Indian women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj is committed to elevating the status of the sport to the often highlighted men’s cricket and it’s not only evident in her on field style but also in the manner that she speaks. Recently, when Raj was asked who was her favourite male cricketer on the eve of Women’s World Cup, she hit back like a total boss.
While speaking to ESPNcricinfo at the opening dinner, Mithali Raj was asked by a reporter which men’s cricketer between India and Pakistan was her favourite to which, she replied, “Do you ask the same question to a male cricketer? Do you ask them who their favourite female cricketer is?” As necessary and reasonable as her response was, sadly, it seems to have backfired as the counter argument presented by Twitterati is mainly ignorant and classically sexist.
Indian women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj and coach Tushar Arothe during a pre-departure media conference as the team leaves for the ICC Women’s World Cup, in Mumbai on Saturday. (Courtesy: PTI/Shashank Parade)
“There’s a lot of difference because we are not a regular on television. Now the BCCI has made an effort that the last two home series have been televised and social media has improved a lot of it but there is a still a lot of catch-up to do in terms of recognition,” Raj added. And evidently, there certainly is a lot to catch up.
When cricket writer Adam Collins posted a tweet lauding Raj’s fiery response, several users turned to justifying why male cricketers aren’t asked that question, inadvertently bringing out the gender bias that Raj spoke about.
Superb response from Indian skipper Mithali Raj. Asked by a reporter who her favourite male player is: “Would you ask a man that?” #WWC17 pic.twitter.com/RqgVLzXp46
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) June 22, 2017
How is this superb? All its doing is bringing up unnecessary gender issues…
— Nick Creely (@NCreely) June 23, 2017
Arrogance went to her head, this is what happens when a female is given too much bhhav
— shaaneavadh (@shaaneavadh11) June 22, 2017
Why everyone is so excited to extrapolate every goddamn thing to feminism and tag everything is sexist ? He asked a simple question!
— Farrago Cutlet (@Zen_Cutlet) June 22, 2017
Maybe… just maybe… People are reading too much into it. It may not have been a smart question but prime facie can’t be termed sexist too
— Bike Ki-moon (@GreatCircus) June 23, 2017
people have become overly touchy now…almost acting in compulsion to force themselves to interpret a normal ques in sexist/ racist way
— anuradha_dighe (@anuradha_dighe) June 22, 2017
Nothing special in it bt arrogance…. there r alot more better ways to fight against male chauvinism
— Shavaiz Khan (@shavaizkhn) June 22, 2017
Superb response … But nobody is going to watch women’s cricket, even women
— Anton Szandor Lavey (@CliffofDovers) June 22, 2017
.I am not against women’s cricket.Im not even a cricket fan. Women’s cricket will never be equal to mens cricket.unfortunately
— Anton Szandor Lavey (@CliffofDovers) June 22, 2017
women cricket is not famous yet. the people does not watch women cricket with keen.
— Syed Nabeel Ahmed (@SyedNabeelAhmd) June 22, 2017
While women’s cricket is being uplifted with them receiving a higher daily allowance and earnings per game, these responses clearly indicate that there is still a long way to go before the sport can be treated fairly against men’s cricket.
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