😵💫 The places women are not supposed to be
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This month my family and I have been watching more sports than usual during the Euros football tournament (and yes I mean soccer ⚽️😜), and it has really got me thinking.
I’m not much of a sports fan, and I don’t tend to follow particular teams or even particular sports… I’ve always been more of a music lover or drawn to quiet hobbies like reading and gardening 🤓😂
But when it comes to watching men’s football/soccer, one of the things that has put me off has always been that it feels like a space where women are not invited to join in.
It’s great that women’s football is now much more of an established sport. It’s encouraging that some players on the men’s team refer to their female counterparts as equals, and talk about their accomplishments with respect and honour.
But for me growing up in the 90s watching football on TV, if you were a girl or a woman:
❌ You wouldn’t see players of your gender
❌ You wouldn’t hear female commentators
❌ You wouldn’t be invited to share your opinions and you might even receive rejection or abuse for daring to have a view
For me, football has always felt like a male space that I might be tolerated in if I sit quietly and don’t ruffle any feathers.
But if you know me, you’ll know that’s a dynamic I don’t do all that well with… sorry not sorry 😜
I was disappointed this month that the major TV channels in the UK only featured male commentators and pundits, with their female counterparts given short slots pitchside but very much kept separate from the ‘main event’.
And in a sense, does it matter what happens in the world of sport.
I actually think that yes it does matter, because we receive messages all the time about what our culture does and doesn’t allow. We take these messages onboard and as women, we internalise them. And we adapt our behaviour so that we don’t break the unwritten rules that other people put in place for us.
But it also matters because this happens in business ALL THE TIME.
I cannot tell you the number of men who have been triggered by me in all my purple-haired 5’3 boldness daring to speak about business with authority.
For lots of people, business is a male space and women are only allowed in if we keep quiet and act deferential.
It can feel like we constantly have to prove ourselves, and we have to be twice as competent or accomplished in order to show that we are worthy of acknowledgement.
We don’t get to be mediocre.
And I know for my friends who are men or women of colour, this is even more the case.
But. I also think that things are changing. In business and in sports.
Like it or not, more women are creating businesses than ever before. More women are building 7 figure businesses.
And in doing so, we are creating a new normal that means future generations of women won’t be held back in the same way.
So – if you’re reading this and you know deep down that you have the aspiration to be a 7 figure business owner, you have a choice.
You can either decide that this isn’t a space for women, and make your plans smaller.
Or you can decide to own it, and not apologise for your ambition any longer.
The world needs more 7 figure women.
And if that’s your dream as a 6 figure consultant, I’m here to help you make this a reality.
Here’s 3 things you might want to consider doing:
1) Follow me on LinkedIn for original content created for women consultants ready to get to 7 figures.
2) Check out my podcast, the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast with (at the last count) 180 episodes of inspiration and insights.
3) Work with me – find out more and apply here.
Ready to be unapologetically you and make a ton of money in the process? 🤩
Me too 🤓
Have a great week,
Jessica x
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