Abstract
Over the years, sexism has been a serious issue affecting male and female athletes from different competition levels, causing discriminatory and unequal practices. Therefore, this research paper aims to explore how women and men are treated differently in sports at various levels of competition and how this affects them, limiting their opportunities. This thesis statement asserts that inequality in sports hurts athletes, regardless of gender. Additionally, sexism is reinforced by schools, which are supposed to be the place to make things right.
To clearly illustrate the extent of this problem, this paper analyzes various primary sources, including news articles and websites, as well as secondary sources such as peer-reviewed journal articles and empirical studies. This research method ensures that the information obtained about sexism and its effects is current and updated for a more reliable evaluation. The study’s results highlight the differences in how women are treated compared to men. Women are paid less than men at the same level of competition, they have limited opportunities within their teams, and their sporting events often require more funding and resources.
These findings imply that there is a need for relevant stakeholders in and out of the sporting industry to implement strategies that would challenge and help eliminate sexist attitudes, thinking, and practices in different sports. Fighting against gender inequality in sports would be an essential step towards promoting inclusivity and reducing stereotypes in the industry, which will increase opportunities for women. This paper builds on existing knowledge about sexism and forms a foundation for creating a future with a sports platform that serves everyone’s rights.
Introduction
Athletes who participate in these sports have them as their careers and must give it their all. However, men and women have been treated differently in sports for many years. According to Meier et al. (2021), “since men’s control of women’s physical activity has been at the heart of masculine hegemony, sports have been a highly gendered social sphere” (p. 3). For a long time, women have had limited rights in sports and physical activity engagement, mainly due to the stereotype of them being physically weak. This paper aims to investigate how women are treated differently in sports.
Background and History
Sexism in sports has existed for many years and has far-reaching implications for people and society. Sexism in sports involves unequally treating, being biased, and holding stereotypes about some people based on gender in different events (Barnes & Adams, 2022). Due to their gender, women in various sporting events often face unequal funding, limited opportunities, and restricted access to necessary resources compared to their male colleagues (Lütkewitte, 2023). As a result, there are disparities in participation rates and representations at various levels, including being an athlete, a captain, or a coach.
Historically, men have been the dominant gender in almost all sporting events. Regarding the higher rate of male participation in sports, people have always held stereotypes that women are not supposed to be athletes (Lütkewitte, 2023). Globally, society has historically limited and discouraged women from participating in sports, often portraying them as masculine pursuits (Alsarve & Johansson, 2022).
For these reasons, sporting activities involving men have experienced significant growth throughout history. For instance, in the Olympics, female athletes were not included in the competition until 1928 (Meier et al., 2021). However, many resources and opportunities were unavailable to these women, a challenge in many sports today.
Discussion
How Sports Can Create More Equal Opportunities
While there are many cases of sexism in sporting activities, sports can be a significant tool in creating equal opportunities in society. Sports create equal opportunities in the community by promoting gender equality and inclusivity. When initiatives such as providing equal opportunities, funding, and resources for both genders are offered, community members perceive sports differently (Lütkewitte, 2023). The stereotypes of sports being made for men fade away, and both males and females have a level ground
A Situation of Being Excluded from a Team Based on Gender
I have had one situation where I felt excluded from the team due to gender. In this particular scenario, I was unable to serve as the family football team’s captain because I am a woman. The family team included both males and females because we all participated for fun. The other family members saw me as “weak” and unable to keep up with other team members’ stubbornness and inability to attend training as planned.
Causes of Gender Imbalance in Sports
Over the years, various factors have contributed to the gender imbalance in sports. The first cause is the disproportionate number of women in top positions within the sports industry. The top level of the sports industry can make different decisions about events (Lütkewitte, 2023). Other factors include unequal athlete pay, marketing and promotion, and media coverage (Meier et al., 2021). These factors contribute to the unequal treatment of women in sports.
Available Processes to Deal with Reports of Sexism on Campus
The adverse effect of sexism in sports has compelled many educational institutions, including high schools and universities. On campus, some available processes for addressing reports of sexism include implementing relevant policies and procedures, establishing confidential reporting mechanisms, conducting education and awareness campaigns, and more (Crum et al., 2021). A lack of proper reporting and investigation would not effectively address this issue of sexism in campus sports.
Sexism and Women’s Earnings in Sports
The prevalence of sexism in sports has adversely affected women athletes’ earnings. Today, women in various sports at different competition levels earn less than their male counterparts. A study by Adelphi University in New York found that, although the salary budget gap was reduced by 22% in 2020, men’s athletes are still paid more than women at the same professional level (Adelphi University, 2021). This significant salary gap shows how sexism negatively affects women’s earnings in sports.
Counterargument and Rebuttal
Even though many stakeholders from all over the globe have made efforts to address sexism in different sporting events, it still exists. For instance, according to Adelphi University, despite efforts to reduce the gender salary gap among athletes, the average American woman still earns 81% of what a man earns in sports (Adelphi University, 2021). Therefore, sexism is still a severe issue in sports, and women are limited.
While stakeholders have undoubtedly made efforts to attain equality in sports, there should be hope that all will be okay in the future, as ending sexism is an ongoing process. When comparing the process made in different sporting activities to the state at the beginning of the 20th century, it is evident that things have changed for the better (Meier et al., 2021). Many women today participate in sports, and top business organizations sponsor them.
Conclusion
Sexism has always been a serious issue in sports worldwide. Over the years, women have been treated differently from their male counterparts in sports; they have limited opportunities and unequal funding, resources, and facilities. The pay gap between women and men is also significant at the professional level, despite efforts to improve the situation. Therefore, from educational institutions, such as universities, to professional clubs, more strategies need to be implemented to ensure gender equality.
References
Adelphi University. (2021). Male vs female professional sports salary comparison. Web.
Alsarve, D., & Johansson, E. (2022). A gang of ironworkers with the scent of blood: A participant observation of male dominance and its historical trajectories at Swedish semi-professional ice hockey events. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 57(1), 54-72. Web.
Barnes, S., & Adams, M. (2022). A large and troubling iceberg: Sexism and misogyny in women’s work as sport coaches. Sports Coaching Review, 11(2), 127-146. Web.
Crum, D. M., Williams, F. J., Nelson, A. P., & Barnes, J. (2021). Addressing sexual violence and misconduct in college athletics: An alternate model of investigation and resolution. Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education, 1-20. Web.
Lütkewitte, S. (2023). Sports participation and beliefs about male dominance: A cross-national analysis of sexist gender ideologies. Social Sciences, 12(4), 207. Web.
Meier, H. E., Konjer, M. V., & Krieger, J. (2021). Women in international elite athletics: Gender (in) equality and national participation. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3. Web.