Susie O’Brien: Tayla Harris photo another example of misogyny

The men who are responsible for the sexist trolling of AFLW players are most likely to be fathers, husbands, brothers and sons. The latest Tayla Harris incident is yet another example of the deep-seated misogyny in our society writes Susie O’Brien.

Sexist trolling of AFLW players has been going on for years.

Tayla Harris’s recent experience of being reduced to a piece of meat, a sexual object and a male plaything is the latest in a long line of sexism directed at women who play sport. Women who play sport traditionally associated with men such as football and cricket seem to cop the most vile remarks about their gender and sexuality.

They’re called tomboys, butch dykes and lipstick lessos. They’re called bitches, skanks and whores.

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Those with short hair are referred to as “him” and there are plenty of derogatory terms for their female genitalia thrown around.

Tayla Harris attracted an avalanche of abuse after a photo of her kicking the ball with strength and power — and her legs apart — was posted on social media.

I won’t repeat the comments, but they’re similar to the sort of abuse women in sport put up with all the time.

Men called Brad, Regan, Mitch and Quinton — to name a few — felt they could freely comment on Harris’ body, genitalia, and sexuality. Rather than admiring her athleticism, they just wanted to see up her shorts.

Although a few comments came from women, the vast majority came from men.

Harris called out the trolls that abused her. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media

Men who think professional female athletes doing their job are little more than sexual objects. Men who don’t see female players as real footballers. Men who don’t see women as equals.

While we all sympathise with Harris, we must remember this is yet another example of the deep-seated sexism and misogyny in our society.

Of course, it’s not all men. In fact, I am gratified today to see so many men taking a stand against such behaviour. Hats off to you, Robbo and all the others.

Women like me who have been banging on about this for years are sick of being called man-haters, so we appreciate the support.

It’s all too common.

Kate O’Halloran, a journalist from The Guardian, wrote on Twitter that she was trolled recently for objecting to a tweet that said: “Footy’s back *collective sigh of relief*.

She pointed out that women’s football has been going on all summer, and in return was called “dumb b----”, “an angry dyke feminist”, “ugly feminist”, “insecure woman” and “manhater”.

Journalist Erin Riley was subjected to similar abuse a few years ago after she wrote about the AFL grand final. “Probably because all women are dumb and you don’t know s--- about footy,” one comment said.

AFLW star Moana Hope has seen her fair share of nasty comments. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Media

Mainstream football sites contain many sexist and derogatory comments about the AFLW. Take this one from xyz.net.au about a promo shot of Moana Hope for the start of the league back in 2017. “It’s not exactly your dream girl that you want to take home to mum or dad. She even has the requisite tattoo covering her entire arm. Along with the really tough look. Lucky I’m wearing the brown underwear or I’d be in serious trouble,” he wrote.

There’s also Big Footy which has one thread that reads: “We should troll AFLW too, for balance”.

More must be done. It’s not just about putting back up the photo of Harris which Channel 7 misguidedly removed after the trolling started.

It’s about tackling the cause of the problem: the abuse of some men towards women.

Channel 7 showed they didn’t get it when they released a video of all AFLW captains earlier this year responding to trolls.

AFLW Darcy Vescio says when AFLW season is in full swing the trolling ramps up. Picture: Tony Gough

“To the haters we are here to stay” and “Of you don’t like us, we don’t need to hear from you,” they said.

The clip gave the haters too much airtime and prominence and was panned by male and female critics alike.

As AFLW player Darcy Vescio writes in the Herald Sun , when the AFLW season is in full swing it inevitably coincides with trolling.

The men leaving these messages are most likely to be fathers, husbands, brothers and sons. I wonder what their families would think of their nasty net habits.

In most cases we know who they are. It’s now up to the social media sites to block them immediately from their platforms and report them to police.

As Harris says, she has been sexually abused and this should be a police matter.

Let’s see some action that will change the playing field for AFLW players and other women in sport.

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