Nottingham Trent University conducted a survey across women in sport and the research discovered that nearly two thirds of elite female athletes felt that the pandemic had a profound affect on women’s progress in the sporting world. Female athletes expected that the effect of the pandemic would hit women in sport where it hurt the most, financially and thereby increasing the gender pay gap.
This has been a real concern for women in sport who have fought so hard to close the gender pay gap over the last ten years. Before the pandemic, women’s sport was getting more coverage than ever and popularity of women’s sport was steadily increasing.
The lockdowns that have occurred and the removal of crows at sporting events has really taken away the momentum that women have had. One example of the uncertainty was described by female boxer Natasha Jonas who’s last major fight was watched by millions. Then the lockdown happened and now she does not know when her next match will be. With money in female sports at a minimum, she now has to find other ways to supplement her income until another fight can be scheduled.
This is story repeated with many other female sports teams who have no idea when they will have their next competitive event.
The survey has also found that many athletes believe the pandemic will have a long term affect on finance in women’s sport and the gender pay gap likely to proceed for much longer.
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