New Women in Football survey examines gender equality at work

• Aparna Sreevalsan
• 12 May, 2023

A LEADING Professional women’s football organisation is launching a new study to see whether there is less sexism in their workplace, following a previous study showing that two-thirds had suffered discrimination.

Women in Football (WIF) is a professional network for women in the football sector and is asking women to share their experiences working or volunteering in and around the game in order to determine if the traditionally male-dominated football business is becoming a more equitable and hospitable place for those women to develop careers.

Main findings from WIF’s last survey in 2020 were:

• 66 per cent of respondents had personally experienced some form of gender discrimination in the football workplace, but only 12 per cent had reported it
• 82 per cent of respondents said they ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ that they’ve faced obstacles in their football career
• 81 per cent ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that they’ve faced gender stereotyping in their career
• 52 per cent had been overlooked for career progression (agree/strongly agree)
• Only 45 per cent believed that the football sector is one where women can excel (agree/strongly agree)
• Only 14 per cent believed that women are encouraged to forge pathways to the highest-level careers in football (agree/strongly agree)

The women’s game is becoming increasingly popular, and more women and girls are aiming to play or work in the sector as a result of the Lionesses’ victory at the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 and the women’s World Cup happening this summer.

The Women in Football survey remains open until Wednesday 17 May.

WIF CEO Yvonne Harrison said: “We’re here to make sure women’s voices are heard in the football industry, and to do that we need as many women as possible, from a diverse range of social and professional backgrounds, to share their experiences with us through the Women in Football survey.

“As the leading organisation supporting gender equality in the game, Women in Football will ensure that the findings of the survey are seen – by policymakers, researchers, and governing bodies, by people in a position to make change happen.”

It also claims that, with a growing female fanbase, the need to ensure the employees and management of football teams match the demographics of the communities they claim to serve is more important than ever.