The Dark Side of Women's Sports: Abuse, Threats, and Online Harassment

The world of women's sports is plagued by a sinister reality: female athletes are constantly subjected to abuse, stalking, and death threats. Despite their impressive achievements, they face relentless criticism and personal attacks on social media. Georgia Evans, a Welsh rugby player, recently found herself at the center of a social media storm when she was ridiculed for wearing bows in her hair during a match. The incident sparked a wave of support from her teammates, family, and the wider rugby community, with thousands of young girls and women showing up to her next match wearing their own bows in solidarity. However, the incident also highlighted the darker side of women's sports, where athletes are judged not only on their performance but also on their appearance. Marion Bartoli, a former Wimbledon champion, knows firsthand the devastating impact of personal attacks on one's mentality and confidence. She was infamously humiliated by a BBC commentator after her 2013 Wimbledon triumph, who made a derogatory remark about her appearance. The incident has had a lasting impact on Bartoli, who now coaches teenage girls and has seen the damaging effects of social media on their self-esteem and body image. A survey by Women In Sport found that the number of girls who dream of becoming professional athletes has fallen to its lowest level since 2020, with only 23% of girls aspiring to sporting glory compared to 53% of boys. The research also revealed that teenage girls feel judged, worry about not having the 'right' body, and are concerned about their safety. The situation is further complicated by the fact that many female athletes are subjected to online abuse, with 40% of social media abuse coming from frustrated gamblers. Lucrezia Stefanini, an Italian tennis player, recently received threats to her life on WhatsApp, including a photo of a gun, ahead of a qualifying match. The incident is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by female athletes, who are not only judged on their performance but also on their appearance, and are often subjected to vile online abuse. Emma Raducanu, a British tennis player, was recently forced to cower behind an umpire's chair during a match due to a 'fixated' man in the crowd, who had been stalking her. The incident has left Raducanu 'wary' of going out in public, and has highlighted the need for greater protection for female athletes. The Online Safety Act 2023 has imposed strict duties on social media companies to combat online abuse, but the measures do not go far enough to protect female athletes. Sport England Chair Chris Boardroom has written to Ofcom, raising concerns about the online racist and sexist abuse directed at female athletes, and calling for greater action to be taken. Ofcom has recommended a series of measures to tech giants to tackle online abuse, including prompts to reconsider harmful messages, stopping payments for posts promoting misogynistic abuse, and ensuring that 'for you' recommended posts have more perspectives to stop being 'toxic echo chambers.' Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has implemented several measures to help protect users from online abuse, including tools to filter offensive comments and messages, controls to limit who can comment or send messages, and blocking options to prevent further contact. However, despite these efforts, online abuse remains a pervasive problem, and female athletes continue to be subjected to vile comments and personal attacks. For some, like Charley Hull, a British golfer, the abuse has become a normal part of life. Hull has long been criticized for her outspoken nature and has been subjected to online hate, but she remains unfazed. 'I don't really care what people think of me,' she says. 'I've always been like that. I've got my opinion, and everyone's in touch with their own opinion. So, honestly, that's just one thing I never really think of, and it doesn't bother me at all.' For others, like Sophia Dunkley, an English cricketer, the key to dealing with online abuse is to stay focused on the task at hand and to surround oneself with positive influences. 'We're switching on a lot more to how we can just have settings off, so that only the people we follow can comment, or by really making sure we have a close circle around us - and trusting the opinions that matter,' she says. As women's sports continue to grow in popularity, it is imperative that the focus shifts from how female athletes look or behave to what they achieve. The message from those living it and those closest to it is clear: success should not come at the cost of personal safety, mental wellbeing, or identity. As Georgia Evans concludes, 'It's just important to know, we stand together as female athletes, and we're not going to tolerate or put up with people saying personal things or people directly commenting on people's appearances, livelihood, how they go about themselves. When you cross that line, that's when we need to bind together.'