I’m not in the habit of defending men, but David Campese’s tweet earlier this week has compelled me to stray from tradition.
I know it came a few days ago, but his comments and the debate that followed really stuck with me.
I’ve read a few pieces from female sports fans and writers recently, complaining about the way that they are treated by the opposite sex. While by no means am I disputing that their experiences are real, I feel like someone needs to stick up for the good guys.
I just graduated with a journalism degree and have done everything I could to get a foot in the sports media door. I have completed work experience in a variety of sports and with various media companies.
All of these were in predominantly male environments.
In all of this time, I have never had a negative experience with these men. Anyone I have worked with or for has given me incredible respect and treated me the same as anyone, regardless of their chromosome combination.
Maybe I’ve been lucky or maybe it’s because I have a face for radio, but I have never felt the need to prove myself to men or compensate for my gender.
Outside of work, many of my male friends respect and even request my opinion about sports and have never questioned my ability to understand sport just because I’m a girl.
Maybe that’s why Campo’s tweet really shocked me – I can’t believe that anyone could even think that way these days.
My experiences may be the exception that proves the rule, but I still feel like someone needs to remember that Campese’s comments are not reflective of the majority.
You only need to look to the United States to see the respect that women gain in their sports coverage. America leads the way in this regard, with numerous female reporters appearing in all forms of media.
A lack of women in sports reporting does not mean they don’t have every right, and all the knowledge, to be there. But, on the other hand, just because an industry is dominated by men, that does not mean that women do not receive the respect they deserve in the industry.
The backlash that Campese received from the wider public and the journalism industry shows that his backward views have no place in our society or our media.
It’s just a shame that anyone could make those comments in the first place.
Now that I’ve got that off my chest, I’m going to back to learning how to write about sports like a man.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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