Women's Sports: Achievements, Challenges, and the Path Forward

For the first time in Olympic history, women athletes will have as many places in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as male athletes.

Women's sports are experiencing unprecedented growth, breaking records and reaching new milestones. From gender parity at the Olympics to soaring viewership, there is much to celebrate. However, several gender gaps persist. Here are five key things to know about women and sport:

1. Women’s Sport is Growing

For the first time in Olympic history, women athletes will have as many places in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as male athletes. This milestone highlights the remarkable progress since 1900, when women comprised only 2.2% of athletes. Today, 7 out of 10 people watch women's sports, with nearly 73% tuning in at least a few times a year. The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 set new records, reaching about 2 billion viewers and underscoring the growing popularity and changing attitudes towards women's sports.

2. Girls Who Play Sport Gain Life-Long Benefits

Sports offer girls numerous long-term benefits, such as staying in school, delaying pregnancy, and securing better jobs. Sports enhance confidence, resilience, and teamwork skills, crucial for personal and professional success. Notably, 80% of female Fortune 500 CEOs played sports in their youth. Despite these benefits, girls drop out of sports by age 14 at twice the rate of boys, due to social pressures, lack of investment, and other factors. Efforts to track and respond to sexual abuse in sports are increasing but gaps remain.

3. Women Athletes are Impactful Role Models

Despite increased media coverage, female athletes still receive only 16% of sports coverage. Visibility is key to inspiring young girls. A survey by Parity Now found that 88% of sports fans see professional women athletes as impactful role models. Female athletes also have larger social media followings and a higher commercial influence than their male counterparts. Increasing their visibility is essential for motivating girls to pursue sports.

4. Women Lead the Future of Sport

Women are taking on more leadership roles in sports, leading to better policies and increased investments. However, gender bias persists, with women holding only 26.9% of executive positions in international sport federations. The International Olympic Committee has achieved gender-equal representation, but the number of women in leadership roles, such as coaches, remains low. For example, only 13% of coaches at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were women.

5. Equal Play for Equal Pay

Unequal pay remains a significant issue in sports. Elite women athletes earn only 1% of what men earn. Despite progress in some sports like tennis, where major tournaments offer equal prize money, many disparities remain. The US Women’s National Soccer Team's landmark equal pay settlement in 2022 marked a significant victory, but many women's teams still face deep financial inequalities and wage theft.

 

The recent progress in women's sports is remarkable. As we celebrate these achievements, it is crucial to continue supporting and investing in women in sports. Their stories of resilience and determination inspire future generations of girls to dream big. Let’s create a world where every girl knows that the sky's the limit, both on and off the field.

Keep cheering, keep investing, keep believing in the incredible potential of women in sport.