Pelotas recently hosted a special event at the Mercosul Integration Center that highlighted its female soccer team, the Esporte Clube de Pelotas Phoenix. Taking place during the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, the topic was gender inequality in sports in the United States and in Brazil with a specific focus on the world of women’s soccer. The lecture was given by Kelsey Kennedy, a life-long athlete from the United States and current player for the U.S. National Bandy Team. 

Those in attendance included president of the Associação Gaúcha de Futebol Feminino, Carlos Alberto da Souza, the head coach for the Esporte Clube de Pelotas Phoenix, Marcos Planela Barbosa, the head coordinator of the Inglês Sem Fronteiras program in Pelotas, as well as students from UFPel and other members of the community.

Listeners were given a historical briefing on women’s sports in the U.S. and statistics regarding its increased growth after the pivotal national law was passed in 1972, along with similar events occurring in Brazil in 1979. Despite the increased number of women participating in sports around the world, there is still a worldwide discrimination and a lack of support for these athletes, one example being the artificial turf that was used for the Women’s World Cup.

Kennedy, 24, is living in Pelotas as part of the U.S. government Fulbright exchange program and is working with the Inglês Sem Fronteiras at the Universidade Federal de Pelotas. An athlete and advocate for women’s athletic rights, and has been following the Esporte Clube de Pelotas Phoenix since May earlier this year. She travels with the team to practices and games and has been conducting interviews with players and parents as part of an ongoing research assignment.

More conversations and events around gender inequality and female athletes will be held in the second semester and will be open to both students and the public.

For any questions or comments regarding the event or these efforts, please email Kelsey at kelsey.kennedy@fulbrightmail.org.