#Ethiopian Skaters defy gender norms, inspiring change in #Africa A group of young women in Ethiopia are breaking barriers and challenging societal norms by pursuing their passion for skateboarding, a sport traditionally dominated by men in the region. In a #YouTube video shared by #AFP News, Challa, one of the skaters, highlighted the difficulties faced by women and girls who venture into male-dominated spaces. She expressed, "When you are a woman or a girl, it's very hard to skate around the boys because people think that girls should have to help their parents at the house." Hanna Bless, another member of the group, acknowledged the societal resistance they encounter but emphasized their trailblazing role. "It's not really common for a girl to start skating because people don't support you. But somebody had to be the first. Some groups had to start. And we were the first one, and I feel honored to be part of that," she told Olympics.com. Despite facing harassment and stereotypes surrounding skateboarding, these courageous girls remain undeterred. Solomon, one of the skaters, emphasized the societal perception, stating, "Our society doesn't support skateboarding. It is seen as a sport practiced by ill-mannered boys, and so it was hard for a young girl like me to go against them." globalvoices.org/2024/03/28/eth…
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