Trump's Call to US Olympic Hockey Team Highlights Persistent Sexism in Sports
The United States men's ice hockey team achieved a historic victory over the weekend, defeating Canada to secure a gold medal for the first time in 46 years at the Winter Olympics. However, the celebration has been overshadowed by controversial post-match behavior, particularly during a congratulatory call with former President Donald Trump.
Controversial Remarks Spark Widespread Outrage
A viral video of the call shows Trump inviting the men's team to his upcoming State of the Union address, then adding that he would "have to invite the US women's hockey team or risk being impeached." The comment was met with roaring laughter from the players, some of whom doubled over in amusement.
Women across social media platforms have expressed disgust at the incident. One X user wrote: "Woman from the USA dominated in the Winter Olympics, but the USA men's hockey team was filmed laughing at Trump's grossly misogynistic joke, degrading the accomplishments of women." Another added: "The USA men's hockey team won an incredible game. No doubt. But they went on to participate in insulting their women counterparts with Trump in a manner that was cheap and vulgar."
Experts Decry Normalization of Sexist Behavior
Dr. Finn Mackay, a feminist activist and senior sociology lecturer at the University of the West of England, emphasized how the incident reveals the commonplace nature of sexism. "Nobody on the call missed a beat, nobody paused," Mackay observed. "It was absolutely unthinkable that anyone would have an issue; the chat was unscripted, unplanned, un-thought out, and nobody had a problem with it. This shows us the everyday way that sexism and exclusion work."
Dr. Daniel Gray, a sociology lecturer specializing in gender relations at UWE Bristol, expressed disappointment in the players' response. "We would hope that they would feel some camaraderie for their female peers, which would have made them react differently, rather than just hooting and laughing along while Trump was so misogynistic," Gray stated.
Diverging Responses from the Teams
The women's ice hockey team has declined Trump's invitation to the State of the Union address, citing professional commitments, while the men's team has accepted with enthusiasm. Jack Hughes, a Team USA hockey player, attempted to downplay the controversy, suggesting people were "making something out of almost nothing."
Dr. Nicole Graham, a lecturer in ethics and values at King's College London, explained the significance of laughter in such situations. "The absence of laughter is an outward indication of disapproval, a refusal to accept the norms presupposed in the joke," Graham noted. "When people laugh along, it can feel like they are endorsing the sentiments of the joke, even if this is not their intention."
Strategies for Addressing Sexism
Womankind, a charity supporting women's rights organizations, has shared practical advice for confronting sexist behavior. Their recommendations include refusing to validate sexist comments with laughter, challenging sexist language when safe to do so, asking clarifying questions about why a remark was considered funny, expressing direct disapproval, and recognizing personal boundaries during difficult conversations.
Dr. Graham emphasized the importance of intervention: "Studies have also shown that when men raise concerns with sexist humour, this is more likely to lead to behavioural changes in the joke-teller. If the joke-teller is more likely to respond to feedback from a man than a woman, it could be suggestive of the fact that the sexist undertones in the joke are much more deeply present in their everyday thinking."
The incident serves as a stark reminder of how normalized sexism remains in professional sports and public discourse, highlighting the ongoing need for active intervention and education to foster genuine gender equality.
