Invisible at the Starting Line: Structural Barriers for Women in Sports

Abstract

Based on the observation of various sporting events, where the scarce presence of women in technical and authoritative roles is evident, a reflection is proposed on the invisibility of women in decision-making spaces. This situation is not exclusive to a specific discipline but is reproduced across multiple areas of professional sports, where women face structural barriers that limit their access to positions such as referees, judges, coaches, managers, and event creators. The text draws on recent data that reveal persistent inequality in sports, with the aim of shedding light on the dynamics that perpetuate gender disparity and offering reflections that promote more equitable and representative female leadership. It concludes that gender stereotypes and social expectations not only affect female participation as athletes but also restrict their presence in the spaces where decisions are made, narratives are built, and the future of sports is defined. Transforming these imaginaries is urgent to move toward a truly inclusive and equitable sporting practice.