By Imaan Hafesji
Edited by Imaan Moosa & Tasmiyah Randeree
Melissa Awu sheds light on professional careers in sport and the need to advocate for female representation and gender equality.
As a woman you have to prove your worth before you get respect. One mistake from a woman, then it’s ‘these women...
This is what sports administrator and activist Melissa Awu believes to be one of the biggest challenges women in sport and sport-related jobs face, alongside the weight of having to represent all women when navigating the industry.
The South African-based sports administrator attributes her passion for sport to family and upbringing. Having come from a sports-orientated family, being active was something that was consistently encouraged.
According to Awu, this exposure made her eventual career choice a no-brainer.
“I was never forced into any sport. So when I was really sad and down, and wondered what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, sport just kept on coming up.
“I did my research and discovered that there was formal training at tertiary for this. I kept enquiring and shadowing those in the industry to find out more.”
However, her passion extends beyond a career. As a woman in the industry, gender inequality and the overall perception of women in sport is something that Awu is no stranger to. She says:
We are all equal, and we should be given equal opportunities. The fact that we have to ‘fight’ for this bugs me. When I breathe my last one day, I want to know that I made a little bit of a change for those who come after me.
With a strong inclination to want to improve aspects of the industry for women to come, Awu’s vision for the future of the industry is one where “we can all be given equal access to sport and support through the relevant government structures” giving a nod to a vital element women professionals in the industry are forced to do without support.
An appreciation for learning is something Awu relates back to often. When asked what the best piece of advice she has been given is, she says:
Get involved and learn … network and learn from everyone that’s willing to teach or offer advice.
Awu says that if she could change one person's life through sport, she would do it through education.
She believes that having the opportunity to compete professionally alongside a formal education – engaging a best of both worlds scenario – can drive significant impact and encouragement.
Provide [people] with an education while they are playing sport – a sports bursary so that they can play competitive sport and have something to fall back on after sport.
Awu’s dedication and ambition are admirable. She pays just as much attention to her day-to-day duties as she does putting up a fair fight to champion professional women athletes.
When asked about industry role models, Awu generously extended an impressive list of names of women who inspire her, amongst whom are:
“Nomsa Mahlangu, FASU President & University of Johannesburg Director of Sport
Ntambi Ravele and SA Women & Sports Foundation Chairperson; Mandla Gagayi, Director of the Sport University of Western Cape; and the legend Mveleli Ncula, CEO of SA Rugby Union.
“The passion and the ethical approach of these leaders is inspiring. What I enjoy the most is the fact that they all have time to mentor both males and females.”
Having a clear understanding of what role entailed as she was involved in the industry from a young age, Awu managed to successfully bring that dream to fruition.
However, for many women out there, the road to discovery is slightly more tumultuous.
Media outlets still do not distribute airtime fairly between men and women-led sports, narrowing this window even further.
Awu believes that social media has drastically improved the situation, providing a platform for trailblazing women athletes, sports journalists, and other industry professionals to celebrate their voices and achievements.
Yes, much is yet to be done.
This is a huge problem. Young girls are not seeing enough female heros on TV; they have a better chance of seeing them on social media than in traditional media. I appreciate and support any TV or radio station that gives airtime to profile women and women’s sport. There is an improvement, but we are far from being equal.
I am loving how professional women are so active on social media. This is inspiring.
Follow and support Melissa Awu:
Twitter: @melawu