Read Catalan version
Have you ever been told or said “you play like a girl” as a negative message? Do you know the stars of women’s sports? Do you have posters of leading athletes in world women’s sports like Alexia Putellas in your room?
These are some of the questions asked in the exhibition that is on display at the Palau Robert in Barcelona until September 25 and has been promoted by the Generalitat of Catalonia. The title of the exhibition says it all: “Jugo com una nena!”, with an exclamation point, with pride. A demand to fight against prejudices and turn the game around in favor of women’s sports.
The exhibition, curated by sports journalist Laia Tudel, is aimed mainly at boys and girls aged 6 to 14 and is designed to be visited as a family or in a group. The exhibition is free and open access.
“I play like a girl!” It is one more example of the projects to promote women’s sports promoted by the Government, which this year has multiplied by four the aid allocated to women’s sports to reach three million euros and has promoted other initiatives such as, for example, the publication from the book Superheroïnes de l’Esport or a successful Christmas fair on women’s sports. As the Minister of the Presidency, Laura Vilagrà, always assures, this is the legislature of women’s sports.
The exhibition is divided into four areas. In the first, attendees are asked questions such as: How many women practice federated sports in Catalonia or what percentage of managers and young people opt for training in a degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (CAFE)? Through interactives, we are invited to respond to these questions and it is staged with an immersive installation in which visitors can experience the different itineraries that boys and girls have when practicing sports. At the end of the tour, it is shown that the children are the ones who have it easier.
The second area is planned as an obstacle course, with barriers. Each of these billboards deals with a topic about women’s sports: the insults and stereotypes that female athletes must hear, the salary difference compared to boys, the female presence in sports institutions or the treatment of women’s sports in media.
The third area, “Juga amb les cracs”, is the most playful space. Following the references of three stars of Catalan sport, those attending experience the talent of Laia Palau, Patrícia Ortega and Maica García, and must try to emulate their records.
The objective is to create references and make visible the successful experience of some of our athletes.
There is also a radio booth where they can broadcast what their colleagues are doing. The challenge is twofold: they must do it with non-sexist language and in Catalan.
The fourth and last area of ??the exhibition is a teenager’s room: with posters of Catalan women’s sports stars on the wall, a computer and a tablet with images of Catalan women’s sports and the record of Catalan women’s sports of that century.
To take home a good memory, visitors will be able to complete their experience in a photocall where they will be able to take photos with the top athletes who have participated in this exhibition, such as Mapi León, Laia Palau or Maica García.
