That dread time of the year is fast approaching, pubs are buying in TVs and Sky subscriptions, lager is displaying sponsorship deals and offices are preparing sweepstakes. It seems to me like every year there is a World Cup, but I am assured this is not true and the nations are starved of World Cuppery for four years. I, like many people simply don't like football. But I don't like a lot of things, many of these disliked things fall under the category of sport - so why does football irk me so much? Could it be because football seems to be the sport which, when presented by the media and advertising, works hardest to keep women out? Painting them as nagging ball and chains who interfere with men's beer drinking, TV watching and nylon shirt wearing. Amirite lads? Is it any wonder incidents of domestic violence against women rises during the World Cup?
Lancaster University criminologist Dr Stuart Kirby researched police reports of domestic violence during the last three World Cups in 2002, 2006 and 2010 and found that in England and Wales, violent incidents increased by 38% when England lost, when England won violent incidents increased by 26%.
This year police are trying to tackle domestic violence incidents that seem to be related to the World Cup. In Essex extra patrols will be put on during and after England's first match, Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh said: "These trends are well established and the worrying thing is there is an increase from tournament to tournament....One of the things that we are looking at is around learned behaviour and this is causing us concern."
Where could this learned behaviour or attitude come from? Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh speculates: "Are there now people who have seen their parent behave in this way during tournaments who now think it is acceptable for them to do the same?
"There's a mixture of factors that come together during a World Cup tournament; many people drink, there is the emotional stress of the game, and there is a whole issue around competitiveness and testosterone levels. Most people will watch the game and will never do anything violent but a small minority will become deeply aggressive and unpleasant."
This year police are trying to tackle domestic violence incidents that seem to be related to the World Cup. In Essex extra patrols will be put on during and after England's first match, Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh said: "These trends are well established and the worrying thing is there is an increase from tournament to tournament....One of the things that we are looking at is around learned behaviour and this is causing us concern."
Where could this learned behaviour or attitude come from? Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh speculates: "Are there now people who have seen their parent behave in this way during tournaments who now think it is acceptable for them to do the same?
"There's a mixture of factors that come together during a World Cup tournament; many people drink, there is the emotional stress of the game, and there is a whole issue around competitiveness and testosterone levels. Most people will watch the game and will never do anything violent but a small minority will become deeply aggressive and unpleasant."
| Is it parental behaviour? Excess alcohol? The stress of the game? These are all valid points to make on what could tip someone over the edge. However in addition to this there are currently football related adverts that revolve around bad behaviour towards female partners. | It would be easy to simply poke fun over the divide between football fans and those, like me, who hate the game |
OK, true, no ad features a male football fan who takes a swipe at their girlfriend before high giving their mates and opening a cold frosty one from the fridge. However the adverts do go out of their way to portray women as kind of a pain. In Curry's you have to convince them to let you buy a massive TV. Why do you want one? So you can watch the World Cup in big of course - but that's a secret! Shh! You haven't yet discussed likes and dislikes with your wife of 20 years so you have to hoodwink her into believing the TV is for her gardening shows. Haha!
Pringles sympathise with the man whose girlfriend wants to call to say hi and check he's well. RUDE. He's watching football with his mates, how embarrassing. Should he say he's watching a live match on TV and can't talk now? Nah, best fib because she won't understand. Drop the phone into a handy Pringles container to give the totally convincing impression you just drove through a tunnel.
No they aren't violent but these adverts, the press releases of 'news stories' about World Cup widows all rely on the idea men and women are so different that men have to spend their lives keeping their women separate from their true passion. It would be easy to simply poke fun over the divide between football fans and those, like me, who hate the game (and the players) instead of portraying women as silly and things simply to be dismissed.
They aren't promoting violence against women but they are promoting an attitude towards women that is hardly healthy and potentially validates the idea that women are to be put in their place, be it by a Pringle can or a fist.
Squeamish Kate
Pringles sympathise with the man whose girlfriend wants to call to say hi and check he's well. RUDE. He's watching football with his mates, how embarrassing. Should he say he's watching a live match on TV and can't talk now? Nah, best fib because she won't understand. Drop the phone into a handy Pringles container to give the totally convincing impression you just drove through a tunnel.
No they aren't violent but these adverts, the press releases of 'news stories' about World Cup widows all rely on the idea men and women are so different that men have to spend their lives keeping their women separate from their true passion. It would be easy to simply poke fun over the divide between football fans and those, like me, who hate the game (and the players) instead of portraying women as silly and things simply to be dismissed.
They aren't promoting violence against women but they are promoting an attitude towards women that is hardly healthy and potentially validates the idea that women are to be put in their place, be it by a Pringle can or a fist.
Squeamish Kate
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