Several well-known female footballers spoke candidly about the sacrifices and challenges of being a female professional in a “She Moves Us” video talk for sports brand Puma: “I’ve had to challenge male standards just by being a football player. I think most people in the world see it as a male sport, but for me, it’s the same. We do the same. Everything around should be the same as well. So that’s what we’re fighting for and trying to show the world,” commented Norwegian national team member Ingrid Engen, for instance.
The English footballer Nikita Parris was amazed at the changes that have taken place in terms of respect for female professional athletes: ”I had to challenge male standards not just on the pitch, but off the pitch, inside the training grounds. And there’s been a lot of diversity in the inequality throughout women’s football. But today, because of the pioneers that have come before us, we continue to fight the good fight.”
Swedish national team player Fridolina Rolfö wants to inspire other female athletes to believe in themselves: “I am moving for the next generation. To be a role model and be someone who can show the young girls and boys that it’s not impossible to be a professional footballer.”
Just four months after giving birth to her son, Icelandic national team player Sara Björk Gunnarsdottir returned to the pitch not only to return to top-level sport but also to inspire a generation of female athletes not to give up on their dreams. Her main advice is to take „whatever happens in your career and what you go through, as a lesson. Because that’s the only way you can grow. You can move forward. Be confident in your body. If you really want to do both, you can.”
“She Moves Us” aims to empower girls and young women by sharing stories and working together to protect their rights worldwide. The campaign was inspired by pop star and Puma ambassador Dua Lipa, who said, “Sharing stories of success is all part of changing the narrative, especially in fields like sports and entertainment that have tended to amplify the accomplishments of men. Women are already nailing it across the board, and celebrating their achievements is exciting and empowering. It also encourages those rising up to aim for the stars.
Check out the videos here:
Ingrid Engen (and below)
