There are several issues in the sport and fitness industry which involve a discussion about gender. Today, female personal trainer, Becky, who’s based at an independent gym in West Sussex, shares her thoughts on the latest decision made by Fifa…
Last month, international football governing body, Fifa, announced new rules regarding the gender of coaches among staff for women’s football teams at certain levels. The decision has been made supposedly to address the gender gap in top-level coaches within both the women’s and men’s game, but what is the real issue here, and does this move solve it?
Gender gap in elite coaching
Whilst at grassroots and amateur level, the gender of coaches and fitness professionals across many sports can look quite balanced, the further up the grades athletes go, the more likely they are to be coached by a man. Whether the issue is fully understood is a valid question: many would typically blame the demands of international travel – sport is still an in-person job, and competing at the top level in any discipline tends to mean travelling away from home both to train and take part. And where an athlete goes, their coach follows, even in the age of being able to set training plans remotely.
I’ve often thought that this is a reductive take designed to distract ourselves from the true issue, which is likely misogyny, and the unconscious belief that, for some reason, a man is more likely to be successful than a woman. Because the number one goal for athletes is typically to win, and so that’s the kind of assurance they’re looking for.
And this is where the issue perpetuates itself. With the gender imbalance being what it is, the coaches with a proven record of success tend to be men. So we get into a vicious cycle of men being the chosen ones, women unable to break through the glass ceiling.
I think that, even at amateur and grassroots level, we have a problem with believing that women and men are equally skilled. If you close your eyes and picture a sports coach, what do they look like? Within personal training, it’s a common assumption that clients are literally looking for an example of what their body could be like via their coach, and that’s how a lot of personal trainers justify certain actions – such as professional photo shoots of their own body, allegedly proving the point that they know what they’re doing. If strength is a client’s goal, it might be natural that they’d automatically look to a man, as male coaches may well be stronger than female ones. But the logic here is still flawed…
Gender quotas issued by Fifa
I think Fifa’s move is an interesting one, and on the surface, it’s good news. However, it still sounds to me like they’re doing the bare minimum – the fact that this is only happening at certain levels, and within women’s teams, but not men’s ones – makes it feel like they’re making a token gesture, rather than a true commitment to equality of opportunity.
I always worry about enforcing rules to supposedly create space for marginalised people of any demographic – sometimes, groups aren’t ready for this kind of cultural change, and what you may in fact be doing is throwing some people under the bus for the sake of looking like you’re taking action. Quota systems have been used in sport previously, and the impact is never just open those for whom the door is being opened.
If an organisation isn’t culturally or logistically prepared to take on people of different genders, ethnicities, or any other characteristic, they can’t usually be forced to be ready. Because it isn’t just a technical or practical challenge, it’s a moral one.
When any of us takes on a job, or agrees to be part of a group, we do so by becoming part of the existing demographic. Some of us will assimilate, either because we feel a positive cultural fit or because we want to get along, and others will step into a culture with the intention of making change… and those already within that ecosystem have a choice to either go along with changes, or push back. It’s the latter that concerns me most in this context.
Often, when women are encouraged to participate, some men will respond negatively, with this response varying in manner. It could be that men are dismissive or unwelcoming, or it could be that they’re openly hostile and go as far as harassing or bullying others. This is a serious safety issue that isn’t resolved simply by a say-so from on high.
My hopes for Fifa
I hope that this move has been properly thought through. I hope that policies are in place to properly support those who come in to new roles thanks to a quota system. I hope that these people have the opportunity to develop their careers as they would wish to, and aren’t hindered by a system that’s still getting used to change.
And I hope that we come up with a better solution to the issue of women not making it into top coaching roles. Because, that way, everyone can win.