If I was a sportswoman…..

 

 

The recent allegations of sexual misconduct against sports coaches leave a bitter taste in the mouth and I wonder how it may adversely affect the lives and careers of aspiring sportswomen especially in rural India. What if I was a sportswoman wanting to turn professional? How will news like this affect my dreams?

 

 

I stay in a village and am all of 17 years old. I have been a hockey player since childhood. I have represented my college and district at different tournaments. Hockey is not a hobby of mine, it is a passion. I want to pursue a career in hockey; I want to be a professional hockey player. My goal is the Indian women’s team.

 

 

There is a problem. My parents like most of those in an Indian village are old-fashioned and conservative. They have never encouraged my playing, but at least they haven’t stopped me. However, when I indicated my career preference, they were quite horrified. In fact, what they would have liked to do best was marry off their under-aged daughter. Thankfully my relatives in the town convinced them otherwise. But my wish to be a professional hockey player flummoxed them.

 

 

It took me patience and time to convince them and at last it looked like they would relent. But all my efforts came to naught recently when the sex scandal involving the hockey coach got exposed. My parents heard about it and I believe many village elders who were anyway not happy with my decision have been giving my father “What did we tell you?” looks.

 

 

Not that my parents need the influence of others to decide. Their decision – a firm “no” to my wish has already been conveyed to me. My mother has told me to give up my dream. Not only are they terrified that I may be exploited, they are also worried that it would give people a chance to cast aspersions on my character. “Who will marry you then?” asks my mother.

 

 

I mentally cursed all the coaches and staff members of all sports teams who have been abusing their powers, making improper advances to players, and creating problems for people like me. Don’t they have any moral values, self-control that they prey on these hapless women? They know that it is in their power to make or mar the careers of these women. They know that these women will keep quiet, they have so much to lose and their sport is all that they have.

 

 

I have heard from many of my friends that the demands are not restricted to just sexual favours. If the player’s family is well-off, the demands range from jobs for relatives to money. I also hear that not all complaints are genuine but the malaise of sexual exploitation runs deep.

 

 

However sickening the situation, I cannot give up my dreams just because of a few rotten eggs. I will not succumb to my parents’ pressure. If nothing works, I will pursue hockey without my parents’ blessings. Regarding putting myself at risk, I am confident that I am strong enough to rebuff inappropriate conduct from anybody in the sports fraternity.

 

 

Author: Pratibha Shenoy (Bangalore)