I want to shed light on a topic that is easily over-looked or stuffed under the rug. Not swept, stuffed. Shoved. Crammed. There is a gender inequality that exists in jiu jitsu and for whatever reason, it's acceptable and sometimes dismissed. It is often over-looked because of various reasons I've stated below. I want to bring an awareness not to the tip of the iceberg but rather the very foundation of why it exists. This can be applied to many different aspects of life but with jiu jitsu still considered a culture, and a "small world," we can work to change it now.
The existence of girls training jiu jitsu has brought on so many different opinions and issues that it's like beating a dead horse. Most think of it as a situation that won't change anytime soon but I beg to differ. There are so many inner problems at work here and because of this, the progression of females in the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is at stake.
There are three reasons that patriarchy (yes, that is what is in play here) exists and is maintained:
1) It is routine and taken advantage of. The roles of women in general are that of an essentialist view in which they are considered innately maternal, motherly, sensitive, nurturing, weak and submissive. While there have been some changes in the last two examples, it is still an ingrained image we have of females. On the contrary, men are strong, dominant, in control and fearless. For this, jiu jitsu is the perfect outlet for those characters who are playing the role of dominance, control and in the case of mma, violence. By men participating in jiu jitsu they are simply performing their role. When women train jiu jitsu, we are going against the very ideals of our suggested roles. And since our roles help determine our sense of self, it's hard to place ourselves in the world of jiu jitsu where we are challenged and outside of our comfort zone. We put ourselves in a place where others see we don't belong. There are reasons that women aren't as accepted on the mat but we can't always express why and so because it is such a routine idea with a messed up gender message, no one wants to stir up controversy by admitting it exists.
To further this example, as my professor made note of, Pepe' Le Pew is a sex offender. I bet you never thought of him as that BUT anyone who did would be considered uptight and not able to take jokes or make light of anything.
2) Force. Given that one would speak up about the issue of women not gaining the same respect in jiu jitsu, there'd be a ton of flack caught for it . So because someone fears being victimized as a result of their opposing position, they choose not to speak up or demand change.
3) Ideology. Another reason there is no change is because the idea that it is "the way that it's supposed to be." Let's not make note of the issue, speak up about it, challenge it, or try to challenge it because that's just how it is.
My purpose of talking about this is because although there are less serious issues such as getting blamed for looking like a girl when we step into the gym as if we're attempting to be a distraction, there are more serious instances like the fact that there are very little sponsorships available for the dedicated, competitive, successful women in the sport. While the major companies are supporting the few world champions, there is little to no exposure for the women making their way up the ranks. Currently there is a consistent amount of media surrounding the "young guns" for males whether they're juveniles or blue belts to brown belts. The women, regardless of being the teammates of those guys who have helped them prepare for their wins, or have competed in more tournaments than most guys, have little recognition.
No company wants to be the one that markets to the girls. No company has faith in the existence of girls in the sport and to some extent, there are people who refuse to accept them into the higher ranks at all.
This system and way of thinking needs to change. There are plenty of females in the sport who must be taken seriously. Regardless of the notions that girls get into training for the sake of meeting a mate, we can't shun all of them or exclude them especially those that compete and train consistently.
My hope is that we can gain some more notoriety in the community, gather more faith in us that we are truly in it for the right reasons, that we are not a nuisance and that we become seen as equal with the same amount of respect and opportunities that are given to the boys.
This is not a cry for myself to be recognized or a complaint because I can't get support when I need it. It is a cry for all the inspiring, tough women who put in the hours, blood, sweat, and I'm sure many tears, who deserve to be accepted and revered. It is a push for you to challenge what exists. If you can accept that it's an issue then congratulations. If you can help support the women and aid in the advancement of our sport in this area, then hats off to you and thanks.
