Women Empowerment and Sports

Women empowerment is considered as a tool to eradicate all the social problems like poverty, illiteracy and gender discrimination. Empowering women, especially through sports has a positive impact on physical, social, psychological and economical situation of the women as well as on society. Women in sport defy the misperception that they are weak or incapable. The participation of women and girls in sport challenges a multitude of gender stereotypes and discrimination.
Many countries set their goal toward women empowerment. In India Government is promoting sports by making physical education compulsory, launching scholarship programmes and incentivize as well as promote the sports achievers. Government focus more tilted toward women sports when Karnam Malleswari became the first Indian women to win medal for India in Olympics.

Women are far more visible in sports today than at any previous point in history. The Olympics of the modern era started as an all-male event, with women making gradual inroads to compete in different disciplines. In Olympics, 2016 total number of women in the USA and Australian teams were more than that of men. Also India has the largest women's participation in this year's Olympics.

Indian women are doing well in the sports. The likes of Maithali Raj in cricket, Mary Kom in Boxing, Saina Nehwal in Badminton, Sania Mirza in Tennis, Dipa Karmarkar in gymnast, Vinesh Phoghat in Wresting are performing equal or better than their male counterpart. These games were once considered not suitable for women. By making their name in the sports they are sending a message of equality to the society as well as boost the confidence of women that they can achieve anything. Once women considered themselves equal and empowered all other social inequalities will be removed soon.

Olympics this year again proved this point where the only medals for India has won by Women . Sakshi Malik, who has won Bronze medal in Olympics came from state having lowest sex ratio. By winning this medal she also sent positive signals to her state as well to her country that women can achieve more than men. There is a possibility that more women will join sports which will boost their economic status as well as dilute the gender gap.

Even though conditions are improving for sports in India , but still  women and girls continue to face discrimination in access to sports as athletes and spectators, and inequalities in professional sports, media coverage, sports media and sponsorships. Media attention to women´s sport in general is extremely low in comparison to men’s. There is a very negative effect in sports women’s salaries and the access to sponsorships, tournaments, leagues and the capacity of showcasing their capacity and skills.

Violence against women and girls occurs in all countries and happens in many situations, including in relation to sports events. Trafficking in women and children for sexual exploitation vastly increases during sporting ‘mega events’ such as the Olympics and World Cups.

Although women are facing some hurdles in their way, but as they progress and break the resistance , they are making better roads for themselves. Also Society is now less reluctant to oppose women in achieving their goals and start accepting that men and Women are equal. Women sports achievers are ensuring that goal of women empowerment is not far away, And sports is playing its fair share in it.

By: Vishal