Why I Chose to Research Everyday Sexism in Sport
If someone had told me a few years ago that I would be designing a Masters research project on sexism in sport, I probably would have laughed and said, “Well, that feels painfully on brand.” Yet here we are.
My research project explores everyday sexism in sport and examines how factors such as ethnicity, sexuality, and disability may shape women’s experiences of discrimination. On paper, it sounds highly academic—and it is—but the reality is that this topic feels deeply personal.
Like many women, I have experienced sexism in ways that were often subtle enough to be dismissed, yet significant enough to stay with me. The comments disguised as jokes. Being spoken over. Having competence questioned in situations where male colleagues were automatically assumed capable. The expectation to remain agreeable, smile more, and avoid being labelled “difficult” for simply asserting boundaries or expertise. These experiences are frustrating because they rarely appear dramatic in isolation, yet collectively they can be exhausting.
What has always struck me is how normalised these experiences often are. Women are frequently expected to tolerate these behaviours as part of everyday life, particularly within environments that continue to privilege traditionally masculine norms—sport being a prime example.
This project has given me the opportunity to channel personal frustration into meaningful research. Through designing a quantitative study, I aim to explore whether experiences of sexism vary across women with different intersecting identities, an area that remains significantly under-researched within sport psychology literature.
The process itself has been challenging. There have been moments of self-doubt, endless literature reviews, methodological headaches, and far too many drafts. However, it has also been incredibly empowering. Turning lived experiences into research that could contribute to change feels both rewarding and necessary.
If this project has taught me anything, it is that research is often at its most powerful when it is driven by both intellectual curiosity and personal purpose. And perhaps most importantly—women should not have to keep proving they belong in spaces they have already earned the right to occupy.
Join me, and complete the survey. Link https://openss.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV\_40Kt7tovdFiFn38