Speaker

In 2018, the top 10 highest-paid female athletes earned a combined $105 million, according to Forbes. In contrast, three of the top-earning male athletes earned more than $105 million each. Additionally, no female athletes appear in the list of the 100 highest-paid athletes. In 2019, only one woman, Serena Williams made it to the list of highest paid athletes at 63rd position. According to Canadian Women & Sports, lack of media coverage, underrepresentation of female leaders, pay inequity and negative stereotyping are some of the challenge’s women in sport face. A 2016 report by Canadian Women & Sports showed that female sports make up four per cent of programming on major Canadian sports networks compared to 38 per cent for male sports. The report showed that a lack of media coverage about women successes, fewer visible role models for girls, lead to gender role conflicts and higher levels of female withdrawal from sports. The report also found that 32 per cent of head coaches for women’s teams are female. That number falls to one per cent for female head coaches of men’s teams at Canadian post-secondary institutions. For mixed sports teams, 18 percent of coaches are female. However, more female representation was found in the leadership positions of sports organizations. According to another report released on female leadership at sport organizations in 2020, 28 per cent of board chairs are women and 42 per cent of CEOs are also women. This session discusses the increasing frustration of female athletes about not having the same opportunities as men to make a living playing sport.