To promote women’s and the LGBTQIA+ community’s full inclusion in sports by advancing equity throughan intersectional approach.
*We understand as ‘women’ all those people who identify themselves as such
Context
Over the past decade, gender equity and the fight against discrimination and violence toward the LGBTQIA+ community have been central to the European Commission’s agenda, with several action plans implemented. Notably, the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 and the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025 aim to promote women’s participation in sports, gender balance in leadership roles within sports organizations, and tackle discrimination faced by LGBTIAQ+ people in sports.
Sports are often associated with positive values like equality, fair play, teamwork, and respect, and have the potential to drive positive social change. The European Union has long viewed sport as a powerful tool for inclusion, civil rights development, and societal improvement. Since 2007, and with the Lisbon Treaty in 2009, sport has been a cornerstone of EU policies, addressing issues like racism, doping, social exclusion, and gender inequality. The LGBTIQ Equality Strategy emphasizes the potential of sports to challenge gender biases and stereotypes faced by the LGBTQIA+ community.
However, sports environments can also perpetuate negative morals and practices, often reflecting societal divisions. Gender and SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sex Characteristics) discrimination are prevalent in sports, undermining integrity and sometimes leading to abuse, harassment, and violence. Sports are often dominated by hegemonic masculinities and traditional male ideologies, which hinder the promotion of gender and LGBTIAQ+ equality.
Gender and SOGIESC-based violence in sports is a serious issue, with studies showing widespread verbal and physical abuse, and harassment. Discrimination and violence often stem from a deeply ingrained “male-dominated realm” in sports, where the patriarchal system imposes rigid gender roles and heteronormative expectations prevail. This culture excludes women and LGBTQIA+ individuals, leading to limited participation and perpetuation of stereotypes.
In response, the European Commission has outlined guidelines to accelerate gender equality in sports, with key areas such as participation, coaching, leadership, media coverage, and addressing gender-based violence. The SISTERS project aligns with these recommendations, aiming to create inclusive sports environments for all, regardless of people’s SOGIESC.
Objectives
- To understand trends, facts, and reasons behind women’s and the LGBTIAQ+ community’s inequitable access to sports through an intersectional lens.
- To raise capacities of grassroots sports organisations, trainers and sports players through gender-sensitive and intersectionality-informed methods to advance equity in sport and to tackle episodes of discrimination and violence on grounds of gender and SOGIESC.
- To raise awareness among sports professionals, players and sports organizations/federations of the detrimental effects of intersecting forms of discrimination and violence on women’s and the LGBTQIA+ community’s full participation in sports.
Activities
- Interviews targeted to different sports representatives on gender inequality and intersecting forms of discrimination, stereotypes and violence faced by women and LGBTQIA+ people in sports Identification of innovative, inclusive and intersectional good practices for gender and LGBTIQ+ equity and inclusion in sports.
- International training for project partners on LGBTIQ+ equity in sports, gender sensitivity and intersectionality informed methods.
- Training sessions for sport trainers, managers, and practitioners on gender and LGBTQIA+-sensitive governance in sports.
- Training sessions for young sports players on gender and LGBTQIA+-sensitive governance in sports.
- Local sports tournaments including final local award ceremonies for winning teams.
- Awareness raising campaign on gender and LGBTIQ+ inclusive sports by local teams and coaches.
- National round tables with local associations, sports clubs, policy-makers.
- National closing events.
- International Final Event.
Resources
- SISTERS Handbook. Results of the interviews collected at local level, good practices, guidelines for coaches, managers of sports clubs and tests and exercises for tackling gender discrimination in sport.
- Training framework & programme: a small manual that summarizes the program and methodology to run the local trainings.
- ‘Sports Bag’: a toolkit containing exercises, methods, videos, quizzes, self-assessment tests, readings which will be the main material used for the 2-levels speed-training programme.
- Videos from the tournaments: with interviews made to trainers, young people, teachers, coaches and the highlights of the tournaments.
Impact
- Improved the skills of 120 professionals working in sports sector (coaches, managers of sports associations, and professional sports practitioners) to ensure gender-sensitive governance in sports.
- Increased the understanding and knowledge of 240 athletes on gender and SOGIESC based discrimination in the sports field.
- Enhanced the cooperative skills of 360 young participants (60 per country) in sports events, where the presence of individuals from diverse gender and SOGIESC backgrounds is a key feature.
Partner
- CESIE ETS (Italy, coordinator)
- Associaciao de Futbol do Porto (Portugal)
- Champions Factory (Bulgaria)
- Symplexis (Greece)
- CSI Center for Social Innovation LTD (Cyprus)
