Discrimination In Sports
Matthew Sebastian
Sports are very important to our lives. According to Practo, they “drastically improve your endurance, strength, stamina and help build lean muscles.” Also sports are a great way for entertainment. According to World Atlas, “It is estimated that more than half of the world's population consider themselves to be association football [soccer] fans. The sport enjoys an estimated 4.0 billion person following, and a global sphere of influence.”
This may seem really cool, but unfortunately there is discimination in sports. For example, according to i-sight, there is racial discrimination, gender discrimination, religious discrimination, disability discrimination and LGBTQ discrimination.
Racial Discrimination in Sports
Racism is the belief in the superiority of one race over another. Colin Kaepernick is a black football player who continues to experience this kind of descrimination. In 2016, Colin Kaepernick refused to stand in a national anthem. According to The New York Times he did this as a statement against racial oppression. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” he said. Many people spoke out and supported his right to protest.
Another example of racism in sports can be seen in soccer games when fans like throw bananas or make monkey noises at Black soccer players, but you can read more about that in my colleague’s article.
Lebron James also suffered from discrimination. According to i-sight, “LeBron James, one of today’s most successful basketball players, is not immune to racism. In June 2017, the athlete’s home was vandalized with racial slurs the night before that season’s NBA Finals.”
There are plenty of other examples of acts of racism in sports. The Digital Ambassador Club reported that “a bar owner in Missouri used African-American NFL player’s jerseys as doormats.”
Gender Discrimination in Sports
Women are not treated equally in sports. Men make way more money than women. According to EIGO Daily, “the U.S men’s team collected $9 million dollars in the World Cup soccer victory in 2014, but the U.S. Women’s team earned only $2 million for their 2015 women’s World Cup soccer victory.” The men got paid over four times what the women got! Another reason is according to EIGO Daily, Out of the world's 100 highest paid athletes only one women is on the list, Selena Williams.
In schools, women also face segregation in sports. Sports Rec reported that male athletes get $179 million more in athletic scholarships each year that females do. Additionally, only 24 percent of the athletic operating budgets spent on female sports in colleges.
In 1972 a law was created to stop sport sexism in sports. It is Title IX (9). According to Edgov “Title IX states that: No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” This means in school they have to include women to sports programs.
However, there is also sexism in sports for boys. For example, at Hunters Point Community Middle School there is no boys volleyball team. This is unfair and should be changed. This creates inequality in the school. There should be a boys volleyball team because it can lead to many opportunities for them. One student said, “I want there to be a volleyball team and it is unfair.”
Religious Discrimination in Sports
In sports you can get treated unfairly because of your religion. In Maryland, a basketball player wasn’t allowed to play because she was wearing a hijab. A hijab is a a head covering worn in public by some Muslim women. According to Usa Today “In a stunning turn of events, a Maryland girls basketball coach was forced to hold out one of her players from a regional final after referees enforced a rule they had passed on previously all season.” The hijab was a violation of a rule that requires the player to have documented evidence that they are required to do so for religious reasons.
Moreover, in the religons Islam, Judaism and Christanity, people fast. Fasting means when you don’t eat or drink for a long time. Often, you can only eat at night. According to i-sight “ People may assume that fasting players will be too weak to participate.” This may be true but they should not be making assumptions.
Disability Discrimination in Sports
Disability discrimination is not talked about in sports that much as racial, gender and religious discrimination. People with disabilities are often denied. According to the United Nations “Through sport, persons with disabilities acquire vital social skills, develop independence, and become empowered to act as agents of change. Sport teaches individuals how to communicate effectively as well as the significance of teamwork and cooperation and respect for others.” There are sports for disabled people too. There is wheelchair tennis. This helps bring equal opportunities in sports.
LBGTQ Discrimination in Sports
There is LBGTQ discrimination in sports. According to i-sight “LGBTQ athletes often face physical abuse, verbal threats, cyberbullying and exclusion from team social activities. Teammates, opponents and spectators may also make homophobic jokes or use slurs.”
To help LBGTQ people we can Participate in programs like the You Can Play project or AthleteAlly to show your organization supports LGBTQ athletes.
In conclusion, today discrimination in sports is a serious problem worldwide. It can be shown through many types of discrimination. Getting rid of discrimination is very important. If we start to take action in early years, equality in sports will finally be realized.
