The early 19th Century saw a complete discouragement of women’s participation in sport. The idea of harming the female anatomy and medical myths and falsifications made it difficult for women to explore their abilities across various sports. This idea of women not typically fitting the sporting domain has constructed society’s idea of women’s participation and made it quite the challenge to rewrite the narrative surrounding women in sport. The sexualisation of women in sport has also made it difficult for women to view sport as a career or permanent part of their lifestyle. It has also made it difficult for young girls to engage in sport and maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity due to issues around body image and pressure from the media.

However, women have been challenging sport as a male domain for generations. Women were first allowed to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris, 1900. Since then Australia has had some terrific female athletes who have helped promote female sport. Betty Cuthbert won multiple gold medals in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. The National Netball Championships began in 1920. And more modern athletes, such as Cathy Freeman and Sam Kerr have continues to challenge the idea that sport is a male domain. We can add to this Nike ads such as #likeagirl, which try to promote female atheltes.

In the current climate we have a monumental amount of women’s sporting competitions that allows females to participate at the highest levels – representing their Country. Women continue to challenge society’s perception of their ability to play at the same level as their male counterparts. We have seen professional womens competitions in not just netball and hockey, but in rugby league, AFL, and soccer.

Women will continue to be challenged by a number of discrepancies including pay gaps, modified rules, media coverage, sponsorship and advertising.

In contrast to this, males have been participating in sports often dominated by women, such as netball. However, this has been to a much smaller extent than women have been participating in traditionally male sports.