By Mark Baber
March 9 – A new Women in Football (WiF) survey, the results of which were published on Tuesday, presents a worrying picture of sexism in the workplace within UK football, including significant rises in those who have personally suffered bullying and sexual harassment.
The survey, conducted by Professor Sue Bridgewater (pictured) who runs the highly acclaimed LMA Diploma course for football managers and teaches on Liverpool University’s Football MBA is a follow up of a similar study in 2014 and is based on the responses of 505 women coaches, match officials, administrators representing clubs in all four professional divisions in England; Scottish and Welsh clubs too; players; doctors, physios; lawyers and agents, football media, football PR and sponsorship, members of the FA, County FAs; Premier League, Football League, non-league and not-for-profit organisations.
The survey finds that since 2014, the percentage of women who are victims of sexual harassment has doubled; that some women are banned from areas at work preventing them from doing their job properly and almost half of the women surveyed have experienced sexism in the workplace, with just 10% of females working in the sport believing enough is being done to improve their opportunities in the industry.
61% of respondents have witnessed sexism in the workplace compared to 66% in the 2014 survey with 46% – almost half – experiencing it themselves although that figure is down from 57% two years ago.
Almost a quarter – 24% – had personally suffered bullying with 15% claiming to be victims of sexual harassment, more than double the 7% found in 2014. Around a fifth – 19% had actually been barred from certain areas on the basis of their gender – compared to the 7% found in 2014.
Similarly almost a quarter – 23% – across all sectors of the industry, feel their appearance is judged over their ability to do their job and 15% believe they are expected to look glamorous at work.
“Two years on from our first ever ground-breaking survey on women’s views in the football industry, the message is loud and clear: still not enough is being done to support women employed in the sector, or protect them from discrimination and abuse. With twice the number of women reporting sexual harassment and banning from certain areas within their own workplace, WiF urgently calls on the governing bodies of the game to work together to bring football into the 21st century and make it a safe, welcoming and progressive industry for all women to work in,” said a WiF press release.
Moya Dodd, FIFA ExCo Member & Vice President of the Asian Football Confederation responded to the results saying:”The Women in Football survey results show just how much we needed the gender equality reforms recently passed by FIFA. They now need to be implemented and embraced, to challenge the culture of the game so that the whole talent pool can be harnessed, not just half of it.”
Heather Rabbatts, FA Board Member and Chair of FA IAB commented: “We still have a considerable way to go before there is a level playing field for women working across the game. Surveys like this are a good indicator of where the industry is on some of these critical issues and incidents of bullying, sexism and sexual harassment, must be dealt with whenever and wherever they arise in the game.
“I know first-hand however, that the experiences of many women in the game are increasingly positive; there are more women than ever before, working in and making a fantastic contribution to football, both on and off the field.
“As Chair of the Inclusion Advisory Board, it is our job to oversee the delivery of clear actions to improve all aspects of diversity, including more women at every level in the football workforce. I am confident we will continue to make progress in this respect.”
The results of this latest survey must be particularly worrying for the FA, which responded officially to the 2014 survey with Darren Bailey, currently the FA’s Football Regulation and Administration Director, having said: “Women have a vital role to play in all aspects of the game. We are determined to eliminate negative attitudes towards women. We want those who see or are subject to harassment or discriminatory behaviour in football, to report it to us directly, or via the Kick It Out app, which offers discreet reporting.”
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