Search Results for: women in sports

Nice Girls Don’t Talk Trash: The Double Standards Still Holding Back Women in Sports

For over a century, women athletes have battled double standards that question their toughness, competitiveness and right to take up space. From early fears that competition would ruin their femininity to modern-day outrage over trash talk and physical play, the message has remained: Be strong, but not too strong. While stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have shattered records and stereotypes, lingering biases continue to limit how women—especially women of color—are allowed to perform, both on and off the court.

The fight for full inclusion in sports isn’t over; it’s simply entered a new chapter.

In the 2024 Olympics, Afghan Women Defy the Taliban Ban on Women in Sports

In September 2021—less than a month after the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan—the Taliban banned women and girls from participating in sports.

Three women and three men will represent Afghanistan in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, yet the Taliban has refused to acknowledge the female Afghan athletes playing for their home country.

Kimia Yousofi, one the three Afghan women Olympians, said she will be representing the “stolen dreams and aspirations” of women still under the Taliban’s gender apartheid. 

Weekend Reading on Women’s Representation: The Rise of Women in Sports and Politics; ‘Democracy Works Best When Every Eligible Voter Votes’

Weekend Reading for Women’s Representation is a compilation of stories about women’s representation. 

This week, delve into FairVote’s efforts to champion voter access, discover a new documentary highlighting young women empowered within our political system, celebrate the historic viewership of the women’s NCAA championship game, and explore initiatives taken by some states to address disparities in maternal health for Black women.

Green Dildos and Fragile Egos: Misogyny’s Latest Play in Women’s Sports

The latest headline to make me question reality: green dildos thrown on the court during WNBA games.

Yes, that happened. And no, it’s not harmless.

When they can’t match our talent, they reach for props. When they can’t silence us, they try to embarrass us.

In an era when women’s rights are being stripped away—when reproductive freedom, bodily autonomy and basic equality are under siege—this is not the moment to shrug off “pranks” aimed squarely at women. We are already fighting to keep our resilience and focus intact. We cannot pretend that degrading women in the public eye—particularly women who have achieved power, visibility and influence—is just part of the game. It isn’t. It’s misogyny with a juvenile laugh track.

We Heart: Nike Champions Women’s Sports in First Super Bowl Ad in 27 Years

In the middle of the Eagles vs. Chiefs Super Bowl game, Nike’s “So Win” ad encouraged women to take control not just on the playing field but in the narratives that surround women in traditionally male-dominated fields, such as sports.

A voiceover from Grammy-winning rapper Doechii echoes frequent limitations leveled at women in sports and in life (“You can’t be demanding,” “You can’t dominate,” “You can’t be emotional”) before urging women, “Whatever you do, you can’t win … So win.”