Let Her Work: From Brazil To India, Female Sports Journalists Are Speaking Out Against Harassment

Enough is enough! This is what female sports journalists around the world are saying as they come out against harassment and assault. While women sports journalists in Brazil have launched the 'Let Her Work' movement, back in India, women scribes have come out against harassment by seniors in the industry.

A few days ago, Sarah Waris, an Indian female sports journalist, came out against a senior editor from Bengaluru, accusing him of sexually harassing women in the industry. "Me and a couple of other female sportswriters have been the victim of harassment over the last few weeks - from the same person," she said in a Facebook post. Even as she didn't name the accused in her post, she further alleged that he makes fake accounts of girls "to talk of the most disgusting things ever". Soon after, the BCCI and ICC acted against the said accused as more voices came out against him.

Today, Sharda Ugra, Senior Editor at ESPNcricinfo, wrote how predatory behaviour against women journalists has prevailed in the industry over the years. "There has in no way been a reduction in cases of harassment, bullying and intimidation of young women in the sport," she wrote, adding it was time for the cricket fraternity to take a stand.

In Brazil, journalists in March posted a video online with #DeixaElaTrabalhar — Portuguese for LetHerWork. The movement gained pace with female journalists standing up against all hooliganism at the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia. Brazilian journalist Julia Guimarães was hailed for standing up to the man who was harassing her on air.

Aline Nastari, who is one of the female journalists who appear in Brazil's DeixaElaTrabalhar video hailed Guimarães. “From the moment you make it public and you feel that you’re in it together, that there are a lot of people experiencing the same thing, you feel supported to fight for something,” said Nastari as quoted by news agency AP.

Over the past few months, like the entertainment fraternity's 'Me Too' movement, the 'Let Her Work' movement has spread across the world. Women are calling for action, they are calling for their equal space and respect in the sports journalism fraternity, and it's high time they are given that.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 17, 2018 04:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).