Gender Equality in Jiu-Jitsu

In recent years and notably in the last month, gender equality for females in jiu-jitsu has become a hot topic. Starting with the disparity in prize money for female black belts to the UAEJJ capping the heaviest female weight class at 90 kg (198.6 lbs) and abolishing the absolute division, females are definitely getting the short end of the stick.

Multiple World champion Dominyka Obelenyte has been the voice of equality in BJJ for women. In November 2016, she entered the NY BJJ Pro, a tournament that she stands against because of the lack of equal pay, primarily in the black belt division. She says that we now see an improvement in not only skill but division size. Very rarely will you see larger tournaments with one or zero fights in the women's divisions. With more ladies starting to compete in the sport, the push for equal pay can no longer be ignored.

Following competing at the NY BJJ Pro, Dominyka took to her social media to "rant" about the inequality and stereotypes that women face in BJJ:

"Jiu Jitsu as a Woman" -- We didn't sign up for this sport to enter a beauty contest. We don't put in hours working, training, sweating, risking injury, sacrificing time and energy and money, giving up claim to our bodies as objects for the practice of this sport to be seen as dolls. I train because I want to be one of the best competitors out there, not because I want someone to take notice of my body or face and comment on how pleasing or non pleasing it could be to the eye. Stop reporting on things that don't matter, especially when women that have gotten far in this sport went through a whole lot of bullshit to be recognized as warriors. Stop talking about our hair and makeup and start talking about who has the most exciting matches. Stop trying to tell us the most important thing we can do is show off our bits, start giving us more credit for the flying arm bar attempts. Rant over."

More recently, the 2017 Pan Am black belt absolute champion, Tayane Porfirio, took to her social media to express her disdain for the UAEJJ and their prejudice of the "obese." Porfirio has competed in Abu Dhabi over the last five years since she was a blue belt. This year she will not be fighting because she is over the association's 90 kg weight limit for her weight division. The UAEJJ also abolished the absolute division.

She says on her Instagram (translated):

"5 years that I would be fighting in Abu Dhabi and unfortunately this year I am out! I've been competing in Abu Dhabi since the blue belt, it was my first trip to fight, I realized dreams there in that place and this year unfortunately they made my dream die. The reason they do this is because of the fact that I have more than 90 kg !! I'm not obese !! My exams are great, better than an athlete who weighs 60 kg, but as many know now the limit for the female is up to 90 kg. They killed not only my dream, but the dream of many athletes who entered Jiu-Jitsu thinking of one day going to Abu Dhabi (I'm talking about heavy people) and the only excuse they gave me was this: We can not have obese people in our event, this is a way to prevent your health !!! "HELLO?" This is a way for you to show prejudice within a sport. As far as I know, the sport is exactly to make you feel good about yourself and the only thing I'm watching you do is diminish people's dreams!!! I'm sorry for the text people!!! I needed to vent. I can not change my body because of you, I'm sad to be out, but life goes on, I'm in search of other goals!!! What I had to do there is already done, now just watch your friends win!

"And there is one more things they said!!! "The heavy ones will hurt the slight ones"

1 - enters the absolute who wants!

2 - why not make two absolutes?

3 - why not open a category over 90kg?

4 - Jiu-jitsu is for everyone!!"

Tayane is right. Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone. As we know, Jiu-Jitsu was created for the smaller person to defend themselves. It also proves that they can beat larger, stronger opponents. The IBJJF doesn't have a weight cap for females and no black belt competitor has been seriously injured by their opponent primarily because of a size/weight disparity.

Dominikya is also right. The female professionals of the sport arguably work just as hard, if not harder, than some of their male counterparts. So why not offer them equality in the sport? Particularly in payouts.

Ladies, it's time to start making some noise to break that glass ceiling.