Sports are very important to our lives. According to Practo, they “drastically improve your endurance, strength, stamina and help build lean muscles.” Also sports are a great way for entertainment. According to World Atlas, “It is estimated that more than half of the world's population consider themselves to be association football [soccer] fans. The sport enjoys an estimated 4.0 billion person following, and a global sphere of influence.”
This may seem really cool, but unfortunately there is discimination in sports. For example, according to i-sight, there is racial discrimination, gender discrimination, religious discrimination, disability discrimination and LGBTQ discrimination.
Racial Discrimination in Sports
Racism is the belief in the superiority of one race over another. Colin Kaepernick is a black football player who continues to experience this kind of descrimination. In 2016, Colin Kaepernick refused to stand in a national anthem. According to The New York Times he did this as a statement against racial oppression. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” he said. Many people spoke out and supported his right to protest.
Another example of racism in sports can be seen in soccer games when fans like throw bananas or make monkey noises at Black soccer players, but you can read more about that in my colleague’s article.
Lebron James also suffered from discrimination. According to i-sight, “LeBron James, one of today’s most successful basketball players, is not immune to racism. In June 2017, the athlete’s home was vandalized with racial slurs the night before that season’s NBA Finals.”
There are plenty of other examples of acts of racism in sports. The Digital Ambassador Club reported that “a bar owner in Missouri used African-American NFL player’s jerseys as doormats.”
Gender Discrimination in Sports
Women are not treated equally in sports. Men make way more money than women. According to EIGO Daily, “the U.S men’s team collected $9 million dollars in the World Cup soccer victory in 2014, but the U.S. Women’s team earned only $2 million for their 2015 women’s World Cup soccer victory.” The men got paid over four times what the women got! Another reason is according to EIGO Daily, Out of the world's 100 highest paid athletes only one women is on the list, Selena Williams.
In schools, women also face segregation in sports. Sports Rec reported that male athletes get $179 million more in athletic scholarships each year that females do. Additionally, only 24 percent of the athletic operating budgets spent on female sports in colleges.
In 1972 a law was created to stop sport sexism in sports. It is Title IX (9). According to Edgov “Title IX states that: No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” This means in school they have to include women to sports programs.
However, there is also sexism in sports for boys. For example, at Hunters Point Community Middle School there is no boys volleyball team. This is unfair and should be changed. This creates inequality in the school. There should be a boys volleyball team because it can lead to many opportunities for them. One student said, “I want there to be a volleyball team and it is unfair.”
Religious Discrimination in Sports
In sports you can get treated unfairly because of your religion. In Maryland, a basketball player wasn’t allowed to play because she was wearing a hijab. A hijab is a a head covering worn in public by some Muslim women. According to Usa Today “In a stunning turn of events, a Maryland girls basketball coach was forced to hold out one of her players from a regional final after referees enforced a rule they had passed on previously all season.” The hijab was a violation of a rule that requires the player to have documented evidence that they are required to do so for religious reasons.
Moreover, in the religons Islam, Judaism and Christanity, people fast. Fasting means when you don’t eat or drink for a long time. Often, you can only eat at night. According to i-sight “ People may assume that fasting players will be too weak to participate.” This may be true but they should not be making assumptions.
Disability Discrimination in Sports
Disability discrimination is not talked about in sports that much as racial, gender and religious discrimination. People with disabilities are often denied. According to the United Nations “Through sport, persons with disabilities acquire vital social skills, develop independence, and become empowered to act as agents of change. Sport teaches individuals how to communicate effectively as well as the significance of teamwork and cooperation and respect for others.” There are sports for disabled people too. There is wheelchair tennis. This helps bring equal opportunities in sports.
LBGTQ Discrimination in Sports
There is LBGTQ discrimination in sports. According to i-sight “LGBTQ athletes often face physical abuse, verbal threats, cyberbullying and exclusion from team social activities. Teammates, opponents and spectators may also make homophobic jokes or use slurs.”
To help LBGTQ people we can Participate in programs like the You Can Play project or AthleteAlly to show your organization supports LGBTQ athletes.
In conclusion, today discrimination in sports is a serious problem worldwide. It can be shown through many types of discrimination. Getting rid of discrimination is very important. If we start to take action in early years, equality in sports will finally be realized.
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