Women’s Athletes discrimination

The lengthy history of women participating in sports is not only characterized by discrimination and division, but also by important accomplishments made by female athletes, advancements in gender equality, and the empowerment of girls and women. America’s Helene Madison, the first woman to finish the 100-yard freestyle at the 1932 Olympics in under 60 seconds, Italy’s Maria-Teresa de Filippis, the first woman to compete in the 1958 European Grand Prix auto race, and Morocco’s Nawal El Moutawakel, the first female athlete from an Islamic nation to win an Olympic medal for the 400-meter hurdles at the 1984 Olympics, are just a few of the many noteworthy accomplishments. Kenya’s Tegla Loroupe who became the first African athlete to win a major marathon in 1994 (Chaddha, 2017). In addition, women have assumed top leadership posts in the sporting world, such as Secretaries-Generals and Presidents of National Olympic Committees.

An increasingly number of women have also assumed employment opportunities in all spheres of sport, comprising those of coaches, sport journalists, officials, and managers. Such accomplishments were attained amidst several obstacles on the basis of gender discrimination (Chaddha, 2017). However, women have more often been regarded as being too weak for sporting strenuous activities such as weightlifting, cycling and marathons, and in the past it was frequently argued that sporting was injurious to health of women, especially their reproductive health (Chaddha, 2017). These sentiments were echoed and strengthened by such leading sporting figures as the Olympics founder, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, in 1896, claimed that in spite of how toughened a female athlete is, her body is not quite well cut out to endure certain shocks. Stereotypes like those ones further fuelled gender-based prejudice in communication and recreational sport, physical education, sport media and sporting organizations (Rayburn et al., 2008).

Whereas restrictions on girls’ and women’s’ participation and access to sport have been there since time immemorial, nonetheless, there has been achievement of some gradual progress. For instance in 1900, the pioneering 19 women participated in the Paris Olympic in just only 3 sports-golf, croquet and tennis. However, these figures have been gradually improving and by 2004 Athens Olympics, female athletes registered 26 out of 28 sporting activities-representing 40.7% of the total; number of competitors, setting a new record for women’s participation in the Olympics (Rayburn et al., 2008). Steady improvement such as that one has been fuelled by women athletes and civil society organizations, governments and NGOs that have been constantly advocating and fighting for gender equality in sport. These organizations sought to tackle the numerous social and physical obstacles to the full participation of girls and women (Rayburn et al., 2008).

Women continue facing discrimination against official rules of global competitions as well as regulations of core sporting facilities. For instance, in the US, the Augusta National Golf Club- hosts of the annual Masters Tournament, has gone on upholding its men-only membership rule, leading to strong opposition from women’s rights activist and the national women’s organizations. Nevertheless, progress is being achieved in other organizations. For instance, Scotland’s 250 year old Royal and Ancient Club regarded as the leading authority on golf globally, removed a long-standing prohibition on women participating at the 2005 Open Championship (Rayburn et al., 2008).

The US professional Bowlers Association (PBA) also in 2004 opened the door for women athletes to be eligible for the PBA Tour, with Kelly Kulick becoming the first ever woman to be eligible for a season-long exemption. Whereas some physical barriers preventing women from participating in sport are widespread throughout the world, comprising a significant lack of suitable resources and facilities, it is also crucial to know that participation differs with space and time with several constraints being context-specific. For instance, certain restrictions on the mobility of women in some nations can make it hard for women to participate. In relation to this, certain restrictions on the mobility of women can prevent them from taking part in some events held in open and public spaces (Rayburn et al., 2008).

The other area that has been controversial for women participating in sports is clothing. This has seen some nations resist the participation of women in sport. Lili de Alvarez (Spain) in 1931 shocked social proprietary by taking part in the Wimbledon wearing shorts only as opposed to the long dresses expected of the female tennis players. Traditionally, sporting accessories have always been designed for men’s use and for instance, it was no till 1996 that the first baseball glove exclusively designed for women hands by Spalding Sports. Clothing as an issue can also be an obstacle where socio-economic situations imply that girls and women cannot afford suitable sporting uniform (Rayburn et al., 2008).

