Gender inequality in Sport

Across professional sports there is a major gender inequality, especially in those considered more ’masculine’ such as football. Although there is a major wage gap between male and female athletes in a range of different sports, it is especially highlighted with football players.

Premier league male footballers earn approximately £2 million a year, whereas females earn £25,000 and would be extremely fortunate to earn over £50,000.

Male footballs are far better known and are much better paid than female footballers, despite the fact that recently the English female football team came second in the world cup whereas the men didn’t even make it past the group stages.

Some may argue that whilst football is a male dominated sport, there are sports just like netball that are predominantly female dominated. However, netball is severely under-supported and generally considered not a dynamic sport despite having millions of players in the UK alone, netball is still not even an Olympic sport.

Moreover the pay difference between male footballers and female netballers is still a staggering size of over £1.9 million; there is no doubt that this disparity is hugely unfair.

On the other hand, we are as a society making progress as hockey players receive more or less the same play regardless of gender and is an Olympic sport open to all.