Complex Challenges Persist for Women's Sports Visibility in France
Ongoing underexposure issues in women's sports in France persist despite upcoming major events.
Key Points
- • Upcoming women's sports events include Eurobasket, Women's Euro, and Rugby World Cup.
- • Visibility in women's sports is essential at all levels, as emphasized by advocates.
- • Media coverage remains inadequate, leading to frustrations among athletes.
- • Counterarguments to claims of poor profitability in women's sports are gaining traction.
As significant events line up for women's sports this summer, including Eurobasket, the Women's Euro, and the Rugby World Cup, scrutiny intensifies around the perennial issue of underexposure and media coverage disparities in France. Despite these high-profile tournaments being broadcast on major free channels, frustrations persist among athletes and advocates regarding the inadequate media spotlight on women’s sports.
Recently highlighted by Marion Bertola, vice-president of ComXte Club, the urgency of visibility in women's sports spans all levels, from elite competitions to grassroots initiatives. She stresses that It is essential for young girls to see women participating in sports, underscoring the role of representation in normalizing female athleticism for young boys as well. Yet, athletes, including women's basketball player Narjes, voice their grievances over significant gaps in media coverage, pointing out difficulties in accessing basic information about major leagues like the WNBA.
Critics argue against entrenched beliefs held by broadcasters that cite lack of profitability and low audience numbers as reasons for underinvestment in women's sports. They cite evidence to counter these claims, such as the remarkable 5 million viewers for semi-final matches at Roland-Garros, illustrating a substantial and growing audience for women's events. Sandy Montanola of the University of Rennes notes a deeper-rooted issue where commentary on women's sports is often less engaging and tends to employ a more passive vocabulary than that used in discussions of men's events, further contributing to their diminished visibility.
The conversation around women's sports in France reveals that, while strides have been made over the last decade, systemic hurdles still must be overcome to achieve true parity with their male counterparts. As the summer progresses, both audiences and broadcasting networks will face critical questions on how to better support and elevate women's sports, not just viewed as an obligation but as an integral part of the sporting landscape.