As a nation, Brazil’s footballing identity has been tied to ginga, which is described as a dance-like style of play that promotes a player’s creativity on the pitch. This style of play has been associated with elite male players like Neymar and Pelé, but female footballers like Marta as equally important to this playstyle. In “‘Pele With a Skirt’: The Unequal Fortunes of Brazil’s Soccer Stars”, what stands out most is the lack of and support for female footballers who have a huge impact on the game of football on and off the pitch. Marta has won countless awards in women’s football, yet her career has been marked by instability. Teams she played for repeatedly folded due to financial issues, showing there to be a lack of investment in women’s football, while Neymar’s career flourished with huge transfer fees to big European clubs with a big institutional backing.
The article strongly connects to other themes of gender inequality in sports, one of which is the example of a ban on women’s soccer in Brazil from 1941 to 1979. This occurred because of the nationwide belief that the sport was “incompatible” with femininity, aligning with many beliefs in the early 20th century during World War 1 about the women’s game in England and the United States. Even after the ban was lifted, those attitudes have yet to disappear. A quick dive into the rabbit hole of women’s football will show you that there is still a significant lack of hype or coverage and very little financial backing. The dissolution of the Santos women’s team, partly tied to prioritizing Neymar’s salary, is a huge example of how women’s football is treated as expendable. Neymar was put on a pedestal and treated like a footballing God in Brazil, while his female compatriot was constantly mistreated and not given what she deserved.
The article also raises the question of exactly what role male players should play in supporting the women’s game. Players like Neymar express admiration, but there is still a clear lack of consistency when it comes to financial support and public advocacy for the women’s game. We see that the United States and Europe have taken strides in supporting women’s football through this method of consistent support, and their football clubs have thrived.
Women in football have been overlooked within a male dominated system. Marta represents the brilliance that women’s football can be, but also the frustration of what it still lacks, of course by no fault of her own. We can only hope that nations like Brazil can give women’s footballers the same opportunities as men in the future.
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