Everything science tells us about the female body makes it clear that it is to be cared for like it’s a fragile object. That once it breaks, it will never repair itself as a man’s body does. “Clinical studies report that males show more rapid fracture healing.” “Our bones become more fragile as we get older, and this process can happen faster in women’s bodies versus men’s.” “Males have larger, denser and stronger bones and a lower rate of bone loss throughout their lifespan compared to females.”
It’s perhaps why men have always felt free to use their bodies however they like. From hard shoulder pushes while playing football to not pulling punches while boxing, their physicality is rarely questioned, and their athleticism is widely celebrated. Women, on the other hand, are constantly fed ideas and opinions about what the female body is built for, how it should look, and what they can and cannot do with it. When a woman excels at athletics or even takes an interest in playing a physically intense sport for leisure, she is considered an exception, not the rule.
Some women are now challenging this divide. These women, especially those who are not in their teens or early twenties, are moving away from the low-impact, ‘safe’ sports—scars and injuries be damned. In Delhi, founders Shayoni Nair and Aneesha Labroo have created the Women’s Football League (WFL), a safe space for women to play football regardless of age, background or skill. Labroo, who grew up playing only with boys, often wondered where all the girls were. Nair, also a sporty teen, quit playing after college due to a lack of encouragement for girls. As they grew older, both women felt an increasing urge to get back on the field. They started looking for someone to play with, found each other and began organising games. The WFL is a community built organically, beginning with conversations, WhatsApp group chats and Instagram stories. Today, they have successfully concluded four seasons of the league, with another season scheduled to take place this month.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: vogue.in
