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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I didn’t enjoy the women’s football

122 replies

Busbygirl · 23/08/2023 18:35

My friend came round yesterday and we got into the topic of the women’s football.
She asked me if I’d watched the match, which I did, however when asked I said I didn’t enjoy it.
She seemed to take massive offence to this comment saying How could I not support women? We need to stand together. I wasn’t much of a feminist. It was a much better game than the men’s football (which I don’t agree with).
Lots of other similar comments basically implying I was out of touch and not supporting the sisterhood.
The atmosphere became icy after this and she left shortly afterwards.
I mean are we not allowed to not enjoy something without it turning into a battle of the sexes? I feel life is becoming exhausting.
I prefer men’s tennis too but wouldn’t dare admit it to her.
AIBU to admit I prefer men’s football without having to justify myself?

OP posts:
FlamingMangoes · 23/08/2023 20:34

We need smaller pitches and smaller goals. It’s much more ponderous than the men’s because it’s smaller, slower, less physically powerful people playing on the same size pitch. In my view it is less exciting to watch but I think that would be easily solved by making it equitable!

WhereTheTeapotsJibberJabberJoo · 23/08/2023 20:34

I support women's rights but I wouldn't sit through a whole match.

WandaWonder · 23/08/2023 20:39

I would have asked the friend how many local women's football matches they go too to show support, it's amazing how much support people expect when it's easy and just on tv

SpamFrittersYouSay · 23/08/2023 20:41

I'm concerned about this need to have to enjoy women's football just because it's women's football and that if you don't support it then there's clearly something wrong with you.

There's an almost messianic following of it which I find bonkers. Barely three years ago , hardly anyone took notice of it.
It's like Pride, NHS clapping, Captain Tom,Cornish Sea shantys etc...

There suddenly becomes this fervent following then it starts to fall to bits.

We're a fickle nation.

And no... I couldn't care less about women's football and I care even less about men's football.

VictoriaVenkman · 23/08/2023 20:52

I hate football. As much as I support the team and hope they do well, no way am I watching a game.

underneaththeash · 23/08/2023 20:58

I just don’t understand the concept of watching sport as a form of entertainment.
unless it’s something short which you can bet on (like horse racing), what on earth is interesting in watching someone you don’t know run, kick a ball, drive a car etc…

I enjoy playing sport for the cameraderie, exercise, being outside, improving yourself - but you don’t get that from watching someone else do it!

Palmasailor · 23/08/2023 21:03

Men’s football is shit to be honest. Women’s won’t be any better.

the implication you should like something that you wouldn’t otherwise like just because doing so would support the sisterhood is just even more BS.

CrunchyCarrot · 23/08/2023 21:26

I love watching soccer but if I didn't I wouldn't watch it whether it was a women's team or not. There's nothing wrong with not watching a sport you aren't into.

Elsiebear90 · 24/08/2023 13:08

dollybird · 23/08/2023 20:31

I totally agree. All these people (usually men) saying women are shit at football are comparing apples and oranges. It's why there's so much noise about men in women's sport. Pretty much all women at elite level in any sport are not as good as the men at elite level, it doesn't make them shit.

Show quote history

Exactly, I think it’s really sad tbh to see so many women gleefully running other women down because we don’t have the biology to be as good as men, it’s irrelevant anyway because they aren’t competing against men, they are competing against women. Why does it matter if they can’t out perform men? Should we not even bother playing any sports just because men perform better? If their daughter was a really talented runner are they going to tell her not to bother cause she wouldn’t be able to beat male runners? It’s really sad.

Theborder · 24/08/2023 14:00

@Elsiebear90

Its not that it’s the expectation that we as women must like watching womens football more than men’s. My own daughter prefers to watch men’s football and that’s okay.

Ace56 · 26/08/2023 07:00

NeedTheSeaside · 23/08/2023 19:00

@Ace56

why would what I like to watch annoy you?
What difference does it make to you?

Show quote history

Because it shows illogical, narrow minded thinking and possibly sexism. I would be disappointed that any friend of mine showed these qualities.

hahahahahah · 26/08/2023 07:29

I do not enjoy watching sport (football, tennis, cycling, etc.) irrespective of whether men or women are playing. However, there are some really interesting and significant political and social issues being played out within the context of these high profile matches.

Women footballers are still paid less, on average, than male footballers of equal experience. Will this change? Will we see multi-million pound transfers of top female footballers?
Men still dominate the higher ranks of FIFA. Is this going to change? Will it lead to changes in other male-dominated professions?
According to UeFA, most of the coaches in women's teams in Europe are men. Are there issues with respect to men coaching women? Where are the women coaches in top league men's football?
That kiss.
There are still countries that have men's football teams, but no women's team. There are wider gender inequalities in many countries.

Therefore, I do take an interest in what is happening in the sport, even though I have little interest in watching the games.

