Indian Wells CEO Makes Sexist Comments About WTA Players
Did you see my tweet yesterday – I was searching for NCAA stats and the top thing that came up in google search was the following: “Swimming has been a sport at every modern Summer Olympics. ….open to WOMEN since 1912.” Because I was tweeting it I couldn’t send the entire blurb and of course today it’s not there…today on the heels of Raymond Moore’s sexist comments about WTA players.
When asked for his thoughts on the Women’s Tennis Association before the Djokovic–Raonic match, Moore responded with some controversial comments.
“No, I think the WTA—you know, in my next life when I come back I want to be someone in the WTA, (laughter) because they ride on coattails of the men. They don’t make any decisions and they are lucky. They are very, very lucky.
“If I was a lady player, I’d go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport. They really have.”
What? This is (was) the CEO of one of the biggest tennis venues in the USA and he’s talking about women like this? It’s 2016 for goodness sake (replacing the expletives going through my mind). It’s one thing for a CEO to think these things but to say them out-loud?
If you following me, you know that I do a lot of writing in support of women…this is the year of the women but it feel like women are more oppressed & marginalized now than we were last year or the year before. This blog already has two good examples but here’s only a tiny bit more of the conversation:
- Moshak v. University of Tennessee
- Could this gender discrimination lawsuit forever change college sports?
- Television News Covers Women’s Sports Less Today Than It Did 25 Years Ago (From last year but still a relevant part of this conversation)
- Why is sports still a man’s game?
Serena, who boycotted the event for so long, wasn’t amused and hit back at Moore.
“If you read the transcript you can only interpret it one way,” Serena said. “I speak very good English. I’m sure he does, too. You know, there’s only one way to interpret that. Get on your knees, which is offensive enough, and thank a man, which is not — we, as women, have come a long way. We shouldn’t have to drop to our knees at any point.
“Last year the women’s final at the US Open sold out well before the men,” Serena went on. “I’m sorry, did Roger play in that final or Rafa or any man play in that final that was sold out before the men’s final? I think not. So I just feel like in order to make a comment you have to have history and you have to have facts and you have to know things. You have to know of everything. I mean, you look at someone like Billie Jean King who opened so many doors for not only women’s players but women’s athletes in general.”
I feel like women take two steps forward and get shoved four steps back! What needs to happen to change this supremacist attitude that is still rampant in our culture? I don’t know if Ray Moore has a daughter but how would he feel if someone said this to his daughter? Does he not understand the impact this has on girls & women everywhere? Does he not understand that his comments are actually supporting sexism, oppression and marginalization of women for all of mankind?
Thank you Serena, Billie Jean and all the other female players that are speaking out. You are the bedrock of tennis and your voices are being heard by girls and women everywhere!
I am shaking my head…I cannot believe this kind of travesty is happening.
Dr. Michelle
For more information on Raymond Moore’s statements: Indian Wells CEO Ray Moore Says WTA Rides Men’s Coattails, Then Backtracks
Picture cred: en.wikipedia.org
