The FEI has been working for years on gender equity, diversity and inclusion. But there is still a world to be won in that area too, says German show jumping rider Janne-Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann. Indeed, she, like other riders, lost half her ranking points because she shortened her six-month baby break.
"Women just happen to have the babies," says Meyer, who is angry with the FEI. Last year, she had accumulated a certain number of ranking points. She lost half of that in the meantime because she didn't adhere to the six months of maternity leave. She already appeared back in the arena earlier.
That's why she started the EqualEquest initiative, which was joined by dressage rider Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (who is expecting a baby this year), fellow jumping rider Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and para-amazon Gianna Regenbrecht, among others.
Meyer gets support from German diversity researcher Bettina Rulofs. "It is bizarre that women are penalized if they return earlier from maternity leave," she said.
Nor is this a light punishment. They lose 50 percent of the ranking points gained prior to the baby break. Meyer has dropped from place 107 to 270 in this way.
Meyer therefore wants to argue for a flexible baby break of 4 to 12 months, without the loss of ranking points on the FEI ranking.
Source: NDR