While Title IX and other social movements have fueled progress in closing the gender gap in sports, there are still many hurdles to be overcome. Women athletes need to be valued on the field of play and in front offices, and sports organizations must work with local governments and media outlets to create a more equitable environment. Funding programs, such as the WSF Travel & Training Fund and Scout Bassett Grant, can help women athletes with their sport-related expenses. The media can also promote a more balanced view of women in sports, and encourage gender equality through its coverage and commentary.
The issue of gender equality (GE) in sport is closely linked to the social construction of masculinity and femininity in society. Therefore, it is essential to understand and address the root causes of GE in sport. This article uses data from the Special Eurobarometer 525 (2022) to measure Europeans’ attitudes towards GE in sport and identify its main determinants by applying Fuzzy-Hybrid TOPSIS, Latent Profile Analysis, and Multinomial Logistic Regression.
In order to reach a true level of GE in sports, gender diversity needs to be introduced at the governance level, as research shows that more diverse organizations are more successful. Furthermore, the media must start to recognize women for their athletic achievements rather than simply for being women, and societal norms need to shift away from socializing young girls into gender stereotypes that portray them as passive and less capable than men.
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