Since recorded history, women have encountered issues of equity in their relationships, careers and athletic opportunities. The perception of dominance, physical strength and power typically portrayed by men has manifested itself in violence against women, exploitation, non-inclusion and discrimination, all of which are still prevalent today. While Title IX greatly increased the number of women participating in athletics, gender equality (GE) is far from achieved in sports.
Research suggests that a direct relationship exists between sports participation and support for GE in sport. However, it is important to note that awareness campaigns are not enough without a commitment from the institutions involved to implement GE policies.
Gender equality in sports is a complex issue that includes multiple dimensions and elements, such as gender bias, gender role expectations, sexism and lesbianism, that affect how women are perceived by others. As sport has always been a masculinized activity, women are often seen as an intrusion into male territory and only taken seriously when they are beautiful and graceful athletes. Any women who deviate from this norm are labeled as masculine or lesbian, which limits their ability to succeed in sports.
Another issue affecting gender equality in sports is the lack of representation of women in leadership positions of sport organizations. The lack of women in leadership roles may contribute to a culture where discrimination is viewed as normal and acceptable. This can be in the form of access or treatment discrimination, whereby women are denied organizational resources that they would otherwise legitimately earn.
