I know it shouldn’t surprise me, but it does. Rage runs through my veins hot and fast. In the solitude of my apartment, I let my poker face slip. I don’t feel like being the bigger person. I don’t want to be the picture of stoicism. It’s hard enough being a woman. It’s doubly so in an industry that is so openly sexist. In an uncharacteristic move, I open ClikClak, determined to take my outrage to social media.
However, the first post I see is enough to feel like I’ve been doused with an entire vat of ice-cold water.
Chapter 4: Andi
If I had to make alist of things I’d want to see blasting all over social media regarding the world of soccer, they would be, in no particular order: coverage about the first female to referee a regulation league MUSSL game, coverage about the wage gap between male and female referees in sports, coverage about the wage—and salary—gap for women’s sports as compared to their male counterparts, and coverage from the Global Games, since I can’t afford to go.
Theverylast thing I want to see is video footage of Brandon “Bad Breath” Nix screaming in my face.
Over and over and over.
For the record, no one else calls him by that nickname, but I doubt anyone else has been that close recently. Seriously, if you’re going to get in people’s faces like that, at least eat a mint beforehand.
If that weren’t bad enough, the comments.The comments.
Female referees should stay in female football.
Why are there even female referees? This is a man’s sport.
She should stick to the kitchen.
She should just go be a commentator where her opinion won’t hurt the game.
It’s giving offside, I think?
He looks like he wants to kiss her.
The last comment makes me want to vomit. Or at least laugh hysterically. Brandon Nix and me? It’s a whole lot of nope.
To be sure, there are a lot of great videos of me, with inspirational songs, standing up to Nix. That’s great. I want to be a role model to young women everywhere. That’s a bonus with being a trailblazer.
But much more of the focus is about Brandon and me.
Which is not the issue.
It shouldn’t be the issue.
