The Disparity in Our Sports

By StuyWIS editorial board

The sports sphere is one women have long been excluded from. A 2018 report conducted by Women in Sport reveals that 40% of women working in sports have felt less valued in their workplaces on the basis of gender. The same study reveals that 38% of women in sports have experienced gender discrimiantion in the workplace, and 30% have experienced inappropriate behavior from the opposite sex in the workplace. In a field often dominated by men, female athletes and trainers alike, as well as other workers in the sports industry, they often feel less valued, alienated even. This leaves many female athletes insecure of themselves, and even lose that excitement they once had for their sport. “I wanted to be a part of and foster a platform for female athletes because we really do lack representation in the media,” Maria Escamilla, president of Stuyvesant Women in Sports (StuyWIS) said. “[StuyWIS] serves as a safe space for all female athletes, regardless of what sport they play, a place where we can speak out on issues that women face in the sports world and industry, a place where women and young girls around the globe can hear inspiring and uplifting messages.”

Tucker Center research indicates alongside female athletes receiving a mere 4% of all sport media coverage, they’re far more likely to be depicted in sexually provocative poses than their male counterparts. StuyWIS aims for this underrepresentation, sexualization, and any other challenges women face in sports will be spoken out against, and the voices female athletes must be heard. “Female athletes are often targeted and treated badly when compared to male athletes. They don’t make the same amount of money and they are often taken advantage of. StuyWis is a platform that allows for these issues to be discussed in depth and also encourages young female athletes in their fields,” Nicole Liu, co-president of StuyWis said.

This issue continues to be perpetuated in not just the world of professional sports, but remains a rampant issue in communities with younger athletes, such as school and youth teams, too. This issue needs to be further addressed, and the Stuyvesant student body is a place where we could begin a discussion.