Streets, squares, parliament buildings and judicial courts have served as the stage for old and new struggles for women’s rights and gender equality.
But in Senegal, some smaller – yet equally important (and loud) – battles are being fought on sandy pitches across the West African nation where female teams gather to play football.
Here, as in much of the world, football is considered a sport mainly for men. Women players face discrimination and harassment as they try to follow their passion.
Ladies’ Turn is a non-profit organisation that supports Senegalese women’s enthusiasm for football. It organises tournaments for female teams and promotes gender equality through sport.
When French filmmaker Helene Harder learned about Ladies’ Turn, she was captivated by the energy and motivation of the players. Eventually she decided to make a documentary about their struggle to play football and their lives in strongly patriarchal Senegalese communities.
