By: Tricia Kate Solas BAB 2 A
Everybody can play any sport that they want to play but for todays generation, gender stereotypes often discard the idea of women excelling in fields such as sports, where they are sometimes perceived as weaker than and not as skilled and capable as their counterparts.
However, a 22-year old Maria Arielle Ayel Estrañero of the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons courageously takes the challenge on verifying that gender is never a disadvantage.
AyelEstrañero is a senior playmaker of the UP Womens Volleyball Team, a versatile player, having held several positions such as hitter, libero, and setter. She has been making a name in the collegiate volleyball since she made her debut in the 77th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) in year 2014.
Considering at all of societys delusions or misconceptions about women, mainly in sports, Ayel said that she identifies the need for women to prove themselves otherwise.
According to an interview for PVL conference, Ayel believes that Empowered women, empower women.
“When I was starting to play volleyball, parati kung naririning sa mga tao na ang tangkad mo para sa age mo, parang iniisip nila na lalaki ako. Well in fact, there are a lot of qualities of men na women are also capable of doing or performing especially in Sports.She said. Being an athlete matters, women can also run fast, be strong or lift weights. To think deeper about it, its not just about volleyball at all right now. Its about women uplifting women. She added.
Estrañero strongly believes that in order for her to advance her goals, she must develop the popularity of womens volleyball. She wants to prove that women can do well in sports and achieve something. Its not just being in a volleyball team, even women in other sports are empowering.
I feel like I am lucky to be in a sport that is actually popular, so empowering others is not that tough anymore because people know the sport and people get to know you as well.
Ayel admitted that at first, she had no idea how to be an advocate of women empowerment, but she eventually realized that her small acts are enough to support women. Every time Ayelplays inside the court, she makes sure that she gets a point to always bring her A-game. She believes that she can inspire and influence women this way.
You dont have to do something big, or be someone else, or be like what social media portrays as the image of a woman. You just have to be yourself so you can empower other women, she added.
For Ayel, aside from her family and friends, Volleyball was been a huge influenced on what she become right now. She has come to realize that just by playing, she get to empower women as well. Also, it is a great outlet to trulyinspire more girls and women not to just play volleyball but also be in sports at the same time, and make them realize that sport is not just a sport but it builds you as a person.
REFERENCE:
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Gender Empowerment 