Although the title says ‘The Unfinished Battle for Gender Equality in Sports’ Sports has always been considered as a language of unity and bridging gaps among people across the globe. Yet, beneath the surface, there lies a deep and unaddressed issues of ‘gender inequality’. Despite the progress in in gender equality in various spheres, sexism, discrimination, and structural and systematic barriers continue to shape the experiences of women and marginalised genders in sports. This is not just an oversight, but an injustice that demands an urgent and unwavering response.
The reality is still unambiguous. Despite tough training and exceptionally well performances, women are still treated as second- class athletes. The words of Sage Ohlensehlen, Women’s Swim Team Captain at the University of Iowa, ring painfully true: “We trained just as hard and we have just as much love for our sport. We deserve to play just as much as any other athlete. I am sick and tired of being treated like I am second rate.” This is not a personal grievance, but it is a reflection of an industry-wide crisis that continues to diminish, sideline, and devalue female athletes even today.
Institutionalised Sexism, Media, Perception, and the Persistent Stereotyping of Female Athletes
The prevailing discrimination against women in sports is not accidental nor random, but is ingrained in the very structure that govern athletics. Policies that regulate gender eligibility also reflect a deeply flawed and exclusionary approach that tends to punish athletes who do not conform to the outdated gender norms. The cases of Caster Semenya, Dutee Chand, and Imane Khelif showcase that these norms and rules are not rooted in science or fairness, instead they are manifestations of institutionalised bias against women.
Furthermore, pay disparity continues to be glaring insult to female athletes. It is well evident that the male athletes, even the ones with lesser achievements consistently receive higher salaries, greater sponsorship opportunities and endorsement deals.
Sports media also wields immense influence when it is the work of shaping public reactions, perceptions and ideologies. But even today, when it comes to women’s sports, media fails to provide due coverage and it is just globally 4%, as stated by UNESCO report. And when they find the limelight, the focus shifts from their athletic feats and achievements to their looks, marital status and personal lives. The objectification of women in sports diminishes their credibility, and reduces their achievements to mere footnotes rather than headline stories. These bias further trickles down to lay its impact on sponsorship deals, endorsements and audience engagements too.
I would like to give a very simple yet thought provoking example. Cricket, the game that is closer to every Indian. The news about Indian men’s team enjoys prime-time slots, along with sponsorships worth billion dollars, whereas women’s team has to fight tooth and nail for visibility. Despite their historic win in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals in 2020, they were still awarded significantly less prize money than their male counterparts. The media’s failure to offer an equitable representation to women sports cements the narrative of secondary perception that requires urgent dismantling.
The Mental and Psychological Toll, and Gender-Based Violence and Intersectionality
The ramifications of gender discrimination in sports often extend beyond the financial disparities. There are instances where female athletes are forced to constantly prove their worth in a system that is designed to overlook them. The pressure to balance excellence with societal expectations takes a toll on their mental well-being. Studies show that female athletes experience higher rates of anxiety and depression than their male peers due to systemic biases and inadequate support structures. According to a 2022 BBC study, nearly 65% of women in elite sports were reported to be struggling with mental health issues that was exacerbated by gender bias and financial instability.
Another dark reality that lurks beneath the surface is gender-based violence (GBV) in sports. Reports of harassment, abuse, and coercion are alarmingly common. A 2019 study by Human Rights Watch revealed that 38% of female athletes globally had faced sexual harassment in sports settings, often at the hands of coaches and officials. Yet, due to the fear of backlash, many choose silence over justice.
Another aspect of gender discrimination in sports is that it does not function in isolation, it intersects with race, class, caste and regional disparities. Even today women from marginalised sections of the society face compounded biases. For instance, Dalit and Adivasi female athletes often struggle with double discrimination, one based on gender and the other on caste. Look at Dutee Chand, India’s star sprinter, who had to battle gender bias and invasive scrutiny over her natural testosterone levels. The issue of gender testing is disproportionately used to police female athletes from developing nations, which is raising serious questions about the fairness of international sporting regulations. Meanwhile, Black female athletes worldwide face a double bind of racism and sexism that further alienates them from opportunities and recognition.
The Fight for Gender Equality in Sports is Far from Over
Gender equality in sports is not a luxury but a fundamental right. Women athletes are not asking for favours, instead they are demanding what is rightfully theirs- equal pay, equal overage and equal respect.
This change demands actions. There is need of stringent policies, media accountability and also societal support to dismantle barriers that hold back female athletes. The fight is for fairness and we all must be a part of it. Until every woman athletes gets the recognitions and the respect she deserves, the game is far from over!
Edited by Amrutha
Design by Rosello
Article 19 