Gender equality in sports can be seen by the increased participation of women in sport and by the rise of female role models, including coaches. However, gender inequality is still prevalent when it comes to the way athletes are treated and how they are represented.
When a convicted rapist represents his country in Paris, or the BBC hires a pundit who has shared posts by misogynist Andrew Tate, it is clear that not only are these individuals far from being role models for young girls but also show the level of tolerance for abuse and harassment against women in sport. These incidents undermine the commitment of the IOC, national selection committees and the media to creating safe and abuse-free sporting environments.
There are significant gains to be celebrated, such as the fact that women now make up more than half of the world’s professional footballers and that there is now a push for more female leadership roles in coaching and management in all sports. A growing number of organisations now pay their male and female players the same and the 2023 Women’s World Cup was watched by over a billion people.
Ultimately, however, it will take more than just changing pay and increasing visibility to achieve true gender equality in sport. Educating men on why they should support women in sports, challenging norms around household responsibilities and unpaid care work (which is three times more than for men) and giving equal priority to sport for all will be key to breaking down the barriers that prevent women from getting involved.
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