Sport is a microcosm of society where many sexist practices are reflected, stresses Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls Reem al-Salem. UN Independent Expert’s Report: Violence against Women in Sport Is Endemic Women
Corporal punishment, sexual harassment, economic exploitation, strict requirements for appearance. Women and girls in sports are subjected to a wide range of violence and discrimination, and this happens everywhere. The problem is analyzed in detail in her latest report by the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem al-Salem. The expert emphasizes that the world of sports is a microcosm that reflects the sexism of society as a whole.
Physical violence
Women in sports are often victims of the most “banal” physical violence. Examples include corporal punishment or cruel initiation rituals. Physical punishment, such as the practice known in Japan as “taibatsu,” sometimes results in injuries to children, including girls, and even deaths have been reported.
In addition, the expert noted, physical harm can be classified as violence in situations where the rules for admitting athletes to competitions are deliberately violated, and, accordingly, the risk of injury increases. Female athletes often risk serious injuries when transgender players are included in women’s sports teams, for example, in such disciplines as volleyball, basketball and football.
According to one study, even the weakest man can generate more power than a strong woman, and for roughly the same level of fitness, the average punch force for men is 162 percent greater than that of women. As a result, women on mixed-gender teams may suffer injuries they would not otherwise suffer if they competed against other women.
Additionally, the report says, including men who identify as women on sports teams deprives women of the opportunity to compete fairly and win medals.
Sexual Assault and Violence
Sexual harassment in sport is a widespread phenomenon. UNESCO estimates that 21 percent of girls worldwide have experienced sexual harassment at least once in the context of sports. Many girls become victims of “grooming” (an adult establishing a close, trusting relationship with a child with the aim of gaining trust and then corrupting them – editor’s note), while coaches and mentors abuse the trust of their charges.
At the same time, in sport, the line between appropriate and inappropriate physical contact can be blurred, so in certain situations, female athletes feel awkward and do not know how to recognize sexual harassment and how to respond to it.
According to the Special Rapporteur, such behavior should be harshly suppressed. She cited the actions of the International Federation of Football Associations and the Spanish authorities in response to the indecent actions of a coach towards an athlete during the awards ceremony of the 2023 Women’s World Cup winners.
Let us recall that Luis Rubiales publicly kissed Spanish national team player Jenny Hermoso on the lips. Rubiales eventually resigned as president of the Spanish Football Federation.
Requirements for appearance and clothing
Women and girls also face claims or strict requirements regarding their appearance, clothing and sports uniform. For example, before the 2012 London Olympics, women beach volleyball players were required to compete in bikini bottoms with strict size restrictions, while male volleyball players were allowed to compete in shorts.
In Iran, women and girls are forced to wear the hijab while playing sports, and in France, those who wear the hijab are not allowed to compete on national teams.
Economic Violence: Exploitation and Low Wages
Women and girls who play sports are often victims of economic violence, which takes the form of control over their finances and exploitative contracts that benefit managers, agents, or sports organizations, who take a disproportionate share of female athletes’ earnings, denying them financial security and autonomy. In some cases, female athletes are prevented from pursuing an education or maintaining a job outside of their sports careers.
In addition, women in sports are paid significantly less than men, perpetuating existing stereotypes and discrimination. According to a 2017 global study, the average salary in women’s football is just $600. In Ecuador, male footballers earn up to $100,000, while female footballers earn $400.
Female athletes are also perceived to generate less income, which contributes to limited media coverage of their events. In the Philippines, for example, women and girls receive only 2-4 percent of the attention in sports media.
Online Violence
Women and girls involved in sports are disproportionately exposed to threats of violence, harassment, sexual abuse, hostile and hateful comments, and ridicule on social media. They are often shamed for their physical flaws, made indecent proposals, and have their personal information published.
“In 2005, football players at a university in the United States reportedly posted a nine-minute video online featuring a song set to the tune of a popular song that explicitly referred to women as ‘bitches’ and ‘whores’ and mentioned gang rape,” the report says.
Female athletes also face the problem of having sexually explicit images of themselves distributed online without their consent. This practice has negative effects on athletes’ mental health and sense of personal safety and can impair their athletic performance. Furthermore, it can harm their public image and have long-term negative consequences for their careers.
Sports are a microcosm of society’s sexism
Sport is a microcosm of society that reflects sexist practices, Reem Al-Salem emphasizes. Dominant masculinity in society and in sport perpetuates the subordination of women to men. Traditional gender roles force women to devote significantly more time to family responsibilities than men, leaving them with less time to play sport.
Patriarchal structures of sport governance make it difficult to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of sexual crimes. The lack of oversight fosters a culture of impunity, with codes of conduct and disciplinary measures not fully enforced or not enforced at all. This discourages female athletes from reporting sexual harassment.
In addition, teams, schools, and sports organizations sometimes downplay, ignore, or cover up cases of harassment and violence to protect their reputations. The lack of opportunities to hold perpetrators accountable reinforces men’s belief that they have the right to “control” women’s bodies.
However, Reem al-Salem noted that significant progress has been made in recent years in promoting women to leadership positions in sports. For example, for the first time in the 100-year history of the Spanish Mountain and Alpine Sports Federation, a woman has become a member of the board of directors, having been appointed vice-president in charge of equality and parity.
Ensure gender equality in sport
In the context of widespread violations of women’s rights in sport, the Special Rapporteur reminded countries of their obligation to guarantee their citizens freedom from discrimination on the basis of sex.
She noted that although the Universal Declaration of Human Rights does not specifically mention sport, it implies that sport-related activities are included within the wider framework of education and cultural life to which everyone is entitled under Articles 26 and 27.
Rim al-Salem called on the authorities of countries to ensure equality in sports, expand access for women and girls to sports activities, prevent violence in this area, and strengthen measures to bring perpetrators to justice.