Gender equity in world of Athletics
Athletics, being among the top sports disciplines which attract millions of youngsters every year, have finally got the attention of the experts in the context of gender equity. Though there have already been commendable strides for ensuring the gender equity
in athletics from societies all around the world, yet, more and more efforts need to be put in this regard. The experts, when consulted to share their views about “gender and athletics” came up with the idea of going through the history of athletics, primarily
emphasizing upon the way women have been participating into them in context with physical, emotional, legal, financial and other constraints they faced during the time.
Besides the sufferings of women athletes, the matter also needs to be analyzed from literary perspective, which includes everything published about the professional and personal life of the women athletes, the problems they had to face and the way they got
rid of them. For analyzing the literary perspective of the athletics, one would have to take an account of some of the iconic laws which have inspired news, articles, books, blogs, debates, and t-shirt slogans to even vicious backlashes published about them.
In this regard, one would also have to take an account of the events, activities and steps on part of governments, institutions and individuals which played their role in opening the doors for girls and extended the opportunities for them to participate into
the competitive sports. Finally, the laws, which, in any way, have hindered or promoted the potential of women to take part into competitive sports also needs to be consulted.
Difficulties for women athletes start right from the time they had to make the decision about participating in athletics as not all women athletes are fortunate enough to be given with the equal athletic opportunities at schools or colleges. At institutions
where s*x segregation is considered important while utilizing the limited available financial and equipment resources, issues like discrimination posed by the coaches, retaliation and harassment take place. Even if women succeed in passing the controversial
three part test, there still remain issues which pose considerable hindrances for them to mingle with.
At a time when universities and colleges around the world are striving for a fair and just allocation of the limited resources available to them, the debate about gender equity seems timely and much relevant. After a thorough analysis of the situation, we
might have to take some unpopular decisions as the possible cure for the issue; however, they are important to be supported for assuring a fair treatment with the women athletes.
An encouraging point about the struggle for gender equity in athletics is that even countries like USA have started giving it due attention. Obama administration, considering the gravity of the issue, has recently reversed a policy of the Bush era which
had reported to have left a loophole in the process of allocation of resources for the female athletes at school and college level.
Dwelling upon the matter with gender sensitive approach would also help analyzing the laws which have been of any help or hindrance for the women athletes. Doing so with a conscious and determined effort would lead us to develop cultural acceptance for women
participating into sports in the under-developed and developing countries. The efforts would further lead in creating positive images and cultivating leadership roles among the women athletes.
A final point which needs to be considered over here is that while analyzing the gender issues, stress should be given upon maintaining the equality. The approach should neither be biased for men nor for women. The ideas to combat the decisions which are
gender sensitive would not only help in providing the equal chances for the women to excel in their respective fields of the sports, they would also offer an equal help for the institutions, individuals and parents to look into the matter from a different
and constructive angle.
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