Top female athletes often feel disadvantaged – be it in terms of recognition, media presence or pay. Scientific studies show: Equality in sport still has a long way to go.
Almost 200 top athletes expressed in a non-representative exclusive SWR survey the feeling that they have to do more than their male colleagues for the same social recognition.
“We have this problem in many areas where women achieve something or are employed. And in sport, we have to fight even more for gender equality because sport is historically a field that is more oriented towards men and also towards masculinity,” says sports sociologist Bettina Rulofs, head of the diversity research department at the Sport University in Cologne. She emphasizes: “Women have always been – and to some extent still are today – the second gender in sport. And that certainly causes problems for the top athletes who are active in this field.”
Sports scientist and former professional athlete Claudia Reidick also sees the fact that women can achieve significantly more because completely different expectations are placed on them from the start. “It’s not just a sports problem, but a social problem,” she says. However, in her work with professional athletes, she also experiences a kind of defiant reaction: “On the whole, they get more motivation out of it, especially now.” But Reidick emphasizes that because of the high expectations society and oneself place on performance, we have to be careful that these women don’t burn out.
Female athletes still appear in the daily media underrepresented
The fact that women feel disadvantaged in elite sport is far from just a perception, but can be proven with facts. “If we look at the media presence of female athletes, then we have to say that they are clearly underrepresented, especially in the current media,” said Rulofs. Many studies show that the proportion of reports in sports is “up to 10 percent, sometimes 12 percent, and when it gets up to 15 percent for female athletes.” It is therefore much easier for male colleagues to be selected and to be present in public. This in turn makes it easier for athletes to get sponsorship contracts, which is still more difficult for female athletes.
In some sports, such as football, the income differences between men and women are strikingly large and in some other sports there is also a very large gender pay gap in professional sports. The study situation on this is not particularly good, emphasizes Rulofs. Nevertheless, there are studies, especially in the semi-professional sector, which make it clear that the difference in salaries in this area is not as large as is assumed.
Are female athletes expected to behave differently than men?
“If you’re angry or happy about something, you’re too emotional. If you complain, you’re a ‘drama queen’. If you focus on yourself, you’re conceited or cold…” Fans expect female athletes to behave differently than male athletes – one in three participants in the survey shared this experience. Many female athletes express the feeling that they are allowed to show themselves less emotionally than male colleagues, that they have to be nicer and more approachable towards fans, or that they still have to pay attention to their external appearance even when they are at their best in sports.
“Men are expected to push themselves to their limits and that this is also visible on the outside. Women should look aesthetically good even in the final sprint,” writes one athlete. In addition, women should be “less tormented, less stubborn and more polite.” Another athlete also has the feeling that women still have to appear feminine during training and competition and that “men are allowed to behave as they want, for example being loud, sweating or swearing”.
For Prof. Dr. For Rulofs, it’s because “athleticism and masculinity go together very well in our social image of men, including sport. They are connected.” It is therefore entirely justified for female athletes to have such a feeling that, for example, they should also look good at the finish line and not just perform. But she also emphasizes that there are now many young female athletes “who really don’t allow themselves to be dictated to anymore, but who are actually just who they are and can therefore get attention.”
The disgusting underside of sport
Studies on sexual assault: Many athletes have lost trust
Almost every third participant (97) reported in the anonymous SWR survey that they had already been sexually harassed in their sport, 79 of them verbally and more than one in ten (35) physically. However, the slight majority of those affected by verbal harassment refrained from reporting the verbal harassment to a coach, club, association or other trusted person (42).
Rulofs also researches this topic and says: “The data from our studies show that around 40 percent of women in sports clubs in Germany state that they have already had experiences of sexual violence that do not involve physical contact. For example, verbal sexual harassment or harassment through digital forms. But 30 percent also state that they have already had such experiences of sexual violence with physical contact.”
It was also clear from their studies that only a few female athletes say anything about it, so they have little confidence in contacting their club or association, for example. Most athletes “have lost faith that someone is there to support them.”
Rulofs emphasizes that many associations are now very well positioned and would also take care. “I think something has developed for the better. Nevertheless, we still find examples of such reports coming to nothing and that clubs or associations also find it difficult to impose harsh sanctions.”
Sports scientist Claudia Reidick emphasizes that the culture of sport in a certain way thrives on a certain level of closeness, especially when something is won and people happily fall into each other’s arms. “That physicality is just part of it.”
But she also says that this culture needs to be changed in order to prevent such attacks as much as possible in the long term. “This means that it is clear to an athlete what works and what doesn’t work. So that they are informed early on, just as coaches are informed where it is still appropriate and where it is no longer a joyful celebration.”
Broadcast on Sun, October 12th, 2025 9:45 p.m., SWR Sport, SWR
