Position of Women in Traditional Male Sports

Gender equity has been an issue in society since the beginning of time. In recorded history, one can find many accounts of where women faced issues of equity in relationships, their careers, education, and athletic opportunities. The purpose of this paper is to explore the history that surrounds the issues of gender equity in sport, what actions have been taken to provide equal opportunity for women in sports, the current issues facing women in sports today, the research surrounding the issues about gender equity in sport, and also to discuss the findings and present recommendations for further research in this area.

Today, women's sports have developed into both amateur levels of sport and professional levels in various places internationally but are found primarily within developed countries where conscious organization and accumulation of wealth has occurred. In the mid-to-latter part of the 20th century, female participation in sport and the popularization of their involvement increased, particularly during its last quarter.

As a female cricketer since the age of 11, and then as a coach from age 16, I have experienced judgment, exclusion, stereotyping, and most upsetting I have had my competency questioned as a result of my gender. After playing for several years for a boys team I joined girls and then ladies club; seeking other women who were in my position.

Traditionally, females have been expected to wear dresses, cook and clean, raise children, maintain a beautiful and delicate body, and remain passive, moral, and pure (Griffin, 1998; Sherrow, 1996; Woolum, 1998; Zimmerman and Reavill, 1998). Deemed to be the “weaker sex”- physically, mentally, and emotionally, women have been stereotyped as being feminine. Femininity, according to Sherrow (1996), is the issue of what is feminine in appearance and behavior (i.e. being attractive, carefully groomed, submissive, nurturing women).

Despite dualistic gender notions, which are believed to inhibit females’ participation in sports, more women are challenging these traditional Western beliefs by competing and succeeding in a variety of sports. Females’ involvement in athletics provides opportunities for women to challenge themselves by exploring a domain where they may feel excluded, leading to a previously undiscovered sense of security and confidence (Ross & Shinew, 2008).