In today’s world, one where women have tried countless times to be considered as equals to men, there are still those who choose to disrespect women solely because of their gender and lack of masculinity. It is dehumanizing, degrading and simply way past its time.
“You run like a girl” is a common comment that can be used as an insult. But why? What gives people the right to say this? So what if I am a girl? I should run like one, and I am proud to run like one. Why is being compared to one an insult? Why is the world still treating us as second-class citizens?
But sexism doesn’t stay on the playground of an elementary school; it festers and grows. In an article written by the Conference on Crimes Against Women (CCAW) in August of 2025, the issue of dildos being thrown onto the court or at Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players during their games was brought up. CCAW called it ‘a blatant display of misogyny,’ one that sexualized women in a sport that was slowly gaining traction in the public eye. It’s disgusting and wrong. In the 21st century we shouldn’t even be having this conversation. The idea that women are still being undermined over 61 years after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law is humiliating. For what equality did those women fight for if it cannot be carried over into a basketball game?
It doesn’t help that the president of our country clearly also considers women solely for the aspect of being a trophy. Following both the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams winning gold at the Winter Olympics, President Donald Trump invited both teams to the State of the Union, but the Women’s team declined with a respectful notice explaining they had prior commitments but were very grateful for the invitation, according to NBC News. When Trump called the men’s team to invite them following their victory, he made a remark saying, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” and “I do believe I probably would be impeached,” if he did not invite them (NBC News). It’s hard to explain to a young girl watching this why she would not be considered on the same level as her male counterparts, why the person leading her country would ever openly mock and demean a group of women who worked so hard to get where they are today. It is simply disgraceful and puts the United States to shame.
Following the 2025 Winter Olympics, the women athletes of the United States won more medals than the men; they brought home more wins and more gold, according to Newsweek. Women athletes won for our country; they won not because of those who held them down but for the countless other women who are considered simply less than a man.
Sports is an expression of the player’s love for the game and we must never forget that. Being a woman is powerful on and off the court and we must never let the words of a man or person be the reason we believe we are any less than ourselves. Instead, we must embrace it and run like a girl because that’s who we are, we are strong and will never stop fighting for the chance to be considered a man’s equal.
