Posted on February 22, 2014

Updated on September 18, 2023

“To play sports without losing your beauty, become a cheerleader!” This is, in essence, the message sent to English women by the British Sports Minister, which did not fail to irritate the country's anti-sexism associations. In an interview with TelegraphHelen Grant explained that she wanted to encourage women and girls to play sports. But, according to her, what stops her compatriots from taking part in regular sporting activities is the fear of not being feminine, wearing sports clothes and sweating profusely.

The solution, according to the minister? Encourage them to take up sports from school “that we can practice at a high level without ceasing to be radiant and very feminine, such as dance, gymnastics, cheerleading or roller skating”. “We must give women what they want,” he decreed. Also regretting that women's sports competitions are not valued more in the media than men's sport, Helen Grant told the Telegraph which was counting on the Sochi Olympics, where British women's teams have been shining so far, to reverse the trend.

Unsurprisingly, her comments upset several gender equality activists, the report notes. guardian. The latter criticised the minister for conveying the idea that “the only way to count in sport when you are a woman is to be dressed and feminine.” For Laura Bates, from the “Everyday Sexism” project, Helen Grant does not achieve her objective. “It is disheartening to hear these words from a minister. While our athletes shine at the Olympic Games, the media continues to focus on their appearance and femininity.”

Former cheerleader Bianca London, meanwhile, wanted to temper the glamorous vision often associated with the sport. “I've seen dislocated legs, people fainting from the pain of a broken arm. It's that violent, and believe me, there wasn't a cheer in sight.”