In their opening group game in the ongoing Women's Football World Cup, the US Women's National Team beat Thailand 13-0, the biggest in World Cup history, and the women were heavily criticized on social media for celebrating. Why does it irk people when women dominate? Why does it bother people when women want to dominate and win? Society expects women to behave appropriately and that means playing nice and not making others look bad or making themselves look good. Women are supposed to be team players and not call attention their accomplishments - such has been the mentality of the society since time immemorial. In the #MeToo era, women are disrupting societal constructs and norms - it is making people uncomfortable to see women exert their strength and power. The women's soccer win is a constant reminder that we all need to dominate fearlessly and lead your own life.
People see taking advantage of something as a negative thing - they automatically assume that someone is acting in an unfair/ vengeful manner - but, on the contrary, taking advantage of opportunities is about optimizing the situation and not being vindictive. In sports, there is a winner and a loser (especially in American sports where there is no concept of a tie - the game goes on into OT (overtime) until there's a winner) - players and teams go into matches expecting this and know that it doesn't matter how much you won or lost by. Unless a player in the other team cheats, the higher score is achieved fairly. There will always be critics who will say that running up a score like that is unsportsmanlike - they wanted the US women's team to be nice to the Thai team (who actually cried at the end of the game) and for the record, they actually did show some sensitivity - some players were seen comforting the Thai players.
Society expects women to play nice with everyone - don't focus on being nice and wanting to be liked - focus on being respected and to do this, live up to your potential and the respect that you deserve. Every goal in life requires you to take the necessary steps to get you there - to win the FIFA Women's World Cup, you need to score goals to win your games - in life when you win (or become a champion), you gain leverage to receive or ask for other things - you gain opportunity to ask for more. Remember how Daenerys wanted to claim the Iron Throne through Fire and Blood? (Don't even get me started on the ending to the show!) Society doesn't like it when women ask for more than what they have, but members of the US team have yet to receive even their fair share when it comes to pay - that performance should not drive support and funding for equal pay, but it can only help. Despite their dominance in the game, the USWNT is paid far less than their men's team counterparts. 28 players filed a gender discrimination lawsuit in March that they say has led to unequal pay, training facilities, medical treatments, travel and coaching. In 2015, the US women's team earned $2 million for winning the World Cup - in 2014, the men earned $9 million for just participating in the World Cup! There is a bigger battle that these players are really facing and no one wants to bat an eye for that! Alex Morgan (the women's Leo Messi) has reiterated that every goal counts - goals win games and winning games leads to championships. Championships create platforms to achieve greater things like equality and every one of your smaller goals in life adds up to achieving that bigger goal - when you have the chance to do it, you score! To lead in your own life, play to your skill level, take advantage of opportunities and master each step to reach your ultimate goal!
In response to the US women's national team's (USWNT) win, tennis great Billie Jean King tweeted that athletes should always play to their skill level - this is nothing different from a 6-0 6-0 win in tennis without handing the opposition player any real game in your pursuit for victory. Many soccer pundits have also supported the team stating that they were one of the best teams in the world and they acted like one - no one would complain if Usain Bolt left multiple athletes to dust especially during the 100m final at Beijing 2008 - one of the most dominant runs of his life (of many)! Sometimes society doesn't like it when women's strength's go unchecked - to all the women out there and even in my life - follow the example of the USWNT, show your competence and confidence, demonstrate your skills and don't be afraid to give it your best and be the best - unleash your power.
People see taking advantage of something as a negative thing - they automatically assume that someone is acting in an unfair/ vengeful manner - but, on the contrary, taking advantage of opportunities is about optimizing the situation and not being vindictive. In sports, there is a winner and a loser (especially in American sports where there is no concept of a tie - the game goes on into OT (overtime) until there's a winner) - players and teams go into matches expecting this and know that it doesn't matter how much you won or lost by. Unless a player in the other team cheats, the higher score is achieved fairly. There will always be critics who will say that running up a score like that is unsportsmanlike - they wanted the US women's team to be nice to the Thai team (who actually cried at the end of the game) and for the record, they actually did show some sensitivity - some players were seen comforting the Thai players. Society expects women to play nice with everyone - don't focus on being nice and wanting to be liked - focus on being respected and to do this, live up to your potential and the respect that you deserve. Every goal in life requires you to take the necessary steps to get you there - to win the FIFA Women's World Cup, you need to score goals to win your games - in life when you win (or become a champion), you gain leverage to receive or ask for other things - you gain opportunity to ask for more. Remember how Daenerys wanted to claim the Iron Throne through Fire and Blood? (Don't even get me started on the ending to the show!) Society doesn't like it when women ask for more than what they have, but members of the US team have yet to receive even their fair share when it comes to pay - that performance should not drive support and funding for equal pay, but it can only help. Despite their dominance in the game, the USWNT is paid far less than their men's team counterparts. 28 players filed a gender discrimination lawsuit in March that they say has led to unequal pay, training facilities, medical treatments, travel and coaching. In 2015, the US women's team earned $2 million for winning the World Cup - in 2014, the men earned $9 million for just participating in the World Cup! There is a bigger battle that these players are really facing and no one wants to bat an eye for that! Alex Morgan (the women's Leo Messi) has reiterated that every goal counts - goals win games and winning games leads to championships. Championships create platforms to achieve greater things like equality and every one of your smaller goals in life adds up to achieving that bigger goal - when you have the chance to do it, you score! To lead in your own life, play to your skill level, take advantage of opportunities and master each step to reach your ultimate goal!
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