Being exposed to stereotypes about women in sport has given me a complicated relationship with both sport and my own body. If you are a woman, you have most likely been subjected to stereotypes when participating in sports. I cannot remember how many times I have heard sentiments like women being “weak”, “slow”, “clumsy”, or …
Facing barriers due to gendered Islamophobia, cultural norms, and lack of representation, Muslim women often struggle to participate in sports. In 2007, a young Muslim woman from Ontario was going to play a football tournament in Canada. Her name was Asmahan Mansour. At her team’s first match, the referee told her she would not be …
How do we reconcile knowledge of the injustices in many sports with the enjoyment of being a spectator? As we enjoy the familiar tradition of a summer of sport — albeit with some restrictions still in place — it’s worth reflecting on how this fits in with the strong push for fairer practices and equal …
In light of the recent Euros, it is important to highlight the barriers and stereotypes women face in football, and have always faced historically. The ‘Men’s Euros’ recently ended, once again making it clear that men’s football is seen as the norm, much like in other sports. The official name of that tournament is UEFA …
What is sacrificed by athletes who overcome racial and gender discrimination to become the almost god-like machines at the pinnacle of their respective disciplines that we see them as? Our greatest athletes are often praised for ‘keeping their cool’, likened to machines, or hailed as the ‘Greatest Of All Time’ (a ‘GOAT’). This is particularly …
