Mara Gubuan, the Founder of Equality League takes us on a journey of how she went from being a tax accountant to finding her purpose by starting multiple nonprofit agencies focused on advancing women’s rights and gender equality in sport. Mara shares with us the incredible work she is doing to help save Afghan women athletes and their families and how she supported a coalition of women to end a 40 year stadium ban for Iranian women. Mara inspires us with her passion and relentless fight to drive equality.
Guests Social Media Links:
Website: https://weareeql.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/equalityleagues
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mara-g-bb9a68132/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equalityleagues/
Key Takeaways:
0:00 Intro
1:06 Mara explains the stresses of the current Afghan crisis and what EQL is doing to get involved
2:39 Mara gives examples of current success stories with refugees in sport that the EQL has been able to help with
5:33 Mara talks about the dangers these people face as high level athletes and how their accomplishments are now harming them
7:26 Mara details the start of the EQL and how it came to be and their original focus on Muslim female athletes
12:35 Mar talks about the struggles the EQL faces in terms of short staffing and needing help with the current Afghan crisis
16:32 Mara talks about how she really found cause during the quarantine when kids lost sports and tried to find a way to give that back to them
19:34 Mara talks about the EQL’s youth council and what they advocate and fight for
23:43 Mara details the toughest project she’s had to work on though EQL
26:53 Mara talks about a current evacuation of 100 people in conjunction with their partner FIFA
30:22 Mara explains a project and accomplishment she is most proud of
32:44 Mara talks about the EQL and where you can find out more information online
Resources Mentioned:
FIFA – FIFA is a non-profit organization that describes itself as an international governing body of association football, futsal, and beach soccer. It is the highest governing body of association football.
Equality League – Equality League is comprised of leaders from sport, human rights, and the media working to advance gender equality in and through support. We create and support campaigns to advance access, equality and safety in sport for women and girls worldwide.
Champion Women – Champion Women is a non-profit organization that provides legal advocacy for girls and women in sports.
Nancy Hogshead-Makar – Founded in 2014 by 3-time Olympic gold medalist, Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Champion Women is dedicated to advocating gender equality in sports for girls and women
Quotes Mentioned:
“One person in the right place with the right intentions can make a difference. And even what I tell the Youth Council is that if you are just authentic in what you’re attempting to do, people want to be part of your team where they want to help you, where they see their deficits.”
“It is very difficult to field message after message. You’re my only hope. When is it my turn? What happens next? And we’re working with a wonderful ally, but they can only do so much because are tremendous negotiations with different countries and the Taliban that are underway so we can only try to be supportive.”
“The FIBA hijab ban overturned, another recent victory was the overturn of the 40 year old ban on Iranian women. The 41 million Iranian women and girls were not allowed to enter stadiums to watch men’s football matches. And so you’re exactly right where I see that there is an egregious problem, we try to help solve it because we know with my powerful board and our community that we can reach the decision makers.”
