Spielerfrauen

Not only since the public assault by former football president Luis Rubiales on the Spanish national team player Jennifer Hermoso has the persistence of patriarchal power structures in professional football become evident. The German word "Spielerfrauen" means both female partners of male players and women who are players themselves. Women in partnerships with players are often bound by life-long confidentiality agreements and only rarely raise their voices. They may be standing in the spotlight and still often remain invisible – after all, there is no room for equal rights in the golden cage. Violence against partners of players, as in the case of Jérôme Boateng and Kasia Lenhardt, too often only becomes an issue when it is too late. And besides, going public can provoke an internal dynamic that can put personal lives at risk. 
 

LENA BRASCH is an author and director. Following the popular success of It’s Britney, Bitch!, she has once again created a show with actor SINA MARTENS at Berliner Ensemble.