The Disrespect Is Real: How Sexism Keeps Women’s Sports Invisible
Okay, real talk- women in sports are out here breaking records, smashing limits, and looking absolutely FIRE doing it, but somehow the world still treats it like a cute hobby instead of a legit career.
"You're good...for a girl." Yeah, a guy on the wrestling team actually said that to me once. At the time, I shrugged it off, but thinking back, that actually hurt. High school wrestling was full of little (and not so little) moments like that. No proper locker room, being shoved into a tiny men's bathroom to change, being told I shouldn't wrestle because it's "too manly", or watching a teammate get dismissed at a tournament with, "they're just girls, it's not like they're going to win anyways." Sexism in women’s sports isn’t some old-school problem—it’s happening right now, and a lot of people act like it’s not. Women’s sports could be thriving, but with less media coverage and gender bias, it’s like someone keeps hitting pause.
So, here's the tea: women's sports are still getting ignored. Ben Pickman points out that USC/Purdue University researchers have been studying sport inequality since 1989. Over 30 years and women's sports still aren't receiving the media coverage they deserve. In 2019, 95% of all sports television coverage focused on men's sports, leaving women with a whopping 5%. Even ESPN, one of the biggest sports networks only covered 5.7% of broadcasts to women's sports, similarly, to only being at 5% in 1989 and 5.1% in 1990. (Pickman 1). That's basically showing, "yeah women's sports exist... but do we really care?"
With slightly better news, according to Lindsey Darvin, a journalist for Forbes magazine, women's sports coverage has grown to 15%, which is a huge jump from 5%. But don't get it twisted, not all coverage is equal. Sports media still focuses mainly on men. Sure, tik tok edits of Paige Bueckers and Caitlyn Clark get hype, but prime-time news headlines and media coverage are still all mostly men. It's hard for young girls and children to look up to female athletes as role models if they're barely recognized in sports media. The sexism is baked in. The gap is still massive. Female athletes are still fighting for the media recognition they deserve.
Billie Jean King a famous tennis player, tweeted "When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoken’ and there are no repercussions." Andy Roddick and James Blake have admitted they've said way worse in the middle of a game and never received any type of penalty, referring to Serena Williams being upset at a match (Gabrielle Moss). The sexism is yet again baked in, the gap still there.
Stefanos Gregoriou, journalist from The Sports Financial Literacy Academy explains that the stereotype of female athletes being "weaker" than men isn't just inaccurate, but also harmful. This common misconception influences the opportunities available to them, and even how they’re perceived by coaches, fans, and fellow athletes. By framing women as inherently less capable, society makes it harder for female athletes to be respected, taken seriously, and accepted as equals in sports, forcing them to constantly prove themselves on and off the field.
Some people argue that sexism in women's sports is overexaggerated and isn't a big deal. Statistics do show that men's sports are streamed more than women's sports and bring in more income than women's sports. Some people also argue that men's sports are just more entertaining to watch. While men's sports do genuinely bring in more income and are more streamed, just remember who set that system up. Men. Of course, they'll be more streamed and bring that bag in, the system was set up by the men.
At the end of the day, sexism in women's sports isn't something of the past, its alive, loud, and still affecting female athletes daily. Less media coverage? Check. Constant underestimation? Check. Double standards? Check. Progress is happening, but until coverage, visibility, and opportunities are equal, women are still getting the short end of the stick in sports. It’s 2025—time to give female athletes the spotlight, respect, and hype they’ve been earning all along.
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