I don't feel sorry for Serena while the real victims of sexism need help

There is no doubt that Serena Williams is an outstandingly brilliant tennis player, one of the best of all time. And considering the obstacles she had to come through, including racism, who could possibly begrudge her multi-million dollar success?

I’m not just a particular fan, I don’t find her particularly appealing or charismatic.

I’m probably very much in a minority when I say that I remember much more fondly a female tennis player from back in the 1960s. Who remembers the Brazilian Mario Bueno, who wasn’t just a fabulous player but was described as balletic and flamboyant.

Aside from the fact that we watched Miss Bueno on a flickering black and white television set as opposed to the huge colour HD of the Williams era, there are many other differences in the eras of the two women; from amateur players to the eyewatering money now, from genteel behaviour to grunting dissent, not least the behaviour of Serena at last week’s United States Open tournament when she aggressively pointed the finger at the umpire, calling him a liar.

Miss Williams has caused quite the furore over claims of sexism in tennis, and while I don’t think this incident demonstrates it, I have to ask myself if my indifference, even disagreement with her stance makes my attitude in itself sexist.

I hope not, because I really do believe in 2018 that sexism and misogyny continue to be real issues. Indeed, while discrimination against women isn’t as bad as it used to be, it’s still at a very seriously unacceptable level. It’s just that the privileged world of very rich sports people doesn’t quite seem to me to be the area we need to concentrate on while sexism is almost ignored deeper down in society.

There is some focus on the issue. In the context of an introduction of a new law outlawing “upskirting”, the perverted modern practice of using mobile phone cameras, the Labour MP, Stella Creasy has suggested that such offences should be aggravated when motivated by misogyny as a hate crime. I’m not quite sure how you prove such intent, but the fact that women are still being treated in such a way is telling.

The most powerful leader of the western world, a certain President Donald Trump, suffers no opprobrium for his outrageous attitude to women (among others) which says much about attitudes to women.

The debate over misogyny, though, tends to focus on either sleaze and objectification of women or the inequality of opportunity.

On the face of it, we have more women in key roles in politics, journalism, business etc. But we still see the Daily Mail focusing on the clothes comparison between Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon; and one wonders if men would ever be subject to the social media abuse of Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill over their appearance.

When it comes to the media itself, we’ve seen plenty of coverage of the fact that women presenters are paid less than men, and that applies in many walks of life.

Still, at least these women have a voice which can highlight inequality, and women in business and other professions are well able to speak up about the need for greater progress towards equality. Good for them.

This is not so in other areas of society. Does the justice system treat women fairly? The treatment of alleged victims in rape cases is still cause for concern, and I think we see more focus in newspapers on those women who’ve lied, very much in the minority.

I’ve often wondered about the case of Arlene Arkinson, the Castlederg teenager whose body went missing in 1994. Her family have still not had closure, never mind justice, and I often ask if it was the fact that she was from a little known working class family or her gender that saw the wider community turn a blind eye to the lack of progress in the case.

Domestic abuse and violence against women is much more commonplace than we care to admit. Shockingly, a person who works in the sector which helps victims recently told me that frustratingly there are times when it seems that violence against women has to become brutal before they are seriously protected. We’ve seen some very disturbing and fatal examples even in our own area, which are really only the tip of the iceberg.

And those involved in helping women continue to battle to get more awareness of the issue, and indeed funding. Women’s Aid in the UK have launched a cinema advert, with shocking imagery, highlighting the continued reduction in funding.

Asking for donations, they say: “With your support, Women’s Aid can continue our campaign to secure a long-term, sustainable funding future for all domestic abuse services to ensure every woman and child can get the help they need to rebuild their life free from fear and abuse.”

In addition, I believe that “the system”, partly due to resource issues, doesn’t help women and families being abused, whether physically or emotionally and among my own gender I sometimes cannot believe how many men are behaving in ways which can only be described as evil.

Across all levels of society, whether it be issues of respect, or financial gain, or simply keeping them safe, too many women are still the victims of misogyny. These are the real people who suffer from sexism.

So, yes Serena Williams has the right to complain if she really believes that the official taking a point off her and then a game was doing so simply because she was a woman. Personally, I thought her behaviour was poor, and anyway in terms of sexism this was the wrong incident and the wrong person to highlight a very serious worldwide problem which undoubtedly is still rife.

Her prizemoney for this tournament was 1.5 million dollars and she was fined a pitiful 17,000 out of that. Some punishment! The real punishment is being meted out to women day after day in all walks of life.