Sexism in Sports

By: Jessica Zhao

Sexism, defined as the prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination against women, has penetrated modern society and ingrained the idea of female inferiority in the belief system of millions. Women are faced with countless social barriers, objectifications, and generalizations on a daily basis, hindering social advancement and restraining female potential. Particularly in sports, a historically “masculine” activity, women are often denied equal opportunities as their male counterparts; as a result, they are forced to grapple with the disadvantage and provincial assumptions placed on their shoulders. Despite the merit-based nature of athletics, women are still portrayed in mundane ways in public media, not only diminishing the athletic achievements of women but simultaneously disheartening the passion for sports among millions of young women. Thus, came the rise of “gender-bland sexism”.

A term used to avoid blatant sexism, gender-bland sexism points to the equal portrayal of women and men in sports, yet nonetheless, characterizing and marginalizing women’s status in sports in contrast to that of men. Oftentimes, men play the crucial roles of coaching, leaving women with limited opportunities; professional female athletes earn significantly smaller pay compared to male athletes, resulting in reduced funding for new equipment and training; and men own the majority of sports teams, creating a network in the sports world devoid of female participation. An approximate of more than $60 billion USD of the sports market’s value was noted by Forbes in 2014, a developed, prosperous industry excluding female involvement while celebrating the historical bodily superiority of men. Equally as significant are the labels of “men’s sports” and “women’s sports”, followed by the lack of interaction between the two. Such distinctions between men and women in the world of athletics encourage continued prejudice and underestimation of women’s potential, emphasizing the underlying gender-based dogma prevailing in society today.

Over the past few decades, women have undeniably begun to receive privileges as men do, and women's achievements in the realms of art, music, and academics have grown to be recognized. In spite of that, continued work for equality in sports remains pivotal to fostering a truly inclusive and commemorating environment, one of the many pathways for women to experience genuine, unfiltered equality.