Women in sports are incredible athletes who play all kinds of games and activities, just like men. They have amazing power and skill, running quickly and jumping high. Women have put forth a lot of effort over the years to be given the opportunity to participate and get recognition in the sports industry.
Many female athletes are breaking down barriers and demonstrating that they belong on the court, track, or field despite confronting obstacles. By supporting female athletes, we promote equality and demonstrate that everyone has the right to an equal opportunity to compete. Thus, let’s honour the incredible accomplishments of female athletes and keep encouraging them on their athletic paths!
Table of Contents
SPORTS
Sports mainly refers to a physical activity or game that aims to use one’s physical and mental abilities and enhance them and along with that it provides enjoyment to the participants and provides entertainment and fun to the spectators. There are various kinds of sports in this world, each having their own rules and regulations.
Sports is a competitive activity that aims at achieving a goal. But there are other ways too by which one can understand its meaning and that is sports is an activity that is needed for our physical and mental health and helps us reduce stress and is really important for our overall development.
It ameliorates our decision making, leadership qualities and all those qualities which make us a better human being.
And it is not only beneficial for the people who play sports but also for the ones who watch it as it can be seen when world cup or Olympic seasons are going on. There is a huge craze and talks around the globe related to that particular sport.
Sports have the power to change people’s lives as it makes a huge difference in a person’s physical , mental and emotional state while he or she is playing it . It develops self confidence, leadership qualities ,teamwork , resilience and many more. One is able to accept the result and the outcome of their efforts be it in their favor or not. Either one wins or learns in this process.
Women in Sports
As said above sports is a physical activity which is performed by both man and woman and is not restricted to a particular gender or sex. But as we know that in our society women have not been considered as equal as men and that applies in the case of sports too.
Sports has always been a center of attraction for people around the world and that’s why it is the most influential platform to showcase the abilities of women and their capabilities. But in the early days women were not given as many opportunities as men and were constrained in the confines of their houses.
As much as sports are important for the men’s development , equally it is important for women too. It is the platform which could help women to improve their status in the society and gives them a voice.
It helps in promoting gender equality which is missing in the patriarchal societies around the globe. As sports have the potential to change their lives and make them more confident and courageous to make their own decisions. For example when a soccer Player is given the chance to hit a penalty shot the whole team has confidence in that player but most importantly that player needs to have confidence in himself or herself to make that shot count. And this is only one example but there are a number of examples that could define the potential of sports in a person’s life.
History of women in Sports
In the early times , women used to participate in Sports like foot racing , javelin throw and wrestling. They used to participate in these activities during festivals, ceremonies and ritual events just like men. But later, in the western European societies women were not allowed to play sports as men did because of immense sexism in these societies. As it was considered that if women would play such arduous games then they would become less attractive to men and could also hurt their reproductive organs which would lead to problems during pregnancy and lead to a weak offspring.
But in the mid 19th century women started demanding for their rights and therefore started participating in physical and strenuous sports. And this gradually led to the increased participation of women in Sports like men. As time passed women started participating in sports but they were not given the same respect as was given to the sports played by men, their sports were mainly casual and not at all competitive, it lacked rules and codes and was considered as mere physical activity.
Sports in Present times
In the Contemporary times, society is evolving, women are grasping the opportunities and making them count in every field be it education, science, sports etc. They are proving themselves in every way possible and utilizing their full potential.
And that is totally evident in the field of sports as we can see emerging sports women like Serena Williams, PV Sindhu, Sania Mirza , Avani lekhara, Sheetal Devi and the list is ever ending. These female athletes have proved themselves and paved the way for upcoming women sports stars.
Attitude of people is changing in the favor of women and therefore is increasing their participation in Sports. The balance in the participation of men and women can be seen although it has not been completely achieved but progress is being made . Major changes can be seen as earlier women cricket world cups were not that popular, people didn’t know names of female athletes but now in the present times, names like Nikhat zareen, Mirabai chanu , Mary Kom, Smriti Mandhana are household names. Women friendly equipment is also being used as earlier women used to compete with equipment suitable for men. They used to use equipment which were designed for boys which ultimately affected their performance.
And most importantly nowadays women are becoming masters of their own life and working towards their goals rather than just being the puppets of the patriarchal societies.
They are taking hold of their lives and are coming forward to grab the opportunities and all this is making them more confident and leaders of their own decisions.
Limitations to the participation of women in Sports
Gender Inequality
Women and men are not treated as equals. Women are always considered inferior to men. And this can be highlighted in every sphere of human life and sports is no exception to that. They are not given the respect which they deserve while they are playing the same sport as man.
Increased sexism
Women are always judged on the way they dress, they walk , they do certain things. And they have to face all those things on a regular basis which makes them doubt themselves and their capabilities.
Lack of support
Women are not given the same support as men. Coaches mainly focus on the training given to men and women sports are not taken that seriously and given less attention. The funds are also less in comparison to men. Men have better training centers and equipment than women.
Maternity leave and pregnancy
Women have to face a lot of problems during pregnancy as they need to balance between motherhood and their career. At times they need to choose between the two due to family pressure.
Limited Media coverage
Women’s sports is not highlighted as much as men’s sports is highlighted and this is clearly evident in the case of sports like soccer and cricket. The men’s cricket world cup comes in headlines one month before whereas women’s cricket is not given recognition even when it’s going on. And same applies to other sports and some are not even shown or talked about even if women are excelling in those areas.
There are other reasons too which work as an obstacle in the success of women’s sports but these are some of the most prevalent ones.
Solutions
More investment
More funds need to be provided in the field of women’s sports as it would help in the improvement in their performance when they will be provided with good equipment, coaching facilities. This would make them more vigilant and would boost their confidence ultimately.
Change of Mindset
Views and thinking of people towards women in Sports need to be initiated. They need to be treated as equal and should not be discriminated against. Gender parity needs to be there to produce great female athletes.
Media coverage
We need to increase awareness regarding women’s sports. They need to be popularized and should make people realize the importance of it. When people would know about its pros then only they’ll be able to reap its benefits . So it is very important to show the potential which women carry within themselves and this would definitely encourage other women and girls in the society.
Women’s sports need to be watched for hype not only for guilt. It should be supported because women also love to play sports and enjoy and not just because they are not equal. As a man likes to play football, a woman likes to play it as simple as that. Their happiness and enjoyment should also be taken into consideration.
FAQ – Women’s Role in Sports
Role of sports in changing the status of women?
What challenges women face in Sports?
What are the solutions to reduce gender Inequality in Sports?
Importance of sports in a women’s physical, mental and emotional state?
