Is women’s sport coming out of the shadows?

Despite progress such as the development of women’s practice, equality, especially in responsibilities, is far from achieved…

Per William Gasparini, sociologist, professor at the University of Strasbourg

At a time of universal communication about the exemplary nature of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (IOP) in Paris 2024 in terms of parity, the Olympic movement paradoxically hides its androcentric past. Should we remember that Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic Games, was hostile to the participation of women? He stated in 1912: “The Women’s Olympics would be disreputable and incorrect. »

It was not until 1928 that women could finally participate in the Olympic Games in Amsterdam, in athletics. A highly gendered and male-dominated social and cultural practice, has sport changed over the past century? Is “women’s” sport coming out of the shadows? How can we explain the paradox between the growth of the audience for women’s sports and the persistence of gender inequalities in terms of access to sports practices and responsible positions in federations?

Three logics contribute to these changes: social and activist logic in favor of equality, emancipation and women’s rights; the dictates of European policies in the fight against discrimination, and finally, the economic logic and interest of the media/sponsors/communicators to increase the profit of spectator sports by expanding the audience base and potential public.

The latter is gradually taking precedence over the other two in the context of the commodification of society and sport. Has the aspiration for formal gender equality been translated into reality? One might think so if we consider the enthusiasm for women’s sports in the media, which has grown significantly, especially in recent years. Even if we are far from equal, television coverage of women’s sports has almost doubled since 2018. Does this visibility reflect an increase in women’s sports activity?

According to the recent national sports practice barometer of the National Institute for Youth and Public Education (Injep, March 2023), 71% of women say they occasionally engage in physical or sports activity (up from 9% in 1968). But only 39% of the federation’s members are women.

In the Olympic sports federations, despite the quota policy, only two women occupy the position of president, which is hampered by a system that has been masculinized since its inception. Furthermore, the average gross monthly salary of women footballers in Division 1 is less than €2,000, a far cry from the average of €100,000 gross per month recorded by their male counterparts in Ligue 1.

So, despite progress, male dominance in the sports space continues. And the term “women’s sport”, trivialized, even condescending, in everyday language, materializes and anchors again and again the masculine connotation of the term “sport”, devoid of adjectives when it comes to men.

The World Cup is the tree that hides the forest. Women’s sports are on average five times less publicized.

Per Mejdaline Mhiri, journalist, columnist at Humanity

As long as we are asked to add “femininity” to the word “sport”, as if it is a matter of specificity, almost a rarity, to remind us that “this sport” also exists, but it always remains below the strength, speed and therefore the occupations caused by men , that means the distance to go to achieve some kind of equality on the issue is still the equivalent of a marathon, not a final sprint. Sport remains sport, regardless of whether it is played by women, men or non-gender people.

It remains important to note that athletes excite the crowd and delight us when a certain proximity to the public happens, when we know their path, their personality, when we can focus on following their bitter failures and great successes. If it was only about supporting the best top, then Raymond Poulidor would be a good farmer, like his parents, there would be no interest in following the second league of lower discipline, just like the corner club.

If after every major competition, generally football, we wonder what kind of mornings they will finally sing for women, the enthusiasm usually subsides very quickly. After crowds for the 2019 World Cup in France, like the 12 million spectators for Les Bleues’ victorious quarter-final against Brazil, everyone was hoping.

Four years later, the broadcast of the French first division looks like a farce every time a gust of wind causes one of the few cameras installed on the pitch to sway on a rickety stand, without protection from the rain.

Four years later, several Habs had to threaten to no longer participate in the contest, specifically decrying the lack of resources used by their management to get their voices heard. Four years later, the president of the association sexually assaulted one of the Spanish world champions live, just to show everyone that he remains the boss, that he retains power. If women are no longer growing up completely in the dark, then they are missing a lot of light.

Last January, Arcom, the former CSA, published data on media coverage of women’s sports on radio and television for 2021. The result: more than 2,300 hours of rebroadcasting for women, 10,281 hours for mixed competitions like Roland-Garros and 36,284 hours for men, or sixteen times more than for female athletes… It’s no longer a shadow, it’s an eclipse.

However, should we completely despair, risking laying down our arms? Of course not. The brave speeches of the first concerned, the strength of the post-#MeToo movement and the strength of feminist reflection must be supported, encouraged in the sense that they contribute to awareness so that the exploits of each of them can finally be known to us. achieve and make us dream.