Sexism and inequalities in sport

Women and Equalities Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 2 May 2023 Closed: 28 May 2024 Parliament page
Following earlier sessions on football, timed to coincide with the 2022 men’s World Cup, the Women and Equalities Committee is examining sexism and inequality in sport more widely. A key focus will be on how girls’ and women’s health and physiology – body image, injuries and sports-related illnesses, periods, pregnancy … Read more
12 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
17 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 25 events
17 May
2024
Report published
24 Apr
2024
Correspondence
21 Mar
2024
Correspondence
5 Mar
2024
Report published
10 Jan
2024
Correspondence
10 Jan
2024
Correspondence
10 Jan
2024
Correspondence
10 Jan
2024
Correspondence
13 Dec
2023
Correspondence
6 Dec
2023
Correspondence
29 Nov
2023
Correspondence
29 Nov
2023
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
22 Nov 2023
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Women and Equalities Committee
Dame Katherine Grainger DBE · UK Sport Dr Craig Ranson · UK Sports Institute Emily Handyside · UK Coaching Jeanette Bain-Burnett · Sport England
6 Sep 2023
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Women and Equalities Committee
Jo Ward · Lawn Tennis Association Kelly Gordon · England Netball Nick Pink · England Hockey
14 Jun 2023
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Women and Equalities Committee
Baz Moffat · The Well HQ Dr Louise Newson · The Menopause Charity Eboni Usoro-Brown Janet Birkmyre Kate Seary · Kyniska Advocacy Lisa West · Women in Sport Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne Shaunagh Brown
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Health barriers for girls and women in sport HC 130 5 Mar 2024 19 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
Clear
13 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Health barriers for…
Establish a taskforce to develop strategy addressing sportswomen's health, kit, and research representation.
We recommend the DCMS and DfE establish a taskforce, including UK Sport, the UK Sports Institute, women’s health and fitness experts including The Well HQ, sport and exercise research institutes, and the UK divisions of leading sportswear and sporting goods … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, stating it will use the existing National Physical Activity Taskforce and the recently established Board of Women’s Sport to tackle sportswomen's health and physiology, noting that suitable kit design will be part of future discussions.
Government Equalities Office
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18 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Health barriers for…
Urge Government to actively support best practices for pregnancy and maternity in sport.
A long-overdue culture change is taking shape in sport around pregnancy and maternity. While policies and practices being adopted in funded Olympic and Paralympic sports and, to a lesser extent, in some professional women’s sports are welcome, there is still … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation, noting that employment rights for maternity and pay are determined by employment status and that sportswomen who are employees are entitled to statutory maternity leave and pay. It states that maternity leave and pay will be discussed by the Women’s Football Review Implementation Group and the Board of Women’s Sport.
Government Equalities Office
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19 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report - Health barriers for…
Establish a permanent working group on best practice in pregnancy and maternity policy in sport.
We recommend the DCMS, UK Sport, Sport England and the sports’ national governing bodies establish a permanent working group on best practice in pregnancy and maternity policy, including maternity leave and pay and wider policies to support pregnant sportswomen and … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation, outlining existing statutory maternity rights and noting that the Board of Women's Sport, with UK Sport and Sport England, will include maternity leave and pay in its player welfare discussions.
Government Equalities Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 19 of 12 classified
Accepted 5
Accepted in Part 3
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 7
Total 12 recs + 7 conclusions
Correspondence 17 letters
24 Apr 2024 Correspondence with Frasers Group, relating to the categorisation of football boots and the impact this has on women and girls, dated March/April 2024
Parliament page
21 Mar 2024 Correspondence to Group CEO, Frasers Group PLC regarding barriers faced by women and girls in sport , dated 20 March 2024
Parliament page
10 Jan 2024 Correspondence from Sport England, relating to Sexism and inequalities in sport, dated 14 December 2023
Parliament page
10 Jan 2024 Correspondence from UK Sports Institute, relating to Sexism and inequalities in sport, dated December 2023
Parliament page
10 Jan 2024 Sport integrity statistics received from UK Sport, December 2023
Parliament page
10 Jan 2024 Correspondence from Minister for Schools, relating to health and physiology- related barriers for girls and women in sport, dated 19 December 2023
Parliament page
13 Dec 2023 Correspondence from Minister for Sport, Gambling and Civil Society, relating to the Independent Review of women's football, dated 4 December 2023
Parliament page
6 Dec 2023 Correspondence from the Youth Sport Trust relating to the Sexism and inequalities in sport inquiry, dated 29 November
Parliament page
29 Nov 2023 Correspondence from the Chair to the Minister for Women's health Strategy and Minister for Sport, Gambling and Civil Society, relating to Health and Physiology-related barriers for girls and women in sport and exercise, dated 22 November 2023
Parliament page
29 Nov 2023 Correspondence from the Chair to the Minister for Schools, relating to Health and physiology-related barriers for girls and women in sport and exercise, dated 22 November 2023
Parliament page
8 Nov 2023 Correspondence from Nike, relating to football boots
Parliament page
8 Nov 2023 Correspondence from the FA Director of Women's Football, The Football Association, relating to women's football
Parliament page
8 Nov 2023 Correspondence from Sports Direct, relating to football boots
Parliament page
25 Oct 2023 Correspondence from the Chief Executive Officer Swim England, relating to the health and wellbeing of female swimmers
Parliament page
25 Oct 2023 Correspondence to Chief Executive Officer Swim England, relating to the health and wellbeing of female swimmers to
Parliament page
7 Aug 2023 Responses from Sports Executives on design and manufacture of football boots
Parliament page
5 Jul 2023 To committee Letter from the Chair to Sport Executives on the design and manufacturing of football boots
Parliament page