BREAKING down barriers for women in sports journalism as the first female panellist and co-host of the Footy Show, Bankstown RSL Ambassador Erin Molan reflected on how far women have come and her hopes for the future in the lead-up to International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8.
Discussing how she built resilience in the face of online trolling, Erin said she was viciously attacked based not on her ability as a journalist, but on her appearance and gender.
“I’m continually advocating for change for a fairer representation and we are getting there, I sometimes watch sports or news coverage and there are more women than men,” she said.
“Many women love football, though most haven’t played it a professional level, so why wouldn’t they want to see that balance in the coverage.”
As such, Erin has been a strong campaigner for the introduction of legislation that would hold people accountable for what they say online after receiving the public backlash.
”Women are certainly victims of [online hate], I’m hoping that this new legislation will eradicate abuse not only for women but for people of all genders and backgrounds,” she said.
As well as a successful television presenter, Erin writes a column for the Daily Telegraph, has joined Sky News and is part of the Morning Crew on Today FM along with Ed Cavalee and Dave Hughes.
But above anything else, she is a mother – and that itself is enough to fill her with all the purpose and ambition to strive for a better, kinder and equal world.
“International Women’s Day means a lot more to me now I’m the mother of a little girl, three-and-a-half-year-old Eliza,” she tells us.
“I’ve never really been what you’d refer to as a kind of raging feminist, but I’ve always seen myself as an equal.
“I hope to teach my daughter that health and happiness is the most important thing in the world, that family is everything and that whatever she chooses to do, she’ll be supported.
“We can’t keep them off social media but we have to instil in our daughters self-confidence and self-love; I love how women are starting to post real pictures, stretch marks and all, because that is reality, photo-shopping and air-brushing is not.
“It’s also important we celebrate the progress we’ve made, are continuing to make and will make, this International Women’s Day.”