What feminism owes De Gea
The feminism that is indebted to David De Gea's decision is the radical one, the one of the permanent complaint, the one that does not accept changes and does not value progress. The ignorant feminism that points to men as responsible for all women's ills. That of the obscene banners that denigrate men in order to extol the values of women. And, above all, the feminism from which we all expect a gesture after this story is the one that insists on labelling motherhood as something exclusive to women.
Out of everything that Pablo Iglesias said before becoming Vice-President of the Government and now that he occupies the coveted post, it is worth highlighting what he said about men when it comes to being fathers and husbands. He quite rightly explained that their job was not to help with the housework or help with the children. That "helping" had to become as equal a sharing as possible of everything that living together entails. So far, so good. Common sense. With women fully involved in the insecure Spanish labour market, starting a family and raising children becomes a task for at least two people who should not give up their career aspirations. We are taking this step as a society and it is already part of the plans of workers and companies. This is called work-life balance.
David De Gea is a footballer. Edurne García is a singer. Two lives in permanent media exposure for years and especially watched since they decided to become a couple a decade ago. The typical celebrity couples for whom people didn't give a damn before and now set a better example than many others who sell high doses of moral principles. This is the case of Piqué and Shakira or Sergio Ramos and Pilar Rubio. All of them with a brood of children worthy of gratitude in these times in Spain and old Europe. All of them well matched. At least in the face of their colossal gallery. Like all the anonymous Spaniards who have no media apparatus behind them. The dirty laundry... you know.
The echoes of society, as grandparents would say, have told everything possible about De Gea and Edurne as a couple. The loudest was the failed move to Real Madrid in 2014 that derailed the ill-fated fax from the Bernabéu's offices. Apparently, the couple were keen to settle in Madrid. He would have continued with his travelling life as a footballer and she with her gigs as a singer, but Madrid is the city where they were born. And as much as that hypocritical feminism believes that money can do everything, there are more necessary things than having a bank account full of zeros.
The sports press has focused more on De Gea's career in Manchester. A decade playing for one of Europe's most successful clubs. Atlético de Madrid closed the transfer for 20 million euros. The goalkeeper who was supposed to follow in the footsteps of Abel or Molina left in order to clean up the club's coffers.
Moving to another city could have ended the relationship between the two. Putting 2,000 kilometres between them just a year after meeting seemed harsh. Maybe it was. Everything has been written about. However, what remains in March 2021 is that an elite footballer, international with Spain, and a singer with a lot of screen time on TV shows, have become parents. And, even more, that the millionaire footballer, the father who does not suffer the pains of childbirth, nor does he carry a child in his womb, nor does he know how to love like a mother, nor... all that which ideologies try to sell, is going to stop playing for a month so that he can spend time with his partner and his child.
#Henderson
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stated in a press conference that "De Gea is not here for personal reasons. It's a private thing and he will take the time he needs". Although he is an institution at Manchester United and no one doubts his commitment, being absent for so long is detrimental to his team. Dean Henderson is the unknown 23-year-old goalkeeper who will defend the Red Devils' goal in the Premiership and in the Europa League tie against Milan. The club knows the quality of the substitute is inferior and that the club's second place in the league could be at risk, as could a place in the quarter-finals in Europe. But it accepts that if Henderson is in the squad it is because he has or can have the ability to perform and add to it. And he accepts that his first-choice goalkeeper may be a father and may need to take time out. Just as companies assume that the women they employ may be mothers and will be out of work for a while to carry their pregnancies to term, give birth, recover, be with their children... It is the rule of life. But it is someone else's life, and one should be aware of it from time to time.
For the moment, destiny has wanted to lend a hand in this decision and the derby against City was won by De Gea's team 0-2 and put an end to Guardiola's never-ending winning streak.
De Gea and Edurne will devote themselves to looking after their daughter. They will share smiles and tears in those first weeks. They will learn to be three. And they will set their habits for the coming months. Like any other parent. Like any other mother.
Understanding this situation is what this pitiful feminism needs. They need to understand that when a self-employed father can't stop for a month or three days to be with his newborn child, it's because his income-generating business suffers. But he does not love the child any less. Nor is he a male chauvinist ogre. Nor it is because heteropatriarchy. Even mothers have to leave their five-month-old babies in nursery schools because work demands their return.
This is life as we already have it. That of the equality of article 19 of the Spanish Constitution. The one that makes us equal. The one that gives power and responsibility to the woman (and the man) who deserves it. Without twisted laws that seek artificial parities. Today it is De Gea's turn to make the save of his life. The one that will put him next to his son for a month.