It struck me as odd that a football club would need an entirely different website for female fans, and I was worried that it would be a ridiculous, condescending thing. There’s no reason for female and male fans to be segregated. It struck me, and still somewhat strikes me, as saying that women needed a ‘lesser’ website for their interests. After all, aren’t we just fans? We don’t need a candy-colored version of football to make it interesting.

Also, why does the girl’s site need recipes?

It’s something I’m still grappling with, because now that I’m more involved in the team and better at reading German I find that I like the site a lot. While it is presented in baby-blue, it’s interesting. Useful, even. It also has a lighthearted tone that I personally enjoy when I read about football, particularly in player interviews- I like knowing things such as that Marko Pantelic doesn’t like to read, or what Solomon Okoronkwo’s tattoos say, or the slightly ridiculous tastes in music. The list of Bundesliga mascots is worth reading just for the pictures. It talks about the women who work at Hertha and has interviews with prominent female fans and sportswomen.

Also, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy this photoshoot with Tobias Grahn. (I have a long-term weakness for Swedes.)

So there is the question I’m posing to myself, and any readers out there who care to chip in during this international week without a lot of actual news to post about. With Hertha Freundin, is Hertha reaching out to female fans, providing them a place in football and showing that they’re welcome? Or is it a condescending way of separating out and marginalizing female fans?

As much as I enjoy the site I’m still not sure if it needs to exist. That doesn’t stop me from checking out the new content when it comes out every month.