The irrational discrimination of women has existed, and will continue to exist, for decades. A system that has become ingrained in society is not easy to unwind, but it seems that every step forward is accompanied by an overwhelming reminder of how far is left to go.
The feminist movement has made great strides towards equality in the last century or so, like securing the right to vote (1920) and the right for women to divorce their husbands without question (1969). However, some hard truths are more difficult to reconcile than others.
Women have worked just as hard, and in many cases, worked harder than their male counterparts for the same amount of respect. From the workplace to sports, in every professional position, women have had to fight for recognition.
In the example of sports, the U.S. women’s. hockey team have medaled in every single Winter Olympics since 1998, the first one they were allowed to compete in. They’ve won three gold medals (1998, 2018, 2026), four silver medals (2002, 2010, 2014, 2022), and one bronze (2006), totaling 8 medals overall. In contrast, the U.S. men’s hockey team has only won three medals total, one gold (2026) and two silver (2002, 2010), in the same time frame.
One could argue that such a drastic ratio is due to multiple factors, such as the fact that women’s hockey has significantly less players and therefore less competition, but those factors cannot undermine the dominance of US Women’s hockey and the accomplishments they have achieved. One can call the women’s hockey team amazing without comparison to the men’s team; acknowledging how extraordinary a team is does not undermine the achievements of the other.
Nevertheless, despite both teams winning gold in the 2026 Winter Olympics, the women’s team was once again made the punchline.
On a congratulatory call to the US men’s hockey team, President Trump made a distasteful joke at the expense of the female athletes.
“What would really be cool, and we’ll do the White House next time, we’ll just have some fun. We have medals for you guys,” Trump said. “And we have to, I must tell you, we’re gonna have to bring the women’s team, you do know that? I do believe that I would probably be impeached [if the women’s team was not invited.]”
Prior patterns of President Trump’s behavior did not leave many onlookers surprised by his comment, but many Olympic fans were disturbed by the men’s hockey team’s comfort with such humor, who met Trump’s remark with laughter.
Over the course of the past two weeks, both the men’s and women’s hockey teams have responded to the controversy, some more gracefully than others.
“We should’ve reacted differently. We know that we are so excited for the women’s team. We have so much respect for the women’s team, and to share that gold medal with them is something that we will be forever grateful for,” USA goalie Jeremy Swayman said.
In contrast, instead of acknowledging the impact of their actions, some of the men’s players believe that the video has been blown out of proportion and requires no actions of accountability.
“People are so negative out there and they are trying to find a reason to put people down and make something out of almost nothing,” USA player Jack Hughes stated. “I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them.”
The women’s team has responded in several ways, but the best statement was made by captain Hilary Knight.
“The joke was distasteful and unfortunate, and I think the way women are represented, it’s a great teaching point to really shine light on how women should be champion for their amazing feats. And now I have to sit in front of you and explain someone else’s behavior. It’s not my responsibility,” Knight said. “These women are amazing and whatever’s going on should never outshine or minimize their work and our success on the world’s stage.”
The core of the problem is indeed Donald Trump and his having made the comment in the first place, but that does not dismiss the fact that the men’s team’s actions have consequences. As a team of the most elite hockey players in the world, by belittling the women’s team, or accepting derogatory comments towards the women’s team, they set the precedent for viewers everywhere that this type of behavior is acceptable.
Like it or not, professional athletes are public figures and, despite how nice it would be to play sports and go home, athletes are often role models for people everywhere. Casual sexism against women has existed since the beginnings of modern society, and in order to change that, those who are relevant and influential must use that platform to promote values that uplift others instead of degrading them.
No matter the excuses people try to make and the rationales they use to dismiss it— “locker room talk,” “just a joke,” “the heat of the moment,” etc. — the point still stands: this type of behavior sets an example for generations to come. If society is going to ever come close to gender equality, it cannot be one sex or the other advocating for feminism. Men have the privilege of perceiving this incident as “harmless,” but women don’t have that luxury. It reinforces the fact that women are not taken seriously for their successes.
In Women’s History Month, it’s important to celebrate the accomplishments of women everywhere. The past has shown that women have been a consistently marginalized group, constantly covered up and forced out of the spotlight, but the present holds the same themes, just less conspicuous than the 1940s. So while progress has been made, it’s the “harmless” comments, the casual actions, that remind everyone, regardless of gender, of how women are seen as lesser than in American society.
The women’s team has responded with grace, attempting to refocus the attention of their victory. They have acknowledged the comment, stood firm in their beliefs, and shown little girls globally that women have done amazing things, even while fighting discrimination. The consistent victories of the US women’s hockey team will not be buried; instead, people around the world have consciously highlighted their achievements in response to attempts to push them to the background.
It takes a village to raise gender equality.