Females face many barriers in the sport. Women have never been allowed to participate or compete at the highest level in professional sports leagues. They were too infirm to play high-impact sports or were too busy taking care of the household. They were limited to teaching, secretarial, crossing guard, and other jobs in the sports industry.
Opportunities are less
Women often experience less opportunity to participate in sports in high school than their male counterparts. The negative stigma attached to female athletes often accounts for this lack of opportunities. This stigma isn't limited to certain geographical regions or conferences. It can also reflect the fact that girls in low income communities often lack opportunities and resources to play sports.
Media attention less
Even though female athletes make up over two-fifths in professional athletes, media attention is still much lower than for their male counterparts. This is despite the fact female athletes work just as hard as male athletes. Female sports generally receive less media coverage than their male counterparts, and more attention is given to talent and appearances than to individual achievements.
Less expectations
There may be several factors that influence the participation of women in sports. Female athletes have a lower threshold for entry to sports that are often dominated by male athletes. These differences may be related to biological differences or the differential socialization of boys and girls.
Transgender females participate in sports
Legislators have attempted to ban transgender girls from participating in recreational activities since the IOC's introduction of trans policies over two decades ago. Transgender females are often subject to discrimination harassment and violence. Any attempt to bar them is not only dangerous, but it also weakens their cause.
Title IX
Title IX, a federal law that guarantees women's rights in sport, is Title IX. Women from historically underrepresented communities are not getting the full benefits of Title IX. A study by Women's Sports Foundation found that girls from predominantly minority schools have only 67% access to athletic opportunities, while 82% of girls from predominantly white schools have this same access.
Flo advocates for female athletes
Flo McLean was seventh in a family of 11. She grew-up in Los Angeles. She was told at an early age that she had to move fast to get what she wanted. After her parents separated, she moved with her mother to Watts, an under-resourced and over-policed neighborhood. She came across the Sugar Ray Robinson Youth Foundation that offered opportunities for local youth.