Throughout history, women have struggled with gender equality in their careers, education, homes, and even sports. The prevailing narrative of masculinity in sport – physical strength, dominance and power – has resulted in the exploitation, non-inclusion and discrimination against women. This narrative needs to change.
While some have credited Title IX (of the Education Amendments of 1972) as one of the most important historical turning points for women in sports, the progression toward equal opportunities in sports has not been linear. The increased participation of girls and women in athletics has been accompanied by continued discrimination, barriers to participation, and reinforcement of gendered meanings in sports.
Research has found that, despite a long history of discrimination against women in sports, there is potential for significant progress toward gender equity in sport through policy changes. A number of interventions are necessary, including greater funding for women’s sport, implementing anti-discrimination policies, and providing better access to sport-related training. Moreover, ensuring that media coverage is balanced and that portrayals of female athletes are free from gendered tropes would further support gender equity.
The feminization of sport, in which the majority of athletes are female and male adolescent athletes, reinforces a norm of masculinity in sport that can be difficult to break. The lack of representation of women in leadership positions in the world of sport is also a significant issue. This can be due to both access and treatment discrimination – that is, when women are not given the same opportunities as men, or they receive less organizational resources than they legally deserve.
About the Author