NeedTheSeaside · 26/08/2023 12:31

Ace56 · 26/08/2023 07:00

Because it shows illogical, narrow minded thinking and possibly sexism. I would be disappointed that any friend of mine showed these qualities.

Show quote history

@Ace56 you said

if you’d said to me you don’t like women’s football in general it would also annoy me if you were my friend

I asked you why.

You said

Because it shows illogical, narrow minded thinking and possibly sexism

So you think I'm compelled to enjoy everything women participate in??

that's a very unusual POV

tigger1001 · 26/08/2023 18:37

Ace56 you said

if you’d said to me you don’t like women’s football in general it would also annoy me if you were my friend

I asked you why.

You said

Because it shows illogical, narrow minded thinking and possibly sexism

So you think I'm compelled to enjoy everything women participate in??

that's a very unusual POV"

I agree. Why should I like women's football or any other women's sport just because I'm a woman?

I have been a lover of tennis all my life. Not a big lover of the women's game. I prefer the men's game. It's just personal preference.

Ace56 · 26/08/2023 22:49

@NeedTheSeaside

‘I should enjoy everything women participate in’ - where are you getting that from?

If you enjoy football in general, there should be no reason why you wouldn’t enjoy women’s football. The OP’s sweeping opinion that men’s football is better seems to have no basis as you can’t claim that all men’s games are better than all women’s games. There is also no factual evidence that the women are ‘less skilled’ or are poorer players than the men. So the generalisation that the women’s version is lesser is illogical and sexist. To me it’s along the lines of saying ‘women are stupider than men’ - this would also be sexist as it’s a sweeping generalisation.

Badbadbunny · 27/08/2023 12:35

FlamingMangoes · 23/08/2023 20:34

We need smaller pitches and smaller goals. It’s much more ponderous than the men’s because it’s smaller, slower, less physically powerful people playing on the same size pitch. In my view it is less exciting to watch but I think that would be easily solved by making it equitable!

I've said that for years. The woman's game would be far better and more entertaining if pitches and goals were slightly smaller. Doesn't need to be much. Look at woman's golf where the tees are moved forward a short distance compared to mens - makes a massive difference.

Johnisafckface · 27/08/2023 13:30

I usually prefer watching men play sports than women with a few exceptions . I’m not going to watch/prefer a sport just because women are playing it.

tigger1001 · 27/08/2023 15:16

Ace56 · 26/08/2023 22:49

@NeedTheSeaside

‘I should enjoy everything women participate in’ - where are you getting that from?

If you enjoy football in general, there should be no reason why you wouldn’t enjoy women’s football. The OP’s sweeping opinion that men’s football is better seems to have no basis as you can’t claim that all men’s games are better than all women’s games. There is also no factual evidence that the women are ‘less skilled’ or are poorer players than the men. So the generalisation that the women’s version is lesser is illogical and sexist. To me it’s along the lines of saying ‘women are stupider than men’ - this would also be sexist as it’s a sweeping generalisation.

Edited

I think you are missing the point.

It's not about being "less skilled" or "poorer players". It's a different kind of game. And it's ok if people prefer one over the other.

I much prefer men's tennis than women's tennis. Both play tennis, but the type of games are different. And you know what? That's ok. Plenty prefer the women's game over the men's - and that's ok too.

ThePuma · 27/08/2023 16:46

@Ace56 I don’t think I have a ever heard anyone credible argue that there isn’t a huge gulf in quality between the men’s and women’s game.

Anyone who watches football regularly can see with our own eyes that it’s the case. We don’t need factual evidence but in the occasional match between men and women the scorelines in favour of the men have been vastly one-sided.

Of all the arguments for and against the women’s game, that is not one worth having.

lala66 · 27/08/2023 16:58

I generally don’t find football interesting. But I did watch the women’s final. Only irk I have is there doesn’t seem to be much femininity on the pitch, almost like they’re imitating male players? Guess I’d like to see more originality in that sense.

JudgeRudy · 27/08/2023 17:05

How would she feel if you said you didn't fancy women, that you kissed a girl and didn't like it? Surely that's the same. You're comparing two different versions of the same thing, and you prefer the mens version.

LoviePO1 · 10/07/2025 20:34

I also hate women's football. Why are TV channels forcing this on the public - only children under 11 years old have vague interest. I would never encourage my granddaughters to take up that 'sport'. Thank God for Netflix

BedlingtonWillow · 10/07/2025 20:41

I don’t watch football of any kind, but I had to is when I said I didn’t enjoy the all-woman remake of Ghostbusters, by someone who practically harassed me into watching it with them! I hated it because it was objectively a bad film, not because the main characters were women, but apparently thats not allowed.

NeedAnyHelpWithThatPaperBag · 10/07/2025 20:42

Women's sport is doubling the amount of sport shown on TV, which for non sports viewers is annoying, so shouldn't be linked to feeling obliged to support it.

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