A Woman in a Male-Dominated Industry- "They'll Eat You Alive"
Sitting here today, I was pouring over how grateful I am to be where I'm at, doing something I love so much. I am a woman in a male-dominated industry and I was thinking about how grateful I am to the men in this field who have taken me in, accepted me, and have been so supportive of the work that I do.
Today, I was deep in thought about the ways that men in the industry have shaped my pathway more-so than women who have pioneered the way for women. Yes, you heard me correctly, men. In the beginning, I was told that Football was no place for a woman. I was told that men would not accept a female doing the work of a man in this sport. I was told that I would be shut down, shut out, belittled, and berated if I even tried.
So far, so good.
They've been wrong. To my complete and utter surprise, it has been men who have offered 100% of the mentorship, support, and encouragement that I've experienced so far. Not women.
Today, I want to just express gratitude for the incredible men who have been put in my path. I wrote this up on a whim so I haven't asked permissions to tag anyone or mention anyone specifically in this article, but they will know who they are. I count it all blessing that I have the pleasure of working side by side with some of the most knowledgeable men in football. I have incredible men who answer the phone, answer questions, laugh, celebrate the wins, and offer support in the losses. I have been blown away by the level of respect that I have received from my male peers and the unconditional acceptance they have shown. You are a treasure to this sport. I am so grateful for your friendship and your unlikely camaraderie. There is no one else I'd rather be in the trenches with. From daily calls, to weekly check-ins, to exchange of information- you are inspirational and appreciated beyond measure.
Thank you also to all of the athletes that I work with. It is an amazing experience to work with such incredible talent. I am forever grateful for the special relationships that we have, the trust that we build, and the exceptional strides we continue to make together as a team. It is a blessing to be part of your journey and I am humbled daily to walk beside you along this path. You took a shot on a girl and together, we are doing great things. I am proud of you and proud to be part of #TeamYou. In addition to building incredible careers with such great athletes, I hope to someday help other women be part of the great work that we are doing here. There can't be glory for a road paved to sit on a throne and look down at others... we have to do better than that. We have to reach out and help others take steps towards those goals too.
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