Bridging The Gap: Women in Action Sports

Emily Crofton | | Post Tag for BrainsBrains
Lizzie Armanto, the first female skateboarder ever featured on the cover of Transworld Skateboarding in November 2016. (Photo: newyorkminutemag.com)

Mikaela Shiffrin, Lizzie Armanto, and Kate Courtney are only a few of the empowering female athletes making a name for themselves in male-dominated sports environments. For many years, sports disciplines have been dominated by males. With a focus on strength, endurance, and physicality; many of these sports automatically leverage males. It is not easy for females to reach the top level of a sport when competing against their male counterparts.

Being at the disadvantage, women experience levels of sexism and inequality. When approaching sports such as rock climbing or skiing, women automatically notice a gender gap. Societal expectations align with men and women sticking to their gender-specific sport. When women cross the barrier and stray from their gender-specific arena, they often experience a level of criticism.

Mikaela Shiffrin winning the overall World Cup Title. (Photo: redbull.com)

However, recent years have shed light on the break down of gender barriers in male-dominated sports. Among the many women representing females in the sports industry, Mikaela Shiffrin has dominated in alpine skiing. She is the youngest racer ever to reach 50 World Cup victories and currently sits tied for fourth in the list of all-time World Cup victories among men and women. This shift in the world of competitive sports has not only encouraged sports fans and athletes to embrace more progressive mindsets, but it also supports future generations of young women to follow.


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