Football serves both as a unifying force and a source of division, especially regarding gender. Historically, women faced bans and stigma, limiting their participation in the sport. A turning point came in 2012 when girls could join mixed teams, but ongoing challenges persist. A 2023 report highlighted that nearly one-third of girls stop playing football by their late teens, compared to just ten percent of boys. The pandemic further exacerbated this divide in attitudes toward physical activity among youth.
Football has the potential to create communities, break down barriers, and connect people, yet it has a history of dividing individuals, particularly along gender lines.
Despite lifting the ban on women playing football in 1971, the stigma remained, leading to a disparity where nearly a third of girls who play football stop by their late teens.
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