Gender Equality in Sports: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Industry

This essay delves into the multifaceted topic of gender equality in sports, examining its historical context, achievements, and the benefits of fostering an inclusive environment. It explores the evolution of women's participation in sports, highlighting the progress made and the persistent challenges, such as gender-based discrimination and underrepresentation in leadership positions. The essay analyzes the need for strategic actions at both national and international levels, emphasizing the importance of policy implementation by sport governing bodies to promote gender balance in decision-making and address inequalities. It discusses the roles of various stakeholders, including local and national bodies, in ensuring equal access, safety, and security for all athletes. The essay also examines the impact of gender roles, equal rights, and societal gender norms on the sports industry, and the necessity of educational initiatives to promote gender equality and awareness.

Running head: GENDER EQUALITY IN SPORTS
Gender Equality in Sports
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s note

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Table of Contents
1. General Topic..............................................................................................................................2
2. Thesis Statement..........................................................................................................................2
3. Theme/Part 1................................................................................................................................2
A. Topic 1: What is the history of gender equality within sports industry?................................2
B. Topic 2: What achievements are made in sports industry based on gender discrimination?..3
C. Topic 3: What are the benefits of Gender Equality within the Sports Industry?....................3
4. Theme/Part 2................................................................................................................................4
A. Topic 1: Need for Strategic Actions within the Sports Industry.............................................4
B. Topic 2: Challenges in the Sports Industry at National and International Levels..................5
C. Topic 3: Policy of Gender Equality in different Sport Governing Bodies..............................5
References........................................................................................................................................7

2GENDER EQUALITY IN SPORTS
1. General Topic
Gender Equality in Sports
2. Thesis Statement
Although there has been a lot of disparity in the sports industry in relation to gender
equality, the establishment0 of a proper norms and regulations could help in the enrichment of
the sports culture.
3. Theme/Part 1
The History of Gender Equality in Sports
A. Topic 1: What is the history of gender equality within sports industry?
Sports and physical exercise have been always related to the educational, social and
cultural values. The United Nations Assembly in 2003, had mainly put focus on the prime
importance of physical exercise and sports in order to promote peace and development. Since,
the past years, the access of women to different sport events have been much delayed and lot of
obstacles that have still remained unsolved.
Different studies have also revealed that a separate list based on gender categorization
had been raised since the early sixties. These categorizations fuel the growth of discrimination in
gender equality. Based on such kind of decision-making scenarios, decision makers had
categorized the sports events into specific male and female based sports (Houlihan & Malcolm,
2015). On one hand, the male sport events include boxing or football as these type of sports are
highly associated with strength and power. On the other hand, the female sport events include
swimming or gymnastics as these events require much amount of agility and flexibility.

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B. Topic 2: What achievements are made in sports industry based on gender
discrimination?
In the past years, there have been several kind of developments that have been made
within the sports industry. Women have taken several positions in the sports industry that have
included Secretaries-General and President within the National Olympic Committees. With the
high rise of development strategies in the sports industry, there have been many improvements in
the sector. The involvement of women along with men has risen tremendously in the Olympic
Games (Cahn, 2015). This kind of involvement has risen in all levels of the Olympic Movement
and has seen the participation of more women within the sector of sports.
The changes in the roles based on gender in response to the changing economic, political
and social circumstances have also made an influence on the sector of sports. This also includes
the level of participation of both gender to showcase their talent and skills. In 2014, it was seen
that there were 24 female members out of the entire 115 members.
C. Topic 3: What are the benefits of Gender Equality within the Sports Industry?
It has been seen that the lack of gender equality have been discussed as a missed
opportunity within the sports sector. Vast research and development within the sports industry
have led to the fact that educated and skilled men and women would be able to lead the industry
towards gaining extreme benefits. These several benefits would be in relation with the
organisational, personal and societal levels.
With the impact of gender equality in the sports industry, it would mostly benefit and
secure the position of women and men (Joseph & Anderson, 2016). They will have the privilege
to gain equal rights. It would also help in improving the diversity of the sports sector. This is
highly needed for the purpose of attracting different sport participants and keep them engaged

