The Football and Society Podcast

The world at their feet? The gendering of football's defining moments

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Episode notes

The 2019 Women’s World Cup semi-final between England and the USA was watched by a record television audience of 11.7 million in the UK. It lived up to the hype, with England missing a penalty in the final minutes of a tense and fiercely fought-out match; fans were left agonising over what could have been, as the Lionesses rued a lost opportunity to reach the final and potentially win the most prized trophy of them all for the first time.

Kath Woodward argues that the 2019 World Cup was a pivotal moment for women’s football, which until then had largely been ignored by mainstream media in comparison with the men’s game. Indeed, football fandom has tended to focus on memorable achievements in the history of men’s football.

In the UK, women were actually banned from establishing their own league by the FA in 1921, despite matches drawing tens of thousands of spectators. This, combined with the difficulties female players faced in finding the time to practice the sport, made it increasingly difficult for the women’s game to become accepted in wider society.

In the second half of the 20th century, however, women’s football became immensely popular in North America; its popularity gradually spread across the globe and captivated audiences worldwide. On the world stage, English players such as Kelly Smith and Lucy Bronze have produced some memorable moments, and there will undoubtedly be more to come. Defining moments are stories that bring fans together, creating communities as well as legends.

How important is the media in creating moments relating to the women's game that endure in the collective memory?
To what extent do the Men's World Cup and Women's World Cup reinforce a binary view of gender?
How optimistic should we be for the future of the women's game?

...all this and more in the 14th episode of the Football and Society podcast.

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Each week, Ash, Chris and Norman explore societal issues through the lens of the beautiful game.

From the ethics of gambling sponsorship to what a stadium move means for fans, we’ll be covering it all each week with expert guests from the worlds of sports journalism and sociology.