South Asian Women Striving in Football

The absence of South Asian women in football raises concerns. Despite progress, professional representation remains limited.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup this year highlighted the issue. With 736 players from various countries, not one had South Asian heritage. Teams like England and the USA lacked the diversity needed.

Where are these women in football and why aren’t we seeing them? Romance FC player Aneesha Dewshi sheds light. “We exist, but our numbers are small,” she says. Though grassroots participation is rising, few women go professional due to barriers like limited access, bias, and stereotypes.

Dewshi emphasizes investment, erasing unconscious bias, and role models. She remembers Jesminder from “Bend It Like Beckham” as an early role model.

QPR’s Manisha Tailor, an Assistant Head of Coaching, stands as a role model herself. While progress is happening, more needs to be done to level the field. Tailor cites players like Sam Kerr and Safia Middleton-Patel.

Traditional gender roles within Asian families contribute too. Rosie and Mollie Kmita explain that these roles often steer women away from sports. Lack of support and opportunities also hinder progress.

Access to teams and resources remains a challenge. Dewshi notes the importance of investment in grassroots teams to ensure facilities, coaching, and more.

Unconscious bias is another hurdle. Kaljit Atwal believes in removing common barriers. She stresses normalizing South Asian women in sport.

Despite challenges, community support is strong. Playing for Romance FC, Dewshi feels the power of community. The Kmita twins echo this sentiment and founded The Powerhouse Project to create positive change.

South Asian women exist in football, but their growth relies on investment and support. With these, they can thrive and break barriers.
Re-reported from the article originally published in Hypebae