Addressing Gender Equity in Sport

Sport is a facilitator of mutual knowledge by acting for the development of non-verbal communication, the verification of skills, the construction of social bonds in a healthy and safe environment and within precise rules. However, episodes of exclusion are frequently observed in different contexts in which sport is practiced (professional and non-professional clubs, schools, gyms) and at different levels (public, media, governance). This phenomenon occurs in the presence of different social, religious, gender statuses and in the presence of disabled people. This represents a contradiction to the potential of sport for the development of the individual as a member of the group and of a group as part of the community. In fact, sport offers the opportunity to develop strategies by maintaining the balance between competition and cooperation. Nowadays, discrimination in sport is being investigated and studied in Europe, in particular, as regards gender issues, the topic is still neglected.In this regard, the AGES project - wanted to study the persistence of gender stereotypes and prejudices through research, the design of strategies and the exchange of good practices in the countries concerned. The project was aimed at young people as representatives of future generations, and at adults involved in their growth (parents, trainers and coaches). The partnership ensured the coverage of the topic at the academic level involving UCAM (ES) and UTH (GR), civil society, CO.RI Institute - Comunicazione & Ricerche (IT) and a UISP sports association (IT). Italy, Spain and Greece share common problems at a geographical, cultural and traditional level. In the three countries, gender discrimination in sport is present in terms of: social stereotypes, lack of recognition of the sport-professional level, low level of decision makers' positions.