Mon Sep 16 14:56:00 UTC 2024: ## Female Fighters Matter Too: New Organization Promotes Gender Equality in Sports
**Albertson, New York – September 16, 2024** – Female Fighters Matter Too (FFM2), a new non-profit organization founded by Tae Kwon Do Master Maggie Messina, is working to promote equality for female athletes. Inspired by her own experiences facing gender-based challenges in the martial arts world, Messina launched FFM2 to challenge outdated perceptions and empower women in sports.
FFM2 gained prominence at the Long Island Winter Open Martial Arts Championship, where Messina, as event organizer, made history by awarding female grand champions double the prize earnings of other divisions. This bold move served as a powerful symbol of FFM2’s mission: to ensure women are recognized and celebrated for their athletic achievements.
“This isn’t about politics or competing with men,” Messina emphasizes. “It’s about instilling confidence in women of all ages, reminding them that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.”
Through awareness campaigns, training seminars, and free empowerment camps led by female champions, FFM2 aims to shatter stereotypes and provide a supportive network for female athletes. The organization recognizes that despite progress, historical inequalities persist and continue to impact how women are viewed in sports.
“I had to work harder than my male counterparts to be taken seriously,” Messina shares, reflecting on her own experiences. “I knew I had to make a change, and FFM2 is a platform for bringing like-minded athletes together to fight for gender equality.”
FFM2 is gaining momentum, with its message resonating with tournament circuits, promoters, instructors, and competitors. The organization’s future plans include expanding services to offer self-defense classes and empowerment seminars at colleges across the country.
“Stay true to your inner voice, not the outdated views of society,” Messina advises aspiring female athletes. “Focus on your individual goals and ignore the noise.”
FFM2 embodies a powerful message of empowerment and equality, paving the way for a future where women are fully recognized and celebrated for their athletic contributions.