Sexism in Sports

Despite the undeniable popularity and talent driving women’s sports, about 40% of female athletes claim to have faced discrimination due to their sex in the currently male dominated sports world. Although these women put in the same amount or even more work than the male athletes in the professional sports industry, they are given the short end of the stick when it comes to their wages, media representation, and respect. 

The differences between what men and women earn in the sports industry vary from sport to sport; however, one common demographic all sports share is the extremely high pay male athletes receive in comparison to female athletes. In basketball, the average compensation an NBA player receives is $10,776,383 while the average compensation a WNBA player receives is $113,295, in golf PGA players receive an average of $1,042,917 while LPGA players receive an average of $346,340, and in soccer the MLS earns an average of $471,279 while the NWSL earns an average of $54,000. These are just a few examples of the gender pay gap in athletics; however, the list can go on and on and will consistently show the common reality of underpaid female athletes in the sports industry.

As male athletes are often spotlighted in the media due to their skill and performance, female athletes are often represented to the media based on their attractiveness as a woman as first priority with their talent as an athlete coming in second. Women among society are constantly sexualized and pressured to uphold a certain standard of beauty and this accounts for the female athletes as well. For example, Allyson Felix, the most decorated female track and field athlete in Olympic history, represented Nike for much of her track career; however, when she got pregnant the company reduced her pay by 70% and would not allow her any leniency in her training schedule during pregnancy and after childbirth. Nike’s history of sexist practices by forcing women to fit their ideal standard whether it's overworking, starving, or not providing maternity accommodations are all practices that are widely followed among many other athletic brands that represent female athletes in the media. 

The sexism towards female athletes is not only within the industry practices, but also expands to the fan bases. While male athletes are noticed because of their record breaking history or extreme talent, many female athletes face the harsh realities of being subject to objectification with the media and fans putting more emphasis on physical appearance rather than performance. The societal pressure female athletes face to fit a beauty standard while also managing to excel in sports is the reason why women are given the skimpier uniforms to perform in and press covers that focus on their body. For instance, Sports Illustrated has extremely talented athletes such as Alex Morgan, Serena Williams, Simone Biles, and more posing in bikinis for a predominantly male fan base. Granted, these women are not forced to be in those magazines; however, the cultural demands in a society that values female athletes as equal to that of an object makes it extremely difficult for these athletes to gain media coverage without using their physical appearance. One could argue that SI is showcasing their dedication as well, no?

Although more people are starting to recognize the sexist practices in the sports industry and beginning to push for change, the sports world for female athletes still manages to drown out these women’s dedication and talent through objectification. These demeaning double standards rooted in misogyny restrict opportunity, diminish talent, and rob society of influential female role models.