The situation is simple: the spanish team wins the final of the World Cup. As the players step up, on to the stage, and as Hermoso stands before Rubiales to receive his congratulations, Rubiales, who seems understandably excited because his team had just won the coveted prize, pulls her head towards his and kisses her on the mouth. Scandal. The whole world is shocked. Suddenly Trump’s antics, the war in Ukraine and all else that‘s happening in the world stops.the KISS takes centre stage, FIFA acts and suspends Rubiales. The kiss comes to represent an offense not just against Hermoso but against all women. Rubiales, in kissing Hermoso treated her not as an equal but, condescendingly, as an object…
A comment. Women want to be treated as equals, both as people and as players. And that’s fair. Since equality is at the root of this case, let’s—just for argument‘s sake—invert the situation: the winners are a male team; at the end the players go up to receive their congratulations; one of the women giving out the medals, pulls one of the players to her and, feeling full, of enthusiasm, kisses him on the mouth. To this point the situations are identical. Would what would follow be equally identical?
