This week two birth stories made the news in my corner of the sports world. The reaction to them shows we still have a long way to go in gender equality.
Jérémy Doku, a member of the Belgian soccer team playing in the men’s World Cup, returned to Belgium from the USA on Sunday to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. It meant he missed the game against Iran that day. Many commenters were not kind, to put it mildly. One French commentator even called it “disgusting”.
Doku’s wife gave birth on Monday and both she and the baby are reportedly doing well. Doku is scheduled to be back with the team in time for Friday’s game
Meanwhile, Blayne Turnbull, captain of the PWHL Toronto Sceptres, announced she is expecting a baby in December. Reaction from fans has ranged from “amazing” to “I wonder how maternity leave works in the PWHL?”
For the record, the PWHL Collective Bargaining agreement says that “the League must continue a Benefits Eligible Player’s base Salary and all other benefits in the event of pregnancy until the earlier of such time as the Player is cleared to return to play by both the Player’s medical doctor and a Team physician or the end of the League Season in which pregnancy-related disability commences.” I’m not thrilled with calling it a disability, but otherwise it’s not a bad deal.
Maybe part of the reaction reflects a slightly older tradition in Canada where women athletes face less discrimination if they choose to have families while competing. Since 2024, athletes funded by Sport Canada no longer have to use their precious injury card for pregnancy. Previously, it would have left them extremely vulnerable should they have an actual injury.
Sure, it’s elite athletes and their reality is different. But it is still very sad to see how toxic masculinity can be cruel to an expectant dad.
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