BROADER TOPIC:​ INJUSTICE IN SPORTS

NARROWER TOPIC:​ GENDER INEQUALITY IN SPORTS

TOPIC:​ HARASSMENT AND CYBER-HARASSMENT OF FEMALE ATHLETES

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
● What are some examples of harassment and cyber-harassment experienced by
female athletes?
● How are female athletes portrayed by the media?
● What is Title 9?
● What are women (and allies) doing to combat these injustices?

RESEARCH NOTES:

● A “friend” impersonated Caroline Gleich, and “was basically making her look like
an idiot”
● She received negative comments on social media, insulting her talent and skill as
an athlete, and attributing her success to outside factors
● After trying to bring about awareness for snow safety, she was insulted for
triggering an avalanche, and a cruel comment was made referring to a friend of
hers who died in an avalanche
● Criticism of female athletes often revolves around their appearance and image,
as opposed to their performance
● This happened to more than just Gleich, this harassment and stalking is a
pattern, especially targeting female athletes
● A lot of these comments are derogatory and rude but have nothing to do the
athlete and are instead just insults

https://www.outsideonline.com/2247211/caroline-gleich-fights-back-against-cyber-haras
sment

● The US women’s soccer team just filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against
the United States Soccer Federation
● They want equal pay, but also they have issues with how they travel, and their
medical care and coaching

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/11/sports/us-womens-soccer-pay.html
 ● Title 9 bans “sex discrimination in schools in both academics and athletics”
● It is responsible for prohibiting programs that provide federal funding on the basis
of gender (i.e. scholarships)
● Female soccer players at UNC spoke out against “uninvited physical contact”
from their male coach
● The discomfort felt by these women sometimes causes them to stop playing their
sport or participating in an activity

http://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1413&context=sportsla
w

● Sexual harassment and abuse are an abuse of power by coaches, team doctors,
etc.
● Gender harassment is similar, only regards to derogatory comments based on
gender and are not inherently sexual
● LGBTQ individuals also experience harassment and abuse regularly
● This can affect both the physical and mental health of the athlete
● Team doctors can also identify these things in their athletes

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/46/13/905.full.pdf

● There is an annual Women + Sports Summit

● Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics national team doctor, sexually abused
women and girls

https://www.thewrap.com/strong-women-in-sports-gender-equality-sexual-assault-amon
g-the-hot-topics-at-espnw-summit/
BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Emery, Debbie. “Strong Women in Sports, Gender Equality, Sexual Assault

Among the Hot Topics at EspnW Summit.” ​TheWrap,​ 4 Oct. 2018,
www.thewrap.com/strong-women-in-sports-gender-equality-sexual-assault-among-the-h
ot-topics-at-espnw-summit/​.

Marks, Saul, et al. “Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Sport: the Role of the
Team Doctor.” ​British Journal of Sports Medicine,​ 14 Dec. 2011,
bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/46/13/905.full.pdf.

Salam, Maya. “The Long Fight for Pay Equality in Sports.” ​The New York Times​,
The New York Times, 11 Mar. 2019,
www.nytimes.com/2019/03/11/sports/us-womens-soccer-pay.html​.

Siber, Kate. “Caroline Gleich Fights Back Against Cyber Harassment.” ​Outside
Online​, 26 June 2019,
www.outsideonline.com/2247211/caroline-gleich-fights-back-against-cyber-harassment​.

Tripp, Erika. “Sexual Harassment in Sports: How ‘Adequate’ Is Title IX?”

Marquette Sports Law Review,​ 2003,
scholarship.law.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1413&context=sportslaw.