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July 7, 2006
Reaching for greater heights
Anda Ramat Hasharon boasts an unequalled ideology.
EVA COHEN
Women's basketball in Israel has struggled like all women's sports
over the years to gain media recognition, but one team, Anda Ramat
Hasharon, has made a point of crusading for women's equality in
sport.
There are several aspects that make this team unique – beginning
with the fact that this is the only team in the world to have both
a female head coach and manager. In its 20 years of being a franchise,
the team has maintained stable management. Team chairwoman Rachel
Ostrowitz attributes this to strong affirmative action for women.
"We want stability – not just to win and go home,"
said Ostrowitz. "We have the long-term purpose to educate people.
The same management gives stability to the players and this is unique."
Ostrowitz has not only been involved in feminist activism through
sports, but also in the broader Israeli society. She has been an
editor for Noga, a feminist magazine, and has spoken out
on gender issues internationally.
Head coach Orna Ostfeld has also been active in promoting female
equality, both through Anda Ramat Hasharon and outside of the organization.
She has helped build bridges between Israelis and Arabs because,
she said, "If we [as Israeli women] are discriminated against,
for them, it must be 10 times as much and they just want to play."
A program was started in Talibe near Kfar Saba and Anda Ramat Hasharon
helps the team financially and professionally. In 2005, Ostfeld
received the prestigious International Olympic Committee's World
Women in Sport Trophy for her work promoting sport in Israel. A
trophy is awarded to one woman from every continent and Ostfeld
received the honor for all of Europe.
For Ostrowitz, having a job on a sports team that is predominantly
held by men does not faze her and she finds it is much more beneficial
for the success of the club and the female athletes on the team.
"This team is different than others with males in positions
of power because they are not concerned with the struggles of women
but are only concerned with their own team," said Ostrowitz.
"I fight for [the] equality of women in sport."
Over the years, Ostrowitz and Ostfeld have gone to court over several
issues pertaining to women's equality and have won every time. These
issues include equal pay, bylaws from the basketball federation,
budgets, money from municipalities and media coverage.
The issue of media coverage for women's sports is a specific target
of Anda Ramat Hasharon management.
"The media only covers scandals and bad things that happen
in women's sports," said Ostfeld. However, since Ostfeld and
Ostrowitz entered the field, they have seen great improvements in
views toward women in the media.
"Men and women enjoy watching women's sports but there is no
chance for them to be fans and follow it when they are not exposed
to it," said Ostrowitz. "When there has been exposure
to women's sports, the response has been extremely positive."
She said women participating in sports not only creates positive
effects in terms of a fan base, but for women overall. Women involved
in sports are less likely to suffer from anorexia and other health
disorders.
"There is a tradition with males that sports are the masculine
domain and [it] hasn't completely [been] internalized yet that women
can achieve and that it empowers women," said Ostrowitz. "Women
in sports have been found in research to excel in many aspects in
life and are more likely to be involved in management and higher
corporate positions when they are older. There are so many good
things that come from being involved in sports and women deserve
to be a part of it."
The ideology of the franchise has prompted players to choose the
team over other options. Captain Tamar Maoz, who is also captain
of the Israeli national team, played for Anda Ramat Hasharon and
went to Ra'anana Herzeliya for a season, but returned to Ramat Hasharon
because she felt "so connected.
"Ramat Hasharon, I feel, it is really something different because
of the ideology," said Maoz. "The spirit is something
else."
The team not only attracts athletes from Israel but also from North
America. Three Jewish athletes have come from the United States,
including Jennifer Fleischer from the University of Pennsylvania,
who is set to join the team in the upcoming season.
Two years ago, the team was named by Henri Zimand in memory of his
late wife, who passed away from cancer. He is a philanthropic contributor
and the team said they are lucky to be chosen by him, but that it
is not a coincidence.
"He chose our team because of our ideology of empowerment for
women," said Ostrowitz.
The team's feel-good philosophy has also led to successes on the
court. Anda Ramat Hasharon has been to the finals five times in
Israel, winning four times, and were three-time double champions.
In Europe, they have been to the finals once and also have made
it to the semi- and quarter-finals.
"In spite of all the obstacles, if women have drive like this
team, then they will be able to achieve," said Ostrowitz.
Eva Cohen is a freelance writer currently working in Israel.
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