These changes come during the 2024-25 season in English football, which has seen a disturbing increase in incidents of abuse reported at games. They’ve set a record this season for complaints based on misogyny and sexism. The advocacy organization Kick It Out recently published information that highlights this worrying trend. Their findings highlight how urgently we need to take action to protect women in sport.
This increase in reported abuse comes amid a broader cultural conversation around the treatment of women athletes, further complicated by recent incidents that have drawn national attention. On July 29, at a WNBA game, a brightly colored sex toy was tossed onto the court. The event took place during the Golden State Valkyries’ game against the Atlanta Dream. This disruption was only the beginning. At least six other WNBA games were similarly disrupted by a group of crypto enthusiasts trying to shill a new memecoin, Green Dildo Coin.
Together, the incidents have united the sports community in outrage and concern. This very troubling trend of misogynistic behavior often targets female athletes. The increase in abuse reports is a sign of what we are facing. This year, the WNBA has broken all-time viewership records and brought in a more diverse group of fans. Accordingly, the changes break through with an all the more jarring effect.
In the midst of all this, Donald Trump Jr. posted a truly disgusting picture. It showed his dad spiking a green dildo on the court at a game against young girls playing basketball. This gesture of patriarchy serves to underscore the very real struggles women endure to compete in sport. It makes us ask, what do we want from our society’s treatment of female athletes.
Women’s football will soon become one of the five most popular sports by 2030. Despite these incremental steps, the sport’s systemic issues are deeply engrained. Women’s football has quickly become one of the ten most popular sports in the world by viewership, fandom and participation. News of abuse continues to cause great embarrassments. The female athletic community is demanding immediate action to keep female athletes free from harassment and disrespect.
Comedian James McCann
shared insights about how some gamblers have resorted to using injury reports, including terms like “soreness,” to predict menstrual cycles. Such a distasteful practice is yet another example of how women’s bodies and lived experiences are used as tools for entertainment and profit.An Instagram user with the handle fademebets went recently posted this video. In it, they exposed NCAA women’s basketball superstar Caitlin Clark’s menstrual cycle status in the middle of a game. Our user mentioned that she was close to the end of her late luteal phase. Consequently, she has cardiovascular deconditioning, loss of strength and aerobic capacity. She’s going to be maxed out much more than in a typical game. This commentary explores the intersection of sports betting and women’s health. This development raises key ethical questions that center on privacy and respect for female athletes.
The ongoing violence and disrespect in women’s sports have been underscored by various incidents, including the emotional experience shared by Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso, who described an incident that “stained one of the happiest days of my life.” Those kinds of sentiments express the insidious and ongoing fight for equity and respect that all women athletes are still coming up against.