Beyond women : the coming challenges for gender equity in Brazilian football

The growth of women’s football around the world is indisputable. From sport mega-events such as the 2019 FIFA World Cup hosted by France, to the increase of local competitions, each day we see more opportunities for women and girls to participate in the game. Whilst in the recent past, particularly in Brazil, it was rare to see women as referees or coaches, in the early twenty-first century they have been occupying these positions with competence and hard work. In broadcasts of professional football matches it’s not very often that we hear women’s voices in the role of commentators in the top competitions. As we witness the progress of gender equity within the game in Brazil, we must ponder the next challenges to further the feminist footballing agenda in the country. This essay aims to reflect on the upcoming barriers to the game, and how they can be overcome. We use the recent historical achievements within Brazilian women’s football and analyse them through a sociological lens, to claim that the gendered status quo needs to be continuously challenged if we want to expand the reach of the ‘feminist football revolution’. The chapter points out that the forthcoming battles for gender equity are, on the one hand, located in the players’ bodies, and that researchers and activists must look at transgender bodies as well as to the players’ sexualities in order to guarantee further social justice in the game. On the other hand, the Internet, and particularly WEB 3.0, will set the tone for how this revolution can be deepened. The chapter claims that we need to look ‘beyond women’ to truly embrace diversity in football, so any ‘woman’ from any background can experience the benefits of the game, and hence enhance their lives within their communities and the broader society.