From limited opportunities to under representation, the author shares the voices of Humber athletes and statistical findings to address the stagnant barriers women face in sports. 

Hockey players dressed in yellow and blue uniform hugging each other
Photo by Extramural Women’s Hockey REC Cup

As the new school year begins, anticipation and excitement for another season of sports await. 

The return of another sports season not only celebrates school spirit but brings light to the disparities affecting women athletes. Since 1967, Humber College sports have contributed significantly to representing the school. But for students like Megan Hancock and Josh Tomlinson, this season may reflect different challenges. 

While sport inequities remain at insurmountable odds for undergraduate women, yet the call for effective reform persists. In fact, the 2018 Federal Budget plan aims to achieve gender equity in sports by the year 2035. However, as decreasing participation within female athletic spaces continues to plummet, it has become stagnantly difficult to implement action-based strategies.  

Hockey player and second year student at Humber College, Megan Hancock, explains how a lack of representation contributes to this pressing matter. “They just recently started a professional women’s hockey league, which is comparable to the NHL, but even then you still see [coverage] about the men’s league and not so much about the women’s league,” says Hancock. Despite, 40 per cent of athletes are women, they receive less than 4 per cent of media coverage. Hancock’s experience echoes broader trends with research showing the extent to which a lack of representation can lead to.  

Additionally, statistics have shown 1 in 3 Canadian girls leave sports by late adolescence. According to the Women’s Sport Foundation report, 50 per cent of female players by the age of 17 retire from athletic spaces. Conversely, male players between 16 to 18 years of age have a dropout rate of 1 in 10, starkly representing a 70 per cent difference.  

Josh Tomlinson, a firstyear Humber Hawks hockey forward, expresses the severity behind women’s inability to see themselves portrayed in professional sports. “The [men’s] leagues are far more established right now and they’re watched globally…it could be discouraging for female athletes especially if they feel a lack of representation,” says Tomlinson. 

Furthermore, a 2022 survey showed women had 25 per cent less access to training facilities compared to their male counterpartsNot only does this infringe women’s equal rights but restricts their access to career longevity and athletic development. Additionally, it leans into the issue of inequities being a unique stressor for female athletes and thus can exacerbate their mental health. From compensation differences to being undervalued, women continue to experience limited opportunities, a lack of visibility and scarce resources within athletic spaces.  

Despite the equal ratio of female to male coaches, yet male instructors are more likely to land high paying jobs. Commenting on the predominant male coaching, Hancock stated, “The whole technique was always put towards male sports and we were always being compared to the men’s teams.” She later continued with, “We don’t play like [that]. We have different rules.”  

To tackle under representation, colleges and universities need to consider solution-based approaches beyond simply designating female  spaces. They must also acknowledge the skill, determination, and dedication among both athletes and coaches. Possible solutions to dismantling these inequitable barriers include producing wide media coverage, equal access to training facilities, budget and resource allocations, athlete development programs, scholarship opportunities, and staff workshops.  

In fact, Tomlinson mentions social media as a positive reinforcement for women’s teams. He suggests encouraging the promotion of women’s games to create a stronger foundation of support. “We share the account with the women’s team on Instagram which is a step in the right direction…if you’re following for the men you’re following for the women too,” he states. 

While commenting on her own experiences with gender inequity, Hancock challenges the stigma around women in sports saying, “Just because we can’t hit in a game doesn’t mean we’re not aggressive players and doesn’t mean that we’re not a competitive team.” The recognition from sport leaders has a crucial impact on creating policy solutions that promote success and motivation for student athletes. “It’s important to discuss in schools because it can bring awareness to issues of equality in sports and can show that schools are really paying attention to such issues,” says Tomlinson. 

With collective action, schools can continue to change the landscape of sports towards a future where equality is no longer an aspiring goal, but a reality. 

“If the staff and coaches make the effort to show that sports are uniting, it can lead to us being a more inclusive school and support system,” says Tomlinson.