In a “She Moves Us” video hosted by PUMA, Ingrid Engen, a player on the Norwegian National Football Team, acknowledged that she has had to face many challenges as a female professional football player.
According to Businesswire, Engen discussed making inroads on Norway’s National Football Team, which is controlled by the Norwegian Football Federation. She added that football has generally been viewed as a male sport, but females are changing that conversation.
“I’ve had to challenge male standards just by being a football player,” Engen told Businesswire. “I think most people in the world see it as a male sport, but for me it’s the same. We do the same. Everything around should be the same as well. So that’s what we’re fighting for and trying to show the world.”
Like her Norwegian counterpart, English footballer Nikita Parris acknowledged that she has faced challenges every step of the way.
“I had to challenge male standards not just on the pitch, but off the pitch, inside the training grounds,” Parris told Businesswire. “And there’s been a lot of diversity in the inequality throughout women’s football. But today, because of the pioneers that have come before us, we continue to fight the good fight.”
Swedish National Team player Fridolina Rolfö said that she is driven to create change for the next generation of football players.
“To be a role model and be someone who can show the young girls and boys that it’s not impossible to be a professional footballer,” Rolfö said, according to Businesswire.
PUMA is also a part of the wave of change, and the company is marketing products for women and girls involved in sports, including undergarments, activewear, sportswear and maternity products. The company also noted that its performance products designed for women can help drive inclusivity and clear hurdles in sports to help all athletes perform at their best.