Sexism and bullying keeping women out of careers in sport, MPs told

Women are being shut out of careers in sport by entrenched sexism, discrimination and workplace bullying, MPs have been told. Female coaches are routinely overlooked, undermined and denied opportunities despite their qualifications, experts told a parliamentary select committee on Thursday. “These hostile environments are hideous for women trying to build a career in sports. It’s so bad that it’s unfair to put women in those environments,” said Lisa West, head of policy at Women in Sport. The consequences extend far beyond individual careers, experts told the women and equalities committee’s first evidence session of its new inquiry, Beyond Participation: Routes into Sport for Girls and Women . “A coaching system that sidelines women risks depriving athletes of role models, narrowing the talent pool and reinforcing the message that, even in a rapidly changing sporting landscape, the most influential positions remain a male preserve,” said Lisa Williams, the head coach of London All Stars women’s basketball team. The committee heard that one in five female coaches reported experiencing harassment or bullying, reflecting deep-rooted biases that continue to shape who is trusted, promoted and listened to across sport. The experts spoke of the daily sexism experienced by female coaches at the hands of anyone from parents to male colleagues. “And it’s not getting better,” said Williams. …