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

The world of women's sports has made tremendous progress, with female athletes achieving great success and breaking barriers. However, behind the scenes, many of these women face a constant barrage of criticism, abuse, and harassment. From derogatory comments about their appearance to death threats, the online abuse has become a harsh reality for many female athletes. Georgia Evans, a Welsh rugby player, recently found herself at the center of a social media storm when she was criticized for wearing bows in her hair during a match. The abuse was not just limited to her appearance, but also targeted her family and teammates. Evans decided to speak out against the abuse, saying that 'it's not a rugby look' and that she won't be changing who she is to fit into someone else's idea of what a rugby player should be. Her response was met with an outpouring of support from the rugby community, with many young girls and women showing up to her next match wearing bows in solidarity. However, the incident highlights the pervasive problem of online abuse in women's sports. 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 many citing the fear of abuse and harassment as a major deterrent. Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli has seen firsthand the impact of social media on young girls, saying that 'it's already bad, but if it keeps going, I'm not sure the next generation will be able to survive that many comments and judgment constantly.' The abuse is not just limited to social media, with many female athletes facing harassment and stalking in person. Emma Raducanu, a British tennis player, was recently targeted by a 'fixated' fan who showed up to her matches and sent her threatening messages. 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 many argue that it does not go far enough. Sport England Chair Chris Boardroom has written to Ofcom, calling for greater action to be taken to protect female athletes from online abuse. Ofcom has recommended a series of measures, including prompts to reconsider harmful messages and stopping payments for posts that promote misogynistic abuse. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, says it has several measures in place to protect users from online abuse, including tools to filter offensive comments and controls to limit who can comment or send messages. However, many female athletes say that they are not fazed by online hate and can ignore the opinions and judgments made by people hiding behind their keyboards. Charley Hull, a British golfer, has long been criticized for her outspoken nature and has been the subject of online abuse. However, she says that she doesn't care what people think of her and that she will continue to be true to herself. As the world of women's sports continues to grow and evolve, it is clear that the focus must shift 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. Female athletes deserve to be respected and protected, both online and offline.