Megan Rapinoe: a positive role model?
- Beth Pritchard
- Dec 15, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 23, 2020
Last week, Megan Rapinoe lifted the women’s 2019 Ballon d’Or trophy, receiving the accolade of being the best female footballer in the world.
Whilst some people of the internet showered her in praise, others were quick to wonder why she was chosen over those such as Lucy Bronze and Sam Kerr - who both have better statistics on the pitch.
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Many asked whether her actions off of the grass gave her the edge on her competition.
In a time of change for women’s football, Megan Rapinoe has become a prominent figure, being verbal on the global stage as well as outstanding on the pitch.
She’s unapologetic, unafraid and seems to enjoy being the centre of attention.
With her main challenge that female footballers should receive pay equal to their male counterparts, Rapinoe doesn’t bite her tongue when it comes to the issue.
The USA team captain has been interviewed several times since the 2019 Women’s World Cup and has taken every opportunity to share her message.
She has received many awards for her sporting ability and her activism and each time has taken to the stage in front of thousands of people to preach equality. Videos of her speeches have circulated around social media and Rapinoe has truly become THE icon for equality in football.
She is a huge public figure
Recently, she won Glamour magazine’s Woman of the Year. Each year, this award is given to a trailblazer, rule-breaker or game-changer. Rapinoe’s acceptance speech was just like her many others - passionate and opinionated. She started by offering a “shout-out to women this year. Every woman! We’re just killing it”.
As an openly gay woman, she preaches not just for gender equality, but also for LGBT rights. Fighting for equal rights in multiple areas, Rapinoe doesn’t struggle to gain a loyal following.
She isn’t selfish
Not only does she appear to aim to represent such a large portion of people, but she also actively uses her platform to make a difference for those who need more publicity to fight their own injustices. She doesn’t claim to be the least privileged person in her career and recognises that she may only have the ability to take to the stage because of the colour of her skin.

In her Glamour acceptance speech, Rapinoe focused attention on racial inequality:
“I feel like I have to take this opportunity to thank the person for whom I don’t feel like I would be here without. Someone whose courage and bravery was so bright and so bold. A person filled with conviction, unafraid of the consequences because he knew, it really wasn’t about playing it safe: It was about doing what is necessary and backing down to exactly nobody.
So while I’m enjoying all of this unprecedented - and frankly, a little bit uncomfortable - attention and personal success, in large part due to my activism off the field, Colin Kaepernick is still effectively banned from the NFL for kneeling during the national anthem in protest of known and systematic police brutality against people of color, known and systematic racial injustice, and known and systematic white supremacy.
I see no clearer example of that system being alive and well than me standing before you right now. It would be a slap in the face to Colin, and to so many other faces, not to acknowledge, and for me personally, to work relentlessly to dismantle that system that benefits some over the detriment of others, and frankly is quite literally tearing us apart in this country.”
What could possibly be wrong?
So, given she lives such a public life and wants to create positive changes, why would anyone question whether or not she is a positive role model?
She has been on the receiving end of many negative comments - not necessarily from the media or other public figures, but by members of the public and keyboard warriors.
She doesn’t hold back
A selling point or a sign she isn’t fit to be a role model? Rapinoe is criticised by some for complaining too much.
People have commented that she preaches inequality when she “should be lucky” to have been born in a nation that now allows her to marry who she wants to marry and not face oppression in the way women are in other countries.
The footballer is very verbal in her disdain of President Trump. She swore about how she had no desire to go to the White House when her team won the Women’s World Cup, though she was insistent they wouldn’t receive an invite anyway.
Some complain that she is critical of a man who was democratically elected to run her country and should accept his decisions and opinions because a large part of the nation agrees with him.
She uses extensive swearing to prove her point
When taking centre stage, acting as a trailblazer who claims to want to inspire a nation, why does Rapinoe feel the need to swear so much?
She talks of wanting to inspire children but her speeches are riddled with swear words used to emphasise her points. Whilst adults may watch her talk and appreciate the message, would they want to show their children?
At the aforementioned Glamour award ceremony, Rapinoe stood up in front of a girls soccer (football) team - one which had been selected to present her with her award - and swore several times, something which a large number of people would deem unacceptable in the presence of children.
“We’ve got to switch the game up. Caring is cool. Lending your platform to others is cool. Sharing your knowledge and your success and your influence and your power is cool. Giving all the fucks is cool. Doing more is cool.”
Whilst this quote is powerful and presumably delivered to inspire change, it would have the same impact without the “giving all the fucks is cool” line. Does that single word make her less of a role model?
But overall… It’s largely agreed that Megan Rapinoe is a role model, a hero, a game-changer.
It’s easy to overlook the incessant swearing and the fact she is critical of the president that many people globally see as a disrespectful, incompetent ruler when she is preaching such a powerful message and aiming to empower a nation of women.
Whilst some disapprove of her, it can be argued that these are just people who are afraid of change and possibly scared of powerful women.
We’ve got to switch the game up.
Have your say
Do you think Rapinoe is a positive role model?
(Featured image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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