Yesterday we went to a talk at UTS for International Women’s Day, featuring Lydia Williams, Dr Leila Khanjaninejad, Professor Karen O’Connell, Jane Fernandez and Amy Persson.
First, we heard from Lydia Williams, a First Nations woman who was formerly in the Matilda’s. Everything she discussed was connected to her theme of ‘Legacy’. She talked about her parents and how they encouraged her to pursue her passions, because at the end of the day, it will become a part of her legacy. In 2015, Lydia and the rest of the Matilda’s team went on strike, protesting for equal pay between them and the male soccer players. This strike resulted in a success for the Matilda’s, granting them equal salaries.
She spoke on the increase of support that the Matilda’s were receiving from the public, which led into the board discussion.They discussed the stark disparities between men and women in sports during the board’s discussion, as well as how these systemic issues have affected the sports culture.
They discussed how women are represented in sports like rugby and surfing, as well as the prejudices and obstacles that still need to be removed in order to provide women the same opportunities as men.
Overall, this discussion helped us better comprehend the persistent problems that women encounter in both sports and daily life. It was a beautifully led talk hosted by strong, independent women, and it was truly an honour to listen to what they had to say.