’s national team unless there was a prompt change in leadership. This followed repeated controversy surrounding the team’s former manager, Jorge Vilda. He has since been replaced by Montse Tome, who recently announced her new chosen squad: a group of top female players, 15 of whom played in the World Cup, but notably excluding Hermoso herself. It seems that her career has been tarnished by her decision to stand up for herself in the face of sexual assault.
Hermoso found victory in Rubiales’ eventual resignation. He has now been legally ordered to stay at least 200 metres away from Hermoso at all times.
Although the end result of the World Cup incident was promising, the process was unsettling and showed a clear lack of support and protection for Jenni Hermoso and her teammates. How is it, that when an instance of sexual assault is internationally televised, that there is no immediate reckoning? It baffles me that it was ever a case of ‘he-said, she-said’. The lack of consent was glaringly obvious to any viewer.
20 years ago, at the 2003 Oscars, ‘Best Actor’ recipient Adrien Brody strode up to the stage, grabbed presenter Halle Berry and kissed her without consent or permission. There was no similar public outcry, despite Berry’s comments on her discomfort with that moment. Only years later has Berry spoken out about the incident, admitting that it was unexpected and shocking. The discourse around the event is only just beginning to change, 20 years on.
The progression in feminist discourse in a post ‘Me Too’ era is highlighted when comparing these two incidents. It is a promising improvement in the fight against casual sexism and sexual harassment, which is still prominent, but showing to be on the decline thanks to the overwhelming support directed at Hermoso.
In spite of this, the fallout has shown that the feminist movement is far from concluded. There is little doubt that Hermoso’s career has not come away unscathed; her omission from the new Spanish national squad shows that some believe her reputation to be tarnished, even though her only ‘offence’ was defending herself against sexual harassment and assault.
“Jannifer Hermoso7 – Reguero” by Alejandro Reguero is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Share this:
Like this:
Related