There's plenty of major issues to be outraged by right now, but some conservatives are choosing to bemoan Wimbledon's decision to change how they recognize female athletes on their champions board.
Pink News reported conservative social media users and journalists alike are unhappy with the changes, which would remove sexist references to a woman's marital status on the sport's honors board.
As Pink News described it:
"Currently on the men’s honours board, male winners are referred to with their initial and last name, for example 'N Djokovic'..."
And then for the women's:
"For example Chris Evert, who won Wimbledon in 1981, is listed on the board as 'Mrs J M Lloyd', after her husband."
In Evert's case, despite her now ex-husband having nothing to do with her tennis career, it is his name recorded on the winner's board as "Mrs. J.M. Lloyd" for her 1981 single's women championship win.
The fact that accomplished women were not being noted by their own names up until recently is mind-boggling, but tennis players like Billie Jean King are excited to see the sport enter modern times.
\u201cTerrific to see #Wimbledon making this important change. \n\n#EqualityForAll https://t.co/jTXvVpcyfd\u201d— Billie Jean King (@Billie Jean King) 1653650337
Women being recognized for their own accomplishments is something to celebrate.
\u201c@BillieJeanKing So excited about this! Why give any kudos on an historic plaque & accomplishment to any person besides the one who earned it!\nWe will always honor you throughout history. Forever grateful. \ud83c\udfbe \ud83d\udc96\n#BillieJeanKing\u201d— Billie Jean King (@Billie Jean King) 1653650337
\u201c@BillieJeanKing So cringeworthy that this has EVER been a thing.\u201d— Billie Jean King (@Billie Jean King) 1653650337
\u201c@BillieJeanKing How did they get away with this for so many decades? Bravo!\u201d— Billie Jean King (@Billie Jean King) 1653650337
\u201c@BillieJeanKing Took long enough . . . .\u201d— Billie Jean King (@Billie Jean King) 1653650337
But there were also plenty of hateful and even transphobic reactions—almost exclusively by White men.
\u201c@BillieJeanKing What is so terrific about it?\u201d— Billie Jean King (@Billie Jean King) 1653650337
\u201c@BillieJeanKing Probably setting the stage for some dude identifying as a female to win the women\u2019s draw in a few years.\u201d— Billie Jean King (@Billie Jean King) 1653650337
\u201cSo the world turns into a looney bin by erasing women and their status of marriage.\u201d— Peter Schaefer (@Peter Schaefer) 1653634047
\u201c@LBC ITS WOKE MADNESSSS!!! WHAT NEXT???? TENNIS SPHERES INSTEAD OF BALLS!!!! \ud83d\ude09\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\u201d— LBC (@LBC) 1653661210
And not unexpectedly, noted misogynist Piers Morgan didn't have anything beneficial to add to the conversation either.
\u201cRIP Chivalry.\u201d— Piers Morgan (@Piers Morgan) 1653581214
People quickly pointed out Morgan doesn't know what chivalry actually is.
\u201c@piersmorgan Not sure where any definition of chivalry includes taking (or getting) credit for the accomplishments of one\u2019s spouse. Maybe your English,or French, dictionary is different than mine?\u201d— Piers Morgan (@Piers Morgan) 1653581214
\u201c@piersmorgan Your not actually going to stop opening doors or pulling chairs out for a Lady all because the institution of Tennis is equalizing the honor of Women\u2026 or will you? Chivalry doesn\u2019t end or start with letters but with actions and this is an example of Chivalry (.)\u201d— Piers Morgan (@Piers Morgan) 1653581214
\u201c@piersmorgan Chivalry? That\u2019s an odd way of saying men always walking away with Women\u2019s accomplishments.\u201d— Piers Morgan (@Piers Morgan) 1653581214
This important and historical change will be implemented in time for the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, which will start on June 27 and go through July 10.
