It is a matter of pride for the sports programmes to show every match that is ever played in this country, much to the regret of Finland-Swedes. They, of course, would like to watch handball. Handball, on the other hand, is a game that is played in all European countries, and farther afield. But in Finland handball is a marginal phenomenon. Not even matches on the national level are shown on television.
Different professions tend to be branded according to gender.
The more women there are in a profession, the lower pay and status it has. In this sense, Finland-Swedes are like women. The more often a Finland-Swede holds a ball in his hand, the less the game interests the majority population. One ball more or less. That is what one might think, but for the fact that in Finland the threat of marginalisation hovers over almost everything that takes place in the Swedish language.