Women in Sports:
Breaking Barriers and Achieving Excellence
While in recent decades the world of sports has seen an incredible transformation, women have transcended through society walls, shattered glasses ceiling and established themselves as prominent entities in most sports. The history of women in sports is the story of turning point of perseverance, a focus on gender equality. The fact that this) now includes women competing at the highest levels and lifting the game to its highest level isn’t to take anything away, because the presence of women doing that even lifts the game better, makes the game better, inspires a new generation of athletes. Despite this, progress has not come easily, and required the unseating of the predominantly ingrained stereotypes and entrenched routines of society. Written in this blog about the struggle, and progress of women in sports.
The Historical Struggle for Equality
In the past many cases had women’s participation in sports banned, not just discouraged. Domestic life was a woman’s domain as she practiced a life that was afforded standard gender roles; physical activity was not deemed fitting for a woman; and girls certainly were not encouraged to be active on the basketball court. Women first began taking up sports during the first half of the 20th century, only to first be met with scepticism, criticism and sometimes even hostility.
To provide an example, the modern Olympics had most of its first Olympic events excluded from women. It wasn’t until 1900 that women were even allowed to compete, and that only in a handful of events including tennis and golf. For decades, female athletes were overlooked, receiving little funding, gone without media coverage and with few chances at professional growth.
However, it wasn’t easy, trailblazing women left the way for the generations to come. During the 1930s, Babe Didrikson Zaharias was impressive in a multitude of sports, and a half century later, Althea Gibson beat the odds by becoming the first Black woman to win a Grand Slam title in tennis. These pioneers proved women could not only compete, but excel, and help change the way this country looks at sports.
Breaking Barriers: The Rise of Women in Sports
There was great progress for gender equality in sports during the latter half of the 20th century. Title IX in the United States, passed in 1972, prohibited gender discrimination in education generally, including in athletics, and opened up a flood of opportunities for women in school and collegiate sports. It also opened the way to develop a pipeline of female athletes, who would become stars at the national and international levels.
Women suddenly broke into sports dominated by men around the world. Moments such as Billie Jean King’s victory in the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match in 1973 and Nadia Comăneci’s perfect score in gymnastics at the 1976 Olympics showed the talent and the feistiness of female athletes and enthralled audiences. Additionally, women’s teams have proved their ability to win by playing soccer, basketball, and cricket, just as much as men can so women have that same level of skill, dedication, and the same level of fire.
Important to a push in raising visibility of female athletes has been the inclusion of women’s events in major competitions such as the Olympics, FIFA Women’s World Cup, Wimbledon. Women have been able to use these platforms to highlight their talent and inspire at least a few million young girls to have the big dream.
Challenges Women Continue to Face
Though the progress has been incredible, far more work remains to be done for women in sports. The athletes continue to be paid differentiated wages based on gender, with female athletes being paid just a small fraction compared to male athletes. To give an example, until not so long ago, the prize money for men and for women were widely disparate in many of the biggest tournaments and strides have been taken in other sports towards parity, while others lag behind.
It is another challenge, media representation. Very little coverage is done for female athletes, and when they are featured their focus tends to be on their appearance rather than their athletic accomplishment. This is continuing stereotypes and decreasing the importance of what they do for sports.
Also, so many women face some challenges such as societal restriction and the traditional practices. But many of these women have been limited by cultural barriers in order to continue with their athletic activities in some parts of the global world. Combined with these challenges is the lack of access to resources, training facilities and professional coaching.
Like women in general, women in sports have their own unique pressures regarding their personal lives. Most male athletes don’t have to balance motherhood and athletic careers. But Serena Williams and Allyson Felix have shown it’s possible to be an athlete … while being a mother, challenging stereotypes and … trying to inspire change.
The Impact of Women in Sports
Sports have played a great role in making women win in society. Recently, female athletes have served as role models in sports and all other fields that young girls look for inspiration. And it has proven they can overcome, even the most entrenched barriers with determination and hard work.
Sports have been a channel to conduct conversations on gender inclusion, mental health and inclusivity, women in sports have played an important role in it. Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles, like many athletes, have demonstrated that using your platform to combat issues with your mental health is not only necessary but entirely possible to, putting forth their own minds to those that follow them and chose to prioritize their own. They’ve also spilled over into the world of sports, sending ripples through this broader societal attitude.
Both women’s sports and unity what unites as well as bringing people together to feel a sense of community. A national women’s team’s winning success, such as the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team’s success and Australia Women Cricket Team, have generated support for women’s sports and shown its commercial value. The women sports performances have made great change to society in a whole. Over the years, female athletes have become role models for young girls trying to learn the same whatever area they are in — be it sports or some other field. The hard work and determination they put in has shown us, that no matter how hard it is, you can still smash through very difficult limits. Additionally, women in sports have played a huge role in starting conversations around issues of gender equality, mental health and involinclusivity. Simone Biles, and other athletes, have spoken up about mental health using their platforms, destigmatizing the issue and promoting the well-being. These conversations have gone on far beyond sports and altered how broader societal attitudes.
Women’s sports have served as powerful unifiers of people, uniting, bringing people together. National women’s teams like the U.S. women’s soccer team and Australia’s women’s cricket team, have inspired fan support and shown the commercial opportunity for women’s sport.
The Future of Women in Sports
Momentum for change continues to build in the future of women in sports. The value spent by organizations, brands, and governing bodies in women’s sports is growing. Other sports keep following the precedent set by the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team and the equal pay campaigns.
As well, grassroots initiatives and community programs are growing to nurture young female talent. These programs are ensuring access to resources, training and mentorship to all girls from all backgrounds so that the athletics dreams they never thought could come true, can.
But technology and social media have helped balance the playing field even further, so that female athletes have a chance to build their own brand and connect with the fans themselves. In the process, traditional media gatekeepers have been by passed by portfolios built on platforms that include Instagram and TikTok, giving them a voice and a way to share their skills.
The rise of more women in leadership positions in sports organisations means the case for greater inclusivity and representation is set to accelerate. Women’s sports will only thrive in an environment where there are female coaches, referees and administrators.