Gender equality in sports is a complex issue that requires both structural and socio-cultural change. Achieving gender parity in sport will require increased funding for women’s teams, better access to affordable training facilities and equipment, and a commitment to developing safe and healthy sporting environments. It will also be necessary to reduce the negative stereotypes that can deter young girls from taking up sport. These stereotypes, which reinforce the idea that sport is a masculine pursuit, and teach females to be passive and soft, contribute to the low levels of participation seen in many countries.
Nevertheless, there has been some progress in recent years. For example, more national football teams now pay both male and female players equally and FIFA, the football governing body, has recently introduced new maternity protocols for athletes. The 2024 Olympics saw the highest number of female competitors in Olympic history and media coverage of women’s sport has increased.
But these achievements need to be viewed in the context of continuing inequalities. The perception of power and physical strength typically associated with men can create a sporting environment in which women are alienated, with exploitation, discrimination, and harassment all too common.
This article uses data from the latest Special Eurobarometer 525 on Europeans’ attitudes towards gender equality in sport, and applies Fuzzy-Hybrid TOPSIS and Latent Profile Analysis to identify clusters with varying attitudes. It explores the role of various factors that influence attitudes towards GE in sport, including awareness of gender issues, education and socio-economic status. It also highlights that there is a direct relationship between sports participation and support for GE in sport.