Sporting attire might present a specific issue for Muslim women in instances where dress codes forbid them from putting on Western-style sports attire. Essentially, this is a big issue and cause for concern not only for Muslim women taking part in international sporting events but also local community sports. For instance, Hassiba Boulmerka of Algeria after winning the 1992 1500 m dressed in shorts had to go on exile after the Games due to death threats. Alternatively, Iranian women competing in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games kayaking dressed in hijab. To offer appropriate conditions for the women taking part in sporting activities, there must be compliance with Islamic cultural practices and beliefs (Wren, 2013).

Physical obstacles to the participation of girls and women in sport can be surmounted with a gender-sensitive strategy to the redesigning of existing infrastructure, the planning of new facilities and the regulations and rules of sporting institutions and events. Even though several of the clinical epidemiological and trials research in health studies have excluded females, the data available indicates that women obtain several health advantages from a lifestyle that is active. The health advantages of women’s involvement in sport and physical activity are now well recognized. Taking part in physical and sport activity can avoid a numerous of non-communicable ailments which represent for more than 60% of global deaths, 66% of which take place in developing nations(Deshpande, 2016).

Thus, for young girls, it can have positive effect on childhood health , and minimize the danger of chronic ailments in their life afterwards. For women who are advanced in age, it can lead to the avoidance of cardiovascular ailments, which represent 1/3rd of deaths amongst women throughout the world and 50% of all deaths amongst women in developing nations. Sporting activity also assists in reduction of the effects of osteoporosis, which women possess an increased danger of developing in comparison to men. Taking part in sporting activities helps in the avoidance and/or treatment of other degenerative and chronic ailments linked to hypertension, aging, arthritis, cardiovascular abnormalities and type-2-diabetes (Deshpande, 2016).

However, the above benefits for women participation in sport are hampered by gender-based prejudice in every area and at every level of physical and sport activity propagated by ongoing stereotypes of women’s social roles and physical abilities. Female athletes are often discriminated against and unwillingly into various kinds of events, competitions and events particularly focused on women. Moreover access of women to decision-making and leadership positions is limited from the local level to the international level. Consequently, the value put on female sport is usually lower, leading to insufficient resources as well as unequal prizes and wages. Female sport in the media is not only sidelined but also frequently showcased in a different technique that reinforces and reflects gender stereotypes (Deshpande, 2016).

Exploitation, violence and harassment against women in sport are expressions of the opinions of men’s dominance, power and physical strength, which from time immemorial have been exhibited in male sport. A wide range of important components have been recognized for confronting gender prejudice as well as unequal gender relationships, and developing an facilitating atmosphere for gender equality as well as the women empowerment, in several various regions, comprising sport and women. They comprise enhancing the capabilities of women via health and education, increasing their accessibility to and power over resources and opportunities, like economic assets and employment, improving their leadership and agency roles, promoting and protecting their human rights and ascertaining their security, including protecting them against violence (Deshpande, 2016).

Given the fact that traditionally sport was a male dominated affair, the taking part of girls and women in sport confronts several gender stereotypes, not only those linked to physical capability but also those linked to the role of women in local societies and communities at large. Consequently, by directly confronting and dismissing misconceptions regarding the abilities of women, integrated sport programs assist in reducing discrimination and broadening the role assigned to women. Moreover, a rise in leadership posts in sport can also have a considerable impact on social approaches towards the capabilities of women as decision makers and leaders.

A UNICEF program correlates sport to the education of girls on the basis and belief that just like education, sport can assist girls in becoming equal players in our communities. During Global Girls’ Football Day (11/10/2003), UNICEF national offices as well as FIFA joined forces and mobilized efforts for the education of girls via the power of sports. FIFA, that same year, dedicated to UNICEF’s Go Girls (education for all children campaign) its Women World Cup (United Nations, 2008).

In addition, participation of girls in sporting activities carries with it a big potential for positive effect on attitudes as regards gender equality amongst the youths. A keen analysis of Kenya’s Mathare Youth Sports Association concluded that even though initially boys in the Association displayed stereotypical attitudes towards female football players (for instance that girls are fragile, give up quickly and do not learn fast enough), witnessing girls accomplish success in football, which previously had been a male dominated field, had started reshaping their perspectives in regarding the capabilities and roles of girls (United Nations, 2008).

