Business culture allegedly includes sexual harassment, according to Simic's assertion.
In the world of football, a concerning issue has come to the forefront: the escalating incidents of sexual harassment directed towards women players on social media platforms. This abuse, rooted in persistent sexism and misogyny, intensifies as the visibility and popularity of women's football grow.
### Causes
The culture of football remains rife with sexism, as evidenced by the abuses faced by players and even referees like Stephanie Frappart. With the increasing prominence of women in the sport, they become targets of abuse on social media, where they gain larger followings, unfortunately attracting more targeted abuse.
The online environment serves as a breeding ground for hate speech, with a significant proportion of abusive comments directed at female players classified as sexist or misogynistic. Intersectional factors, such as race and sexual orientation, often lead to disproportionately higher levels of harassment for women of colour and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
### Frequency
Research during major tournaments like the UEFA Women’s Euro and Women’s Championships reveals hundreds of offensive posts flagged per event. Studies show that 92% of women in public life experience online abuse, with about 31% being sexual in nature. High-profile cases have even led to legal action, such as stalking charges related to online harassment of prominent women basketball players.
### Solutions
Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach, combining technological, organisational, and cultural strategies. Partnerships with technology firms, like the WNBA’s Chicago Sky collaboration with Moonshot, use AI and monitoring tools to identify, flag, and mitigate abusive content. Sporting organisations, such as UEFA, have adopted zero tolerance policies toward discrimination and harassment, enhancing monitoring of social media and collaborating with platforms to combat hate speech actively.
Providing mental health resources, digital safety training, and encouraging temporary social media breaks are strategies to protect players from constant online abuse. Cultural change efforts, including education to combat sexism and misogyny, promoting gender parity, and enforcing strict sanctions against offenders both online and offline, are essential for addressing the root causes.
Continuous cooperation between sporting bodies and social media companies to refine content moderation policies helps reduce harmful content and protect athletes. As the fight against sexual harassment continues, it is crucial that sports institutions, social media platforms, and society at large work together to create a safer space for women in football.
Julia Simic, a former Bundesliga player for FC Bayern Munich, has spoken about the "ugly side" of the boom in women's football, citing her own experiences with harassment during her time at AC Milan. Simic, currently out of the EM due to a knee injury, attributes the increased visibility of players on social media as a contributing factor to the worsening problem of sexual harassment.
DFB captain Giulia Gwinn has publicly discussed her experiences with harassment on social media, including receiving unsolicited nude pictures, or "dick pics," from men. Gwinn, who wrote about her experiences in her book before the European Championship in Switzerland, deletes, reports, and blocks such harassing messages.
While the incidents of sexual harassment discussed in this article are not limited to a specific team or location, it is essential to acknowledge that the experiences of women in football are not comparable to those of men due to women being physically the weaker sex, as Simic believes. The article does not specify if any men have spoken about their experiences with sexual harassment on social media.
As the world of football continues to evolve and grow, it is paramount that the sport addresses and eradicates the issue of sexual harassment on social media to create a more inclusive and safe environment for all players.
- The Commission, in its consultation on the draft directive, might find it beneficial to address the rampant sexism and misogyny in football, considering the increasing cases of sexual harassment against women players on social media.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, mental health resources should be made available for women football players to help them cope with the constant online abuse they face, which often includes sexual harassment.
- General news outlets could highlight the perspective of athletes like Julia Simic, who have faced sexual harassment in their careers, to raise awareness about the issue and bring it under the purview of crime-and-justice discussions.
- Sports analysts could delve into the intersectional aspects of sexual harassment in sports, discussing the disproportionate levels of harassment faced by women of color and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, shedding light on what science refers to as systemic racism and discrimination.