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with the vast number of sport events. The engagement of both genders within the sports industry
would help in improving the quality of services provided within the sector. Relevant education
should be provided in order to encourage women and girls to enjoy the sports events and thus be
prepared for approaching towards a lifelong career in sporting.
4. Theme/Part 2
Developments and Implementation of strategies for gender equality in sports
A. Topic 1: Need for Strategic Actions within the Sports Industry
The impact of gender equality in sports is the prime responsibility of local and national
stakeholders. This also includes the access of men and women to different sporting clubs,
improved membership to different sporting agencies and changing stereotypes. The safety and
security arrangements that would be made within the sporting agencies should be a part of the
policies and procedures. There is also a major need for a sustainable approach to the entire sports
sector that would be included within the part of the legal and policy framework.
Gender equality is the primary priority in a number of sport organizations and some
Member States. The topic of gender equality within the sports industry should primarily involve
the engagement of both gender within the sector. There should also be a high level of
cooperation that should mostly be promoted within each of the domains based on education and
training within the sports industry. A successful form of national strategy based on gender
equality within sports would be able to follow a certain balanced approach while the process of
setting of benchmarks (Fink, 2015). These would be completely achievable and realistic. The
sports industry have always acknowledged the importance of a safe and secure environment
within the sector that would help in enhancing joy and satisfaction for the players.

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B. Topic 2: Challenges in the Sports Industry at National and International Levels
The exception of women in some of the sports organisation have led to the minority of
women within every kind of sports industry. The different kind of barriers that are faced by
women in the making of decisions and securing managerial positions could partly be explained
based on different attitudes, values and behaviours of men and women. Such kind of factors are
also in relation to gender roles, equal rights, gender order in society and gender regimes.
The men and women who are mainly recruited at different positions lead to various
leadership positions, which mostly have lowest prestige. However, the huge barrier that has
gripped the sports organizations is the factor of dominance by the male culture. A proper
decision-making body within the sports organization would be able to recognise the importance
of recruiting both men and women within the industry. This would require a major form of
investment of energy and time in order to choose the proper officials who would hold the entire
responsibility of staffing proper skilled men and women within the sports industry.
C. Topic 3: Policy of Gender Equality in different Sport Governing Bodies
One of the important step towards gender equality is to recruit 40% women in the
committees, sports administration, managerial and executive boards within the sports industry.
However, it could not be guaranteed that the increase of number of women would be able to
change policies and important decisions taken within the industry. Hence, it would be extremely
vital for various sport governing bodies to implement a proper plan for gender equality and
include the gender-based balance within the various decision making bodies.
In order to help gender equality to reach to various decision making levels, a proper form
of training and education should be imparted to both men and women designated at staff and
decision-making bodies (Burton, 2015). These should be promoted highly in order to enhance

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the quality of work within the sector. These kind of initiatives should always be monitored on an
extreme regular basis. Moreover, the gender equality policy should also include various specific
actions that would be able to ensure the factor of gender equality to be mainstreamed within
general actions and policies. The various educational bodies should also ensure the promotion
and participation of training in order to raise commitment and general awareness for the board
members in leading positions within the industry.

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References
Burton, L. J. (2015). Underrepresentation of women in sport leadership: A review of
research. Sport Management Review, 18(2), 155-165.
Cahn, S. K. (2015). Coming on strong: Gender and sexuality in women's sport. University of
Illinois Press.
Fink, J. S. (2015). Female athletes, women's sport, and the sport media commercial complex:
Have we really “come a long way, baby”?. Sport management review, 18(3), 331-342.
Houlihan, B., & Malcolm, D. (Eds.). (2015). Sport and society: a student introduction. Sage.
Joseph, L. J., & Anderson, E. (2016). The influence of gender segregation and teamsport
experience on occupational discrimination in sport-based employment. Journal of
Gender Studies, 25(5), 586-598.