Bogotá (EFE).- Two weeks after the start of the Women’s World Cup, the “WE ARE EQUITY” movement presented an itinerant photographic exhibition that will take place in Bogotá’s Bicentennial Park and was attended by personalities such as the activist and daughter of the Brazilian legend Pelé, Kelly Nascimento, among other guests.
The project, which seeks to strengthen organizations that use soccer as a tool for social transformation and promote equality in sport, is committed to a selection of images taken by 15 women from Latin America to interpret the role of women in soccer from its beginning. own perspective.
The snapshots have as a common element the relationship of women with this sport, a link that the photographers approach from multiple perspectives, in different territories and with protagonists of different ages.
“On the Courts: A Thousand Women, A Thousand Stories”
Kelly Nascimento sponsored the exhibition, which also has the support of the Fundación Selección Colombia and Common Goal, under the title “On the Courts: A Thousand Women, A Thousand Stories”.
“There are 15 women telling their stories; The world is full of movies and books about women, but with these photographs we give them a voice so they can tell their own story”, Nascimento expressed about some images that, in his opinion, represent a reflection of society.
“Football is a mirror, everything that happens on the field happens in society. It is a unique language that we can all speak, ”she said to give recognition to the role of women.
“We need a radical collaboration of all together, managers, press. It is not about showing sport more in the media, it is about how it is shown, the adjectives used to talk about women’s sports are different from men’s. Everyone has to look at how they are contributing to create a more equitable world”, she emphasized.
The co-founder of Common Goal, Jurgen Griesbeck, a project sponsored by the Spanish soccer player Juan Mata that seeks to involve soccer players from different places so that they contribute 1% of their salary, also appreciated the initiative.
“As a society, we have spent many decades without resolving issues such as gender equality. If we can’t really take it seriously, then we’ll never make it. Soccer serves as a metaphor, a symbol, a megaphone, an example… to bring it to reality, ”he said before delving into the objectives of Common Goal.
And he explained: “What we propose is that each girl and boy have a safe place to develop their talent, be it football or anything else. Soccer is the motivator to get involved in growth processes. Gender equality, which is not an issue for women, but for us as a global society, is intersectional.”
The footballer’s responsibility
Another of the invited personalities was the Colombian professional soccer player Nati Gaitán, who made reference to the responsibility that personalities from the world of soccer have when it comes to being part of initiatives such as “WE ARE EQUITY”.
“As footballers we have to know the responsibility we have, to be part of the change, of this type of movement both for gender equality and against racism, xenophobia, homophobia, actions against climate change. It is very important that as public figures we are part of this and the girls see that they can be soccer players, but also good people for a fairer society”, Gaitán explained.
Speaking to EFE, Gaitán wanted to assess the steps that are being taken in Colombia around women’s football, although he recognized the need to “have a more structured league”, since they have half the league time than men.
“Between the two games in the league final there were 55,000 spectators, it has been a success. Hopefully for next year we can set some goals to achieve in the following seasons, ”she declared while proudly wearing a T-shirt launched by“ SOMOS Equidad ”that represents the need to eliminate the labels associated with traditional gender roles.
“It represents that fight that we women have had in the world of football, in an unfortunately macho society that is beginning to change,” she concluded.