Almost half of women say they have faced sexist abuse while playing sport

July 15, 2025

Almost half of women in sport have been subjected to sexist jibes, with taunts such as ‘throw like a girl’, being ‘unwomanly’ in appearance, or simply ‘not strong enough’. A recent survey of 3,000 female athletes uncovered that women also face downgrading remarks about their capability compared to men and endure stereotypes painting them as weak or ‘soft’.

The majority of these derogatory remarks came from male strangers on the street, but they were also followed by male athletes, as well as male coaches. Two thirds of those who have experienced sexist abuse have contemplated quitting sport as a result. Mirror