"Football: Score a Goal for Women" - LocationUNESCO Headquarters, Paris, FranceRooms :Room IXType :Cat VIII - SymposiaArrangement type :In-PersonLanguage(s) :FrenchSpanishEnglish
Location
UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France
Room IX
Cat VIII - Symposia
In-Person
French
Spanish
English
Join the event online
«Currently, men and women remain unequally represented in sports, as athletes, and in the sports media industry, where traditional gender norms dominate the way women athletes are portrayed and where women’s sports only receive 4 per cent of all sports media coverage even though 40 per cent of all sports participants are women. The pays gaps are also significant in all areas of sport and opportunities for economic empowerment are far from being the same for all athletes. Economic exploitation in sports often sees athletes, especially women, forced into financial dependency and in vulnerable situations vis-à-vis employers, superiors, and sponsors. Abusers may manipulate financial resources, limit access to funds, and restrict the capacity to earn or pursue education. These figures apply to all types of sports and resonate strongly in the field of football.
Football is widely considered the most popular sport in the world. With billions of fans and participants across all continents, football enjoys a global reach and holds significant economic and cultural importance. According to FIFA, women’s football is the single biggest growth opportunity today.
In 2023, there were 16.6 million women and girls engaged in organized football, marking a 24% increase from 2019. The total number of women's football clubs reached 55,622, with a majority (59%) situated in Europe. Despite this growth, the representation of women among coaches and referees remains low, with only around 5% of coaches and 9% of referees being women[1]. Structural inequalities manifest in unequal access to resources, opportunities, and recognition for women in football, perpetuating a cycle of gender discrimination. Moreover, societal norms and cultural stereotypes contribute to the underrepresentation and undervaluation of women in football, reinforcing gender disparities at all levels of the sport.
Addressing these structural inequalities requires concerted efforts to challenge ingrained prejudices, promote inclusivity, and implement gender-sensitive policies that ensure equitable treatment and opportunities for all participants, regardless of gender. Only by proactively dismantling these structural barriers can football authentically embody gender equality and empowerment both on and off the field».
Football is widely considered the most popular sport in the world. With billions of fans and participants across all continents, football enjoys a global reach and holds significant economic and cultural importance. According to FIFA, women’s football is the single biggest growth opportunity today.
In 2023, there were 16.6 million women and girls engaged in organized football, marking a 24% increase from 2019. The total number of women's football clubs reached 55,622, with a majority (59%) situated in Europe. Despite this growth, the representation of women among coaches and referees remains low, with only around 5% of coaches and 9% of referees being women[1]. Structural inequalities manifest in unequal access to resources, opportunities, and recognition for women in football, perpetuating a cycle of gender discrimination. Moreover, societal norms and cultural stereotypes contribute to the underrepresentation and undervaluation of women in football, reinforcing gender disparities at all levels of the sport.
Addressing these structural inequalities requires concerted efforts to challenge ingrained prejudices, promote inclusivity, and implement gender-sensitive policies that ensure equitable treatment and opportunities for all participants, regardless of gender. Only by proactively dismantling these structural barriers can football authentically embody gender equality and empowerment both on and off the field».
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