Siren 118: Cricket and social media + the joy in the archives
A Women in Sport Collective
If you’re reading this newsletter there’s a good chance you’re part of what we call the #WomenInSport community on Twitter. Full to the brim with fans and creators, with athletes and teams and commentators, it’s a space that has nurtured and supported many of us. A space that has welcomed us, connected us with opportunities and with each other.
It’s not always a pretty place, sometimes things can get pretty challenging. But despite the hard stuff, or maybe because of it, we’ve found something good in this community on this platform.
As the brilliant Ann Odong demonstrates, for many women in sport, and for many women’s sports, Twitter has created connections, built and nurtured fandoms and often contributed to shaping the directions of our favourite sports.
As Ann writes, for many of us, Twitter was where we “found a voice to tell our stories, our way.”
We don’t know what’s next, but we’re sure that this community, as strong and resilient as it is, will continue. Perhaps in a new form or on a new platform, or perhaps right where it’s always been. Whatever way the bikkie crumbles, we’ll be right here, doing our best to challenge the status quo of sports media and provide opportunities for other people to find their voice and tell their stories.
Sugar and spice, fire and ice: the changing dynamics of women’s cricket and social media
In the kind of timing that you just can’t script, this week we’re delighted to bring you this great story from Mrinal Asija about the way fans, athletes and Cricket Australia have used and continue to use social media and how this shapes the dynamics around the women’s game.
Catch up on the latest Siren Sport x ABC Sport
We are busily working away on some great stories through our partnership with ABC Sport and we cannot wait to share them with you very very soon.
But in the meantime, here’s a few recent ones that we know you’ll love.
Erin Delahunty spoke to Wendy Sidebottom about her incredible 550-game netball career in a wonderful story that demonstrates the remarkable contribution Wendy has made to netball and to her local club.
Danielle Croci wrote about the Daughters of the West program which is breaking down the barriers for women when it comes to exercise.
Jacinta Govind spoke to Stephanie Reid about taking the road less travelled to represent Australia in basketball and become an Opal.
Tahlia Sinclair wrote about the challenges women in rafting face, including ill-fitting equipment and not feeling welcome in the sport.
If you think you have a story that would be a good fit for the partnership, you should definitely pitch us!
Send your pitches to contact@sirensport.com.au
With AFLW finals in full swing, you won't want to miss all the footy chats happening on This AFL Life with Siren co-founder Alison Smirnoff and co-hosts Hibba and Caddy.
And don’t miss the beautiful work of co-founder Megan Brewer behind the camera.
Kasey is still overseas working her way through Europe sharing her research and making international #WomenInSport connections. Just this weekend she was in the UK at the International Football History Conference presenting her work on AFLW fandom that uses interviews that Kirby Fenwick collected for Kate O’Halloran’s former Kick Like a Girl radio show. Talk about a Siren full circle moment! Teamwork makes the dream work!
If you want to take a look at the research paper Kasey published on this recently, you can read it here.
Football fans! Have your say!
Kasey and her German colleagues Jessica Kunert and Christiana Schallhorn are researching women’s football (soccer) fandom, and they want to hear your fan story!
If you're over 18, currently based in Australia and follow any level of Australian women’s football, please complete their short survey to help contribute more research and understanding to how special the women’s sports fan space is.
The survey takes about 10 mins and is completely confidential. Click here to participate!
Delve into the Siren Sport podcast archives
We took a little break on the podcast this past week. Regular readers and listeners will know we do this often. Challenging the status quo is tough sometimes and so these little breaks help keep us fighting fit.
But, that doesn’t mean there’s no glorious audio goodness for you to enjoy!
Why not delve into the archives and enjoy this wonderful chat between our own Dr Kasey Symons and Dr Rebecca Olive about Rebecca’s research on how recreational, sport and leisure activities shape people’s relationships to nature and feminist research methods.
Or immerse yourself in the beautiful sounds of Voices From The Stands, an encore special from Kirby Fenwick.
There’s chats with sports reporter for The Age, Marnie Vinall; with baseball superstar, Amy McCann; and with all round excellent human being, Rana Hussain; and Marissa Lordanic, co-host of The Far Post pod and assistant editor at ESPN.
Plus lots and lots more!
Siren Shout Outs
We’re trying out a new little segment in the newsletter to shout out some great work being done in the #WomenInSport community that we want to highlight.
We were VERY excited to see the announcement of the launch of The Dub Zone, a new matchday show for A-League Women’s.
More women and non-binary folk in sports media and behind the commentary? Yes, please and thank you!
Regular Siren readers and listeners will remember Julie Dickson, who penned this great story on parkour as part of the Siren Sport x ABC Sport partnership and appeared on the podcast. Julie is training to compete in the World Dwarf Games in Germany in 2023, the premier sporting event for those with dwarfism which is held every four years.
But the Aussie team needs our help! They’re volunteer run and self-funded so rely on financial support from the wider community. That’s where we come in!
Donate here and support the Aussie team in 2023!
The funds raised will help athletes with their training costs, access to local training facilities and travel to the games.
The perfect pressie from League Tees
With the end of the year just around the corner, you might be looking for that perfect gift for the women’s sport loving person in your life. Well, look no further!
Thanks to the delightful folks at League Tees you have not one, but two options that are not only wonderful gifts but also help support the work we do at Siren.
Whether ‘She’s talking Footy’ or just ‘Loving Women’s Sport’ why not follow in the footsteps of GOAT LJ!
Support Siren!
Everything we do at Siren is thanks to our wonderful Siren Supporters who contribute financially every month to help us continue on our mission to elevate women’s voices alongside other marginalised voices in sports media.
As a not-for-profit women in sport collective, Siren’s profits go right back into creating feminist sports content that challenges the status quo of sports media so we really appreciate all your support!
If you haven’t already, you can sign up as a Siren Supporter for $5 a month. Your $5 a month keeps the lights on at Siren, ensures we can continue offering paid opportunities to more writers to cover women in sport and helps us run the Emerging Sports Writer Program.