Women’s Football
In Morocco women’s football (soccer in the US) has come a long way. Ten years ago girls who wanted to play used to get rocks thrown at them, but now the women have their own teams, a league and a growing community. But female footballers are still struggling for resources and female athletes are still stigmatized in society, especially women who want to make the sport more than just a hobby. There are few opportunities for women to continue playing football or to work in the sports domain.
My piece will focus on a women’s team in the premier division of women’s football in a low income neighborhood outside of Casablanca. They have to practice at night because they are all in school, and they practice on a rocky field because all the fields are taken up by boys teams. Women’s football is not glamorous and there’s no future in the sport for these girls, but they still come to play because they love it. Their trainer Amal, was a former player herself and is now a volunteer coach because there is no money to pay coaches. She says while its good to have a women’s league the focus needs to be on a youth structure for girls football, and developing jobs for women in the male-dominated world of sports.
Interviews-
– players on Nassim team from Sidi Moumen
– Nassim coaches- Amal and Farass
– Hassan Manyani- radio sports journalist who covers mens and women’s football
Scenes
– Nassim women’s football game
– football camp for girls run by local volunteers
China hosts its first gay beauty pageant
Description:
When Simon Wang was 10 he was knitting whilst all the other boys were playing football. In high school and college he was teased for being a “girl”. But now this confident and mature 26 year old is gearing himself to be the first ever Mr Gay China.
This Friday 15th, China will be hosting its first ever gay beauty pageant. They will be joining other countries like Lebanon, South Africa and India in competing for the title of Mr Gay World Ambassador. The winner will then be flown to compete in the final in Oslo, Norway.
The pageant is unique to China in that it demonstrates that there is a definite and thriving gay and lesbian community, especially as it’s quite a sensitive issue and was officially considered a mental illness until 2001. Because of this, organisers are not inviting major Chinese media to the event in case of police intervention
NB at last year’s Gay Pride March in Shanghai police shut down some events due to “improper licensing”
Angle:
I will be following Simon as he prepares for the contest – will he win or will he lose? As well as covering:
• what it means to be gay in China,
• what change he hopes for after the pageant – “To get the government to admit that this is one big group. They’re all in front of you.”
• what inspiration he hopes to provide to others – “To do something meaningful and tell the world that the Chinese gay community is changing fast, it’s not boring and definitely has things going on. More people can be inspired or encouraged to come out, have fun, be themselves and be confident.”
It will demonstrate to listeners what the gay community is like in China, the challenges, and the slow but important steps people in grassroots communities are trying to make.
Interviewees:
Simon – he is a character and by recording his movements I’m sure to get a lot of funny material
Ben Zhang – one of the organisers
Xiao Gang – one of the judges
Sound:
• Music – perhaps pop music, like Lady Gaga as Simon will be performing a Gaga inspired dance for the “special talent” section. Does FSRN have special licensing to be able to play commercial pop music?
• Recordings and atmos from the event itself
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