The sporting arena offers a chance to speak to boys as well as men on issues associated with stereotypical approaches together with gender-based violence and discrimination. The more broadly boys and men take part in sports as spectators and athletes, the more they get a powerful platform for information and education on a wide range of issues, comprising violence against girls and women, and for tearing down deeply engrained stereotypical behaviors and attitudes towards women and girls. Accomplished male athletes who extensively condemn such issues can be especially successful given their influential position and respect that they command within the society (United Nations, 2008).

Shining women role models and stars in sport such as tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams of USA, German swimmer Kristen Bruhn, Russian Federation tennis star Maria Sharapova, Japan’s marathon runner Takahashi Naoko, America’s soccer star Mia Hamm also play an important role in confronting commonly held stereotypes concerning women (Wren, 2013). For instance, Morocco’s hurdles star Nawal El Moutawakel acknowledges her unique role as a role model for women, particularly Muslim women, and claims that her core role as an Olympic Committee member is encouraging more women to take part in sport world over (Wren, 2013). Motivated by her taking part in United Nations Global Youth Leadership Summit (29-31 October 2006), Serena Williams engaged in a mission to Senegal and Ghana to draw attention to the role of youth, sport and girls and women empowerment in attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (Wren, 2013).

It is clear that sport has enormous potential in contributing to the economic, political and social empowerment of girls and women and has been hailed by the UN system, NGOs, governments as well as other key players. The huge task that lies ahead is acting on this realization and bringing the benefits of sport as well as physical education to girls and women throughout the entire globe (Wren, 2013). So as to harness the full potential for sport as a conduit for gender equality as well as girls and women empowerment, gender inequality in the sporting world should be tackled. Gender based discrimination in sports reflects conventional gender stereotypes and encourages gender disparities. In addition, opportunities for girls and women to take part in sport might be limited (Wren, 2013).

Even in situations where participation is permitted, the gender relations dynamics, as well as perceptions of femininity and masculinity might lead to gender segregation in various kinds of sports and physical education. This is worsened by the fact that inequalities are also prevalent in accessing wages, financial incentives and resources, and most importantly media representation and portrayal of women’s sport and women athletes. the lack of girls and women in leadership and decision-making decision positions, coupled with harassment, exploitation as well as violence meted out against girls and women, is also widespread in sport and the rest of sport and commercial industry (Rober, 2013).

In conclusion a wide range of solutions can be developed to tackle inequalities and discrimination in sport with the key stakeholders being governments, UN systems, NGOs and sporting institutions. Some of the common strategies comprise creation of awareness, advocacy as wel a gender-sensitive programming and policy making, employing both women-specific strategies and gender-mainstreaming strategies (Brake, 2013). Nevertheless, the degree of discrimination meted out against girls and women in sport requires further action coupled with effective programs and strategies that must be expanded as well as scaled up. Moreover, initiatives that tackle all kinds of exploitation, violence as well as harassment are required at a wide range of levels, comprising families, sport teams, schools, communities as well as in local, regional, national and international sporting events (Brake, 2013). There must also be creation of a supportive, safe and conducive environment for girls and women to take part in sport. Enhancing security and safety demands, for instance, paying attention to appropriate locations, suitable scheduling as well as the design and building of gender-sensitive facilities that takes into consideration the need for appropriate and safe changing rooms, and sufficient lighting and transport. In addition, the strategies should tackle a variety of power bonding between athletes and coaches, gender stereotyping and the correlation between global sporting events and prostitution, including the danger of human trafficking.

References

Brake, D. (2013). “Discrimination Inward and Upward: Lessons on Law and Social Ineqaulity from the Troubling Case of Women Coaches .” Indiana Journal of Law and: p1-12.

Chaddha, J. (2017). “Discrimination In The Marketing And Compensation Of Female Athletes In The Age Of Trump.” Huffington Post : np.

Deshpande, V. (2016). “Gender discrimination in sports.” International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health : p1-5.

Rayburn, B., Chen, S. & Phillips, C. (2015). “Female College Athletes’ Perceptions on Gender Stereotypes and Discrimination in.” International Journal of Business and Social Science: P1-9.

Rober, E. A. (2013). Gender relations in sport. Rotterdam, Sense Publishers. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10827371.

United Nations. (2008). “Women, Gender Equality and Sport.(2008)” Women 2000 and Beyond : p1-44.

Wren, J. (2013).“Women’s athletics a battle for respect.” CNN : np.