What did our research with the sector conclude?
Women's participation in sport has received more attention with literature capturing both progress and persisting challenges. Barriers often arise early, driven by societal expectations, lack of role models, and logistical issues like childcare. Recent efforts to improve funding and female representation aim to address these obstacles. Research shows that progress will require ongoing investment in women-focused initiatives and role models. It also requires changes to support women's and girls' involvement at all levels.
The following comments are from the 2024 research study, reflecting the range of views expressed by participants:
- "There's been a real change in the last 20 years in terms of the opportunities for women... I also think as a sector, especially in the last five years, there has been a real acknowledgement that we need to do better."
- "Creating spaces that feel safe and supportive for women is key, especially given the persistent issues with sexism and gendered expectations in many sports environments."
- "Having female coaches and role models makes such a difference for younger girls... they can see someone like them in a leadership role, which is powerful for building confidence and interest."
- "For many women, logistical issues like childcare, scheduling, and transportation are real barriers. Flexible programmes that acknowledge these challenges would make a huge difference."
- "Gender norms are still so deeply embedded in sports culture. We need to challenge the idea of certain sports as 'male' or 'female' and instead promote a more open view where women and girls feel welcome in all areas of sport."
Barriers
Experiences of PE - research shows how PE can cause trauma for young girls during their school years (e.g. from lack of self-esteem, body image concerns, sexism, bullying, feeling uncomfortable) which can be carried over into their adult life. In a survey conducted by Girlguiding in 2022, 59% of secondary school aged girls enjoyed taking part in PE, compared to 84% of boys.[1] For many girls, school sports meet the needs of 'sporty' girls and are unappealing to those less active due to issues around choice and fostering competition. Additionally, one of the most prominent barriers to PE, sport, and physical activity for secondary school girls is having their period.[2]
Gender norms - many sports, and certainly even areas of the gym, are still presented in a binary, as women sports / activities vs. men sports / activities. This can be intimidating and can act as a deterrent for women wanting to participate in certain physical activities.
Declining body confidence - Girlguiding also found that concerns around physical appearance prevents 37% of girls taking part in physical activities.[3] This declining body confidence is something also experienced by adult women and leads to a fear of judgement.
Fear of Judgement - Sport England report that the barrier most women mention as preventing them from engaging in sport is a fear of judgement. This could relate to concerns over their appearance during or after sport; anxiety over their ability and not being good enough; or worry about being judged in person or online for prioritising exercise over family and children, or their job.[4]
Sporting System Issues - equality in sport is not just about participation. There are wider structural issues about how the sporting system in Scotland supports both women and men to participate. Most evidence about these inequalities is at a UK wide level. There are issues around: availability of facilities for training and playing sport; the variety of sports on offer to girls at school; finance - including sponsorship and prize money; media coverage; and female role models - as elite sportswomen, coaches and managers.[5]
Logistics - women also find the logistics of sport difficult to navigate, especially when it comes to finances or childcare. Additionally, intersectional issues related[1] to racial background, sexual identity, physical and/or mental health, or economic background, can further reinforce logistical and emotional barriers for women when accessing sport.
Safety - While this applies to everyone, it particularly applies to women. Women may feel confined to daylight hours when accessing free exercise outside for fear of their own safety. In the winter months this is incredibly restrictive and leaves minimal to no daylight hours outside of a 9-5 work schedule.
What we can do about it
Co-production
- Listen and collaborate - if you are planning a sports activity, you should firstly speak to women and girls to find out what they want and need. This means you can explore potential barriers and negative experiences and try to set up opportunities which meet women and girls' needs.
Coaching
- Promote female coaches - Project 500 found that female coaches play a vital role in encouraging more women and girls to get involved with physical activity and sport.[6]
- Supportive coaches - offering training for staff and coaches to ensure they understand the best ways to support women, their needs (including concerning menstruation and menopause), and be an ally against any harassment or misogyny. Offer mandatory equality, diversity and inclusion training for all employees with a bank of resources for staff to conduct their own learning on sexism, misogyny and issues faced by women in their own time.
Tailor sport to suit women
- Logistics - lots of women report or mention logistical issues as reasons they aren't as engaged with physical activities, so think about how to make your facility / club / gym more accessible for women. Do you offer women-only hours, and women-only classes in the gym? Do you offer classes / training that fit around work and childcare? Do you have supportive coaches and trainers who tailor physical activity to women's goals? Is there a social / collaborative element to your classes / training sessions / gym?
- Childcare - childcare is a major barrier for women accessing sport. Facilities / organisations should think about offering childcare on site if this isn't something already provided.
- Intersectionality - consider that women and girls may face different types of discrimination all at the same time - e.g. sexism, racism, homophobia, ageism, ableism - impacting their ability to participate in sport. Therefore, speaking to women and girls involved in your group, organisation or class to understand all the issues that may affect them is important.
- Clothing - consider that some women and girls might prefer to wear different kinds of clothing during training for cultural or health reasons, such as long-sleeved clothes, adaptive clothing for specific disabilities or headscarves. Ensure that coaches are sensitive to different clothing preferences, and that you create a culture which welcomes adaptations to different cultural and personal needs such as though awareness raising campaigns for coaches and participants.
Spaces
- Creating safe environments - ensure your facility / club has equality and diversity policies in place to protect women from sexism or harassment, with a zero tolerance policy in place.
- Raise awareness - try to understand, and subsequently raise awareness of, the barriers and issues women face when accessing sporting facilities, and in society more broadly.
- Gym layouts - remove gender-presumptions from gyms about the type of equipment and exercises women and men use/do, e.g. heights of equipment, gym floor layout. Remove weight clusters and distribute weight sections more evenly throughout gyms to avoid issues of intimidation.
- Period support - ensure there are appropriate facilities and period products available for women and girls who are menstruating.
Tackle sexism / celebrate women
- Encourage a zero tolerance environment to sexism - challenge sexist language and behaviours and respond with zero tolerance, e.g. banned from the gym, kicked off the team. Create environments where women feel safe reporting abuse; offer an anonymous feedback box.
- Be visible supporters of women - openly publish policies around tackling sexism on websites, social media, notice boards; celebrate and support women's stories, voices, and experiences.
- Challenge masculine perceptions - for some women, sport and physical activity can seem daunting, over-masculinised, overly competitive, etc. But clubs / facilities / organisations can help reframe sport as a way to be healthy with the family; to catch up with friends; to meet new people; to be an energy boost before work; to be a place to develop new skills; and a place for self-improvement that's about being your best self, not the best athlete against others.
Girls/young women
- Self- confidence - ensure developing self-confidence is at the heart of PE for girls.
- Relevance - show why sport is important for girls; how it's something that can be done with friends and can strengthen friendships; and how it's something fun and accessible. Not every girl in class will want to do the same form of sport or physical activity, so try to understand on a micro-level what types of sports / activities girls want to do and why, and tailor classes to these needs.
- Co-production - allow and empower girls to help design and deliver PE sessions tailored to their wants and needs.
- Role models - highlight inspiring women who are role models. Are there any local women you can have in as guests in class?[7]
