Opinion: The Matildas are not there to be ogled or fetishised by creepy men. They are elite, professional athletes and must be treated as such

Marty Sheargold’s comments about the Matildas are classic examples of sexualisation in the workplace. They’re also a reflection on how society treats women’s sport.

When Marty Sheargold took it upon himself to compare a squad of elite, professional athletes to schoolchildren, he didn’t embarrass them – he embarrassed himself. Picture: Supplied

Not all jokes are made equal. Not all jokes are even jokes, though they might be defended as such.

When Marty Sheargold took it upon himself to compare a squad of elite, professional athletes to schoolchildren, he didn’t embarrass them – he embarrassed himself.

The uphill battle to achieve gender parity in sport is consistently being undermined by flog comments like this, which reduce the extraordinary abilities of women to those of children.

It’s so blatantly cruel and false that it’s not even worth dignifying with a rebuttal.

The uphill battle to achieve gender parity in sport is consistently being undermined by flog comments like Sheargold’s. Picture: Triple M

The truly revolting nuance to Sheargold’s comments is the sexualisation of the Matildas. If you think women’s sport isn’t interesting, that’s OK – you’re allowed to be wrong.

But, it’s one thing to be sexist and it’s another to be a misogynist. The former is prejudice and the latter is contempt, or hatred in its extreme forms.

I don’t believe Sheargold hates women, but this “joke” revealed an alarming streak of misogyny within him.

Women play sports to be strong, to feel good, to compete, to win, to exercise, to prove themselves, to be fierce, to be incredible.

Women do not play sports to be fetishised in some disgusting teacher-student fantasy from a middle-aged man whose comparative sporting prowess pales into insignificance.

Women play sports to be strong, to feel good, to compete, to win, to exercise, to prove themselves, to be fierce, to be incredible. Picture: Mark Wilson

Sheargold has apologised since making his hideous comments, and in good faith we might accept the apology.

Honestly, though, it’s not only the public to whom he must apologise. It’s the women who wake up at 4am every morning to train for their elite sport. The ones who have to train around their day job because they’re not paid enough to commit to their sport ful- time. The ones who have to balance families while also being professional athletes.

The ones who travel to opposite sides of the world to represent Australia. The ones who people just like Sheargold gladly celebrate when they win for our country.

They’re the ones who deserve apologies.

What is so personally disappointing about this is I consider myself a fan of Sheargold.

I’ve enjoyed his radio show, laughed at his quips on Have You Been Paying Attention and cackled at his improvisation on Thank God You’re Here.

Why now resort to disgusting, sexualising, degrading comments masquerading as dark humour?

It’s not good enough. It’s a grim reflection of our society that people with microphones still feel entitled to sexualise and degrade women in their professional capacities.

Frankly, Marty, if you’d rather hammer a nail through your nob than watch women’s sport, you do you.

Originally published as Opinion: The Matildas are not there to be ogled or fetishised by creepy men. They are elite, professional athletes and must be treated as such