The Double Bind of Femininity in Sports: When Respect is Conditional

The Sydney Swans’ AFLW team has been thrust into a crisis after allegations against five male players surfaced. As the fallout intensifies, the women’s team finds itself at the center of a controversy that threatens to undermine its very existence.

The double-header on the SCG, where the Swans AFLW team was given equal billing to their male counterparts, had all the makings of a triumphant celebration. Instead, the players and coaches are grappling with the fallout from the actions of their male teammates. The suspension of five men’s players for breaching club standards is a necessary step towards accountability, but it also raises questions about the burden that women carry when men fail to uphold values of respect and inclusivity.

AFLW pioneer Chyloe Kurdas notes that this is not just a problem for the Swans AFLW team, but for the entire AFLW system. The culture around men in football, how women are spoken about and treated, and how the industry responds when serious allegations arise all contribute to a toxic environment that can be damaging to women’s well-being.

Diversity and inclusion leader Rana Hussain highlights the ways in which women are expected to navigate and mitigate the risk of sexual violence. The statistic that one in five women have experienced sexual violence over the age of 15 is a stark reminder of the prevalence of this issue. Women are often asked to explain why it matters, what respectful culture should look like, and what needs to change – as if their very presence on the field is conditional upon their ability to manage the emotional labor of others.

The club’s response has been inadequate, with Sydney CEO Matthew Pavlich saying that his club’s women’s team was “deeply disappointed” in the five male players. Standing them down is an important step towards accountability, but it does not address the underlying issues of respect and inclusivity at stake.

Former AFLW All Australian Kate McCarthy has been a vocal critic of the AFL space’s failure to engage truly and include women and girls in footy spaces safely. Her post highlighting the need for genuine change was met with widespread praise from current players, including GWS’ Tilly Lucas-Rodd and Lions star Jade Ellenger.

The question now is what comes next. Will the Swans AFLW team be able to recover from this controversy, or will it serve as a reminder of the double bind that women face in sports? Will the club’s leaders take concrete steps towards creating a culture of respect and inclusivity, or will they continue to rely on platitudes and token gestures?

The fate of the Swans AFLW team hangs precariously in the balance, caught between the demands of respectability and the need for genuine change. As the women’s team takes to the field on Sunday, they will be carrying not only their own hopes and aspirations but also the weight of expectation from an industry that continues to struggle with its own sense of entitlement.