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Doubly disadvantaged?


Thirty million women play football around the world, some 85,000 women and girls in Germany. Football is the most popular team sport for women worldwide. Women's football was late in becoming established in Germany, not being recognised as a league sport until the 1970s. "Since we won the World Cup in 2003 women's football has made huge progress", says Germany international Navina Omilade. "More and more people are becoming interested and attendances and the number of young players are rising steadily." Being both a woman and a migrant, however, can mean a twofold structural advantage. "It is time the massive discrimination of girls and women in football was discussed by fans, officials, associations and those in charge at the highest level", says Heidi Thaler of FARE. "Women with important jobs in football are absolute exceptions. The creation of equal opportunity development structures for girls and greater sensitivity for the needs and the special situation of women and girls in football is long overdue."

In 2005 far less than one third of migrant girls and women in Germany were engaging in some kind of sport. A survey for the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Woman and Youth found that 45% of those questioned would like more facilities: "There is a large need for targeted sport and exercise arrangements tailored to the needs of girls and women from ethnic minorities", confirms Ilse Ridders-Melchers, board member at the German Sport Federation. This includes "allowing space for ethnic-based needs." Yet it is difficult to convey the fact that offerings aimed at Muslim women, for example, represent a mutual coming together and can create the conditions for more of the same.