{"id":9825,"date":"2024-02-28T16:52:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-28T09:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dsa.dotv.vn\/en\/?p=9825"},"modified":"2024-05-06T16:54:58","modified_gmt":"2024-05-06T09:54:58","slug":"gender-equity-in-sport-a-fair-playground-for-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dsa.dotv.vn\/en\/news\/gender-equity-in-sport-a-fair-playground-for-all\/","title":{"rendered":"Gender Equity In Sport: A Fair Playground For All?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are you a fan of men\u2019s or women’s sports? What really is the cutting line between the two half world population to join sport and take it seriously as a career? In a world where gender equality (or more broadly defined as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – DEI) is a pressing issue, the realm of sports has emerged as a battleground for change. Breaking down barriers, shattering stereotypes, and celebrating the prowess of athletes, the journey towards gender equity in sports has witnessed remarkable achievements and promising advancements. Let’s dive into the transformation being taken to level the sport playing field and empower athletes of all genders.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gender matters in Sport context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the sport industry, genders have been misused as physical criteria to separate the game players into their so-called \u201csuitable\u201d fields, such as football for male and ballet for female. The reason lies in the physical and biological differences between the two sexes<\/a>. Endowed with more testosterone in their body, men grow up taller and heavier with longer limbs, bigger lungs, hearts and skeletons which support better blood circulation and more muscles. Added with denser bones and less fat rate, men have more functioning abilities to do masculine sports, while lacking flexibility and dexterity. Meanwhile, a female’s body naturally develops in the way that tissues in breasts and other parts are invested to be adjusted to her puberty and menstruation but not immediately contributing to sports performance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Differences in skeleton and fat rate between male and female bodies (Source: Bodybuilding Wizard)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The separation of genders in sports, on the other hand, is believed to protect the fairness in games. Even in some states in the US, legislations were made or considered to be issued in which biological males are banned from playing women\u2019s sport<\/a>. This law was made to address trans people who love to join the gender sports that they wish to, to ensure fair competition among biological physics. Soon there will be a suitable playground for them where they are athletically qualified for and biologically defined<\/a>, so that we can create a fair one for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, inequality has been still a dilemma in sport because of the long-held perspectives of the relationships between gender and activity characteristics. Despite the emergence of female versions of various sports, gender-based discrimination is common<\/a>, restricting the opportunity for this gender to participate in the playground. Research in 2019 points out boys get 1.13 million more opportunities<\/a> in sports than girls. Although 84% sports fans are interested in women\u2019s sports<\/a>, only 4% of commercial investment goes into this sector. Even in developing countries, the discrimination is more severe when the women’s prizes in sports are overshadowed by the halo from the other sex\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The situation was no better in colleges when the sport teams were mostly dominated by one gender. While only a few sports were named for girls like cheerleading, athletics, gymnastics,… boy students are encouraged to join and supported in various youth sport teams in school. In 2021<\/a>, a disheartening case happened at the NCAA Women\u2019s Basketball Tournament when a video was posted by a female athlete about the significant disparities between facilities for two genders. Later on, there were apologies from the NCAA and upgrades of rooms but still the sad reality was there. If gender is no longer a matter in sports, might sport have a more prospective future?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The incident in NCAA 2021 posted on social media by an athlete<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Achievements and Challenges for Higher Education<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Efforts have been made recently to bring more women and underrepresented people in the sport playground and career. In many universities, DEI experts have been hired to lead the change in the athletics department so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n