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Photo from: IWG Women & Sport
Last Tuesday, I was privileged to attend the 40th Anniversary of Women in Sport. As an avid sports lover and elite athlete, it was an honour to hear about Women in Sport's journey and the progress that has been made in the last four decades.
Looking across the room, you could see the importance of allyship, partnership, and collaboration, and that was thoughtfully expressed in the agenda. You may have thought we would talk solely about Women and Sports for an anniversary event, but it was far more granular and complex than that. It was about coming together, united in our goal for equality in sports.
I've had the pleasure of being part of several amazing organisations that strive to bring women's sport to the forefront and build towards equality compared to men's sport. This conference opened my eyes and birthed a strong conversation between many of the accomplished, driven, and passionate organisations that tirelessly do this work. We are making progress and heading in the right direction, but the pace is affected because we truly need systemic change, a change that will ensure long-term equality in sports.
Paula Dunn, the first female coach appointed by UK Athletics, spoke brilliantly about her journey and transition as an athlete, and her drive. She then said something that stood out to me: "There is always talk, but we require action and change" - a call to arms for the urgent need for systemic change. The battle of championing women's sport is that we are advocating for a change in a system that quite literally was designed to exclude women, and box them into 'suitable sports / activity'.
The work that has been achieved in the last 40 years has been nothing short of transformative, and the initiatives, focus, and impact that have been made are things that I have personally felt. Starting sports as a child and finding myself in a successful career in elite sport, I am grateful that the hard work and foundation that organisations like Women in Sport have established has genuinely changed my life for the better. It highlighted a privilege I had not genuinely considered in my journey in sports. With each milestone, I exceeded statistics, barriers, and challenges that were in place to disengage women in sports. It was a full circle moment, as I realised I sat as a direct beneficiary of all the hard work and efforts set decades ago.
For a long time, women's sport has been considered an initiative, a programme, or a temporary change programme to help generate interest in women participating. However, it is time for a change; women are eager and willing to participate in sports; however, society and societal frameworks suggest that women shouldn't. So, as I reflect on celebrating 40 years of blood, sweat and tears to get this far, it is time we dismantle the divisive systems that tell us that women shouldn't be in sports and that women are an afterthought in sports.
Lisa O'Keefe, an international rugby player and former director for Sport England, shared a powerful statement highlighting how the sport needs to change and impact all and not just some: "Urgency is necessary."
Where do we go from here, you ask? This is what I believe must happen to drive change:
Challenging inequalities and demanding reform in exclusionary policies
Education at the grassroots level to change the societal perception of sports and gender
Defined sporting programmes throughout the education system with qualified and experienced coaches and sporting professionals
Fight for equity and not equality. We know that the system as it stands doesn't work, and we have to recognise the intersections, which may require different things for different people.
Women's Sports can be transformed. We have seen so much progress already, and I am excited for the journey that will see a new generation of women view sport in a more positive way. As a beneficiary of the hard work set before me, I am excited to be on this mission with many wonderful organisations, individuals, and groups to help advance and establish Women's Sports.
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