By Luke Hawkins
INTERNATIONAL Women’s day raises awareness of the disadvantages women face across the world.
Globally, women are paid 11% less than males who work the same jobs.
Only 24% of national parliamentarians are women. (UNWomen)
International Women’s Day also focuses on great female role models to inspire the next generation of women.
Female athlete Morgan Lake has commented on how important it is for women to have role models.
She described how she was “fortunate in that I could look at athletes like Jess Ennis-Hill and Christine Ohuruogu.”
She also spoke of the importance of increased televised coverage of women’s sport, so girls can “discover their own role models.”
There is a massive importance for women to have their own role models in any field.
However, when it comes to sport and the media coverage it seems to be vital.
Morgan Lake also stated she felt “too embarrassed” to use the gym equipment at her school.
She described that this was because it felt like women shouldn’t be muscly.
But there is improvement. BT sports presenter Sarra Elgan says things have changed and there are more female role models in sport and the media.
She claimed “There’s a line isn’t there – ‘you can’t see them, you can’t be them’. So I think that is getting better.”
International women’s day aims to break the barriers that currently exist and although things aren’t equal yet, women in the sports industry definitely think progress is being made.