The Presence of Gender Discrimination in Sports

With 25.4% of the population tuning in, the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final between the United States and Japan set a new record for the most viewers in the United States. Despite this, women athletes at all levels continue to be subject to prejudice and harassment. The Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport found that even though women make up roughly 40% of sports participants, they only receive about 4% of sports media attention.

Wages in the professional sports industry are based on revenue. Women’s teams earn significantly less than men’s because their games are played at less convenient times and receive far fewer media attention. What the public thinks of female athletes is an issue women must face. Professional male athletes are heroes to their fans because they dedicate their lives to their craft. However, women are typically regarded as secondary athletes to being moms or husbands. The media often focuses more on female athletes’ physical attributes than their actual athletic prowess due to harmful gender stereotypes.

As a result of the current USA Gymnastics incident, the issue of sexual harassment in sports has been thrust into the forefront. As a result of lawsuits filed by former gymnasts who claim coaches and doctors abused them, the organization has filed for bankruptcy.

Even though women are disproportionately harmed by sports discrimination, males are also impacted by gender stereotypes in male-dominated industries. Bullying young male athletes who pursue “feminine” activities like figure skating and dancing is common. If a man is not naturally built to be a tall, huge, and strong athlete, he may face bias and exclusion from sports teams.

What is the Solution?

• Attend games at all levels involving women’s sports. If you are an athlete, play a sport. Support female athletes by tuning in to their games on television and following them on social media.
• The objective of sports organizations must be gender equality. Women performing the same work as men should have access to the same participation opportunities, financial aid or funding, wages, and benefits.
• When writing about women’s sports, avoid innuendos and demeaning athletes by making references to their attire or family roles outside of the game. Men’s and women’s athletic performances should be described with the same vivid language.
• In your sports organization, you can get complaints about discrimination and harassment through an easy-to-use, safe, and anonymous platform. It can be scary to report unethical behaviour, so it’s important to keep whistle-blowers safe and protect their privacy.
• It is possible to promote gender equality in sports by encouraging women to pursue careers as athletes, coaches, trainers, executives, and journalists.

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