Women In Sport: Hindered by Hierarchy?

Following the success of the England Women’s football team at the 2015 World Cup and the GB Women’s Hockey gold-medal-winning performancesat the 2016 Rio Olympics, the recent positivity surrounding women’s sport in the UK has been fully justified.

The Active People Survey published by Sport England last year revealed that 7.12 million females aged 16 years or over (31.7%) played sport once a week, an increase of 261,200 compared with the March 2015 result – highlighting the undeniable progress that has been made.

But, just when we thought we’d turned a corner in the sporting world, it appears we’ve been hit slap bang in the face with reality and sent traipsing back to the starting line.

Last month saw England Women’s Football Head Coach, Mark Sampson, removed from his role amid allegations of racism against Eni Aluko, one of his players.

The whole scandal knocks at the despondent doors of intersectional feminism, and the fact that a young black sportswoman has been subjected to calculated bullying and unequivocal repression in the workplace.

It’s no secret that black women face a constant battle for equality, much more than their white female compatriots.

Throughout history, we’ve witnessed many examples of black women overcoming adversity, demonstrating determination to break through the double barriers of racism and sexism. One notable case was Viola Davis’ acceptance speech after receiving an Oscar for her role in ‘Fences’, whereby she championed a rise in opportunity for black women within the entertainment industry.

But in a sporting industry where patriarchy runs superior, it is evidently tougher for black women to enforce their rights.

In a study conducted by Channel 4, they uncovered that just 2% of presenters, pundits or guests on sports shows are women, and a mere 0.6% are blackwomen – vindicating both the gender and racial imbalances within the field.

This week when I was wandering home after a long, arduous day at university, a poster on the wall caught my eye. It was Newcastle University’s feminist society promoting ‘women and sport week’ – serving to celebrate female’s involvement within the sporting industry.

It’s clear our localized communities are striving to make a change, but due to the recent Mark Sampson offences, this progression has not been made nationally.

I can’t help but feel that the scandal surrounding Sampson and Eni Aluko is a microcosm of the embedded patriarchal hierarchies within sporting culture, across the UK.

It proves that despite the recent ascent and increased awareness of women’s sport, we are still playing catch up, and god knows if we will ever cross that line.