Calling all female Sutton fans
Aug 7, 2023 6:57:39 GMT
via mobile
swedishchapter and Suttontilidie like this
Post by sallycat on Aug 7, 2023 6:57:39 GMT
There may be very few women and girls who post regularly on this forum but I'm posting in the hope that there might be a few lurkers or that other readers might pass the message on to those who may be interested.
A recent survey carried out by Her Game Too showed a disappointingly large number of female football fans don't attend games in person (or only do so rarely) for reasons such as feeling intimidated by a male-dominated environment, having caring responsibilities, poor ground facilities, or having been a victim of misogynistic abuse at games in the past.
As a female Sutton fan of 28 years' standing, I can confidently say we are, relatively speaking, not a bad club for women and girls when it comes to match day experience. But that doesn't mean we're perfect and I would like to know your thoughts - whether you regularly attend or not - about how we can make the club more female-friendly.
Would you be interested, for example, in a women-only SUFC discussion group/safe space either to bring any concerns/talk confidentially about problems you've experienced at football, or just to chat about football with other women? (We know most men at football are lovely people but there can sometimes be the odd one who will spoil it for us with sexist comments when we just want to talk about football). That could be done online or in person.
What about a women's away day/travel group? A few other clubs have been successfully running these as many women (self included) have experienced sexual harassment and sexism on transport to and from away matches, which might put some off travelling without a safe group of like-minded women.
Similarly, we could start a group for women to stand or sit together at games if that would make anyone feel happier about attending.
Or is there anything else we can do to make the ground and facilities more accessible? We have, for instance, recently started stocking sanitary products in the women's toilets but it doesn't have to stop there - there is always more we can do.
I'm really interested in hearing what female fans have to say on this (or male fans too, if you've heard from the women and girls in your life about their own experiences and opinions). Please get in touch with me either via this forum/private messages, or you can email me at sarah.aitchison@suttonunited.net
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Sal - Her Game Too Ambassador
A recent survey carried out by Her Game Too showed a disappointingly large number of female football fans don't attend games in person (or only do so rarely) for reasons such as feeling intimidated by a male-dominated environment, having caring responsibilities, poor ground facilities, or having been a victim of misogynistic abuse at games in the past.
As a female Sutton fan of 28 years' standing, I can confidently say we are, relatively speaking, not a bad club for women and girls when it comes to match day experience. But that doesn't mean we're perfect and I would like to know your thoughts - whether you regularly attend or not - about how we can make the club more female-friendly.
Would you be interested, for example, in a women-only SUFC discussion group/safe space either to bring any concerns/talk confidentially about problems you've experienced at football, or just to chat about football with other women? (We know most men at football are lovely people but there can sometimes be the odd one who will spoil it for us with sexist comments when we just want to talk about football). That could be done online or in person.
What about a women's away day/travel group? A few other clubs have been successfully running these as many women (self included) have experienced sexual harassment and sexism on transport to and from away matches, which might put some off travelling without a safe group of like-minded women.
Similarly, we could start a group for women to stand or sit together at games if that would make anyone feel happier about attending.
Or is there anything else we can do to make the ground and facilities more accessible? We have, for instance, recently started stocking sanitary products in the women's toilets but it doesn't have to stop there - there is always more we can do.
I'm really interested in hearing what female fans have to say on this (or male fans too, if you've heard from the women and girls in your life about their own experiences and opinions). Please get in touch with me either via this forum/private messages, or you can email me at sarah.aitchison@suttonunited.net
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Sal - Her Game Too Ambassador