Gender equality is a long-standing issue across industries, institutions and social structures; sports are no exception. Despite the advances in gender equality that have been made since women were first allowed to participate in sports, they still face significant obstacles on their path towards full participation and fair treatment. These barriers stem from internalized sexism as well as cultural and socio-political factors that have a direct impact on the status of sports for women.
In addition to the lack of opportunities to play sports, many women are not supported by their peers when it comes to engaging in physical activity and promoting sports to girls. This is largely because of the persistent stereotype that sports are “boys’ stuff”, as well as the assumption that women should prioritize their roles as mothers and wives over sports participation. Even when women athletes do receive media coverage, their focus is often objectified and strays from athleticism to motherhood, spousal relationships or fashion.
The results of the special Eurobarometer on attitudes towards gender equality in sport confirm and extend previous research, with countries like Finland and Sweden scoring highly because of their long history of inclusive policies, progressive gender norms and high levels of female representation in sports organisations (79). Conversely, Austria, Romania and the Czech Republic scored lower because of a combination of very strong traditional gender roles, a legacy of conservative religiosity and older socio-political structures that prioritise economic reform over social change (81).
The key to overcoming these obstacles is increasing awareness about the status of sports for women. This can be done through grassroots movements, media advocacy and anti-discrimination reporting centres within sports organisations. However, awareness alone is not enough, and it’s crucial that sports programmes include a framework that ensures that women are represented in decision-making processes, have equal opportunities to access funds and are granted the same level of media attention as their male counterparts.