Women in sports and how identity factors that effect opportunities

Women in sports are constantly shamed, underrepresented and unequally treated. This is something that affects all female athletes, but what is often overshadowed is the way that race, class, sexuality, and other identifying factors intersect to make issues in the sports world double.

Much like in society, intersectionality affects many women in this country. This is also true for female athletes. Female athletes face a lack of opportunity. As an athlete myself, I know that finding a girls sports team that has qualified coaches that have experience in the sport. We often get stuck with dads for coaches, that have never coached the sport, or even a girl in their life. While boys often have a much easier time finding local teams with highly qualified and experienced coaches for their sports. Often to find a girls team with those opportunities, you have to pay high team fees or drive out of your town to find the teams.

Growing up I faced this issue. I had to drive 2 hours to practice 3 times a week just to play for a team that could give me the coaching that can help me best succeed. I have teammates who drove 5 hours, and ones that even play for teams that were in a different state. You may be asking, how does intersectionality have anything to do with this… I was fortunate to have parents that were:

1. Willing to drive me to these practices.
2. Could afford for me to play for this team. 

There is a large majority of young girls who aren’t so fortunate. So these young girls face little opportunity due to their gender, but they also face even less opportunity because of their class. 

We need more experienced and qualified coaches for young girls, but we also need to have these opportunities available for lower costs. 

ATTENTION FEMALE ATHLETES: 

YOU CAN HELP!

Give back to the sports that have done so much for you, coach local teams, impact and empower young girls’ lives. We have the opportunity to give these young girls/women role models and an opportunity to create bonds with teammates and keep them out of trouble!