They might not have won the final but the lionesses have done more for girl power in the last 4 and a half weeks than anyone in the last few years. On the back of the Euro 2022 win, these women carried a nations hopes on their shoulders with their heads held high.
As the starting eleven walked out on to the pitch at Stadium Australia in Sydney they weren’t only living out their own childhood dreams, but the dreams of all those who stepped out before them, as well as those who never got the chance because society said no.
Young girls can pick out football boots and kits for Christmas because it’s now “ok” and they might just finally get the opportunities denied to so many before. Aspiring lionesses might actually be able to find a team and a coach in their local community rather than searching the nation for the odd one.
Girl power should never have been about throwing up the peace sign at every opportunity and sticking it to “the boys”… Girl power is about empowerment, equality, passion, inspiration, confidence and strength… qualities each one of the lionesses display in every single game. And whilst the disappointment from todays game will feel all encompassing, you know they will come back stronger next time. Now that’s girl power.
What these women have done goes beyond 90 minutes on a football pitch. Their pictures grace the front and back pages of the tabloids, and their social media reach is incredible. They are role models for youngsters all over, even showing other nations what you can achieve if you just persevere.
There’s no point comparing the women’s game to the men’s. There is no comparison when there is so much disparity in terms of sponsors, coverage and pay, but the lionesses are leading the way for future that looks very different.
They’ve shown women up and down the country that we can perform at the highest level. They’ve shown women that we can do what we love, and we can do it professionally, not just as a side hustle. They’ve shown women that WE CAN…
We can do it like a lioness.
and she said 