Females face many barriers in the sport. Women were never allowed to compete in professional sports leagues. Women were considered too fragile to be able to participate in high-impact sport and were too busy caring for the family. There were only three professions that women could choose from in sports: teaching, secretarial, or crossing guard.
Opportunities are less
High school sports are often less accessible to women than for their male counterparts. This is often due to the stigma that female athletes face. This stigma is not just limited to certain conferences or geographic regions. It can also include the fact, that girls living in low income communities are often denied opportunities and resources for sports.
Less media attention
Despite the fact that women athletes make up more of professional athletes than their male counterparts, they still get less media attention than their male counterparts. Despite the fact women athletes do just as much work than male athletes, this is not surprising. Media coverage of female sports is generally lower than that of male sports. The media tends to focus more on their appearances and talent than on individual accomplishments.
Less expectations
Many factors can affect women's participation. Female athletes have a lower threshold for entry to sports that are often dominated by male athletes. These differences may be caused by biological differences or differences in the socialization of girls and boys.
Transgender girls compete in sports
The IOC has introduced trans policies nearly 20 years ago. Since then, legislators have tried to ban transgender women from recreational sports. Transgender women still face discrimination, harassment and violence in a large number of situations. Therefore, attempts to ban them are not just transphobic and dangerous but also detrimental to their cause.
Title IX
Title IX, a federal law that guarantees women's rights in sport, is Title IX. However, women from historically underrepresented communities have not benefited from the legislation as much as they should. A study by Women's Sports Foundation found that girls from predominantly minority schools have only 67% access to athletic opportunities, while 82% of girls from predominantly white schools have this same access.
Flo advocates for female athletes
As the seventh child of eleven, Flo McLean grew up in Los Angeles. From an early age, she was told that she must move quickly to achieve what she desired. After her parents divorced, she moved in with her mother to Watts. Watts was a low-resourced, over-policed neighbourhood. She eventually found her way to Sugar Ray Robinson Youth Foundation. This foundation provided youth with athletic opportunities.