Let's Talk About #Sports Too.

Sports, when purposefully planned and gives us the environment and opportunity to enforce values such as respect and equality both on and off the field and can reduce gender inequalities and violence against women.

Yet, sports can also influence attitudes and behaviours that Condone violence against women and is often a space where violence against women and sexual harassment occurs. Many women have at some time been the subject of sexual harassment or abused in their working lives. But significantly the sports environment has been recognized as a microcosm of sexual harassment and assault. If we see the past decades have illuminated the painful reality that childs and adolescents athletes in their tight- knit, highly aspirational environments are vulnerable to sexual misconduct by figures they emulate and trust. Sexual harassment and abuse in all sports and at all levels. There have been numerous examples of coaches in authority positions who were given complete access to young athletes and abused their powers. Some of the more disturbing incidents have involved sexual acts with minors and have inflected lifelong wounds on victims.

 Instances of sexual harassment especially when the subject are women is not uncommon in India. And in sports as well, the issue is one of the major concerns. Here we celebrate the success of the Sania Mirza, Mary Kom, P.V. Sindhu , Deepika Kumari. And then these women who bring glory to the country have to face various forms of sexual harassment. Women athletes are often subjected to sexual harassment they are condemned for their choice of attire and objectified beyond our imagination. 

And most of the times women athletes are forced to accept the circumstances as the authorities turn a blind eye, which is worse.

Their are several instances of sexual harassment in sports in the country when no action was taken despite reporting. 

• According to the reports in New Delhi seven women athletes have come forward with sexual harassment against renowned sports coach. 

• On 2015 a 15 year old athlete commits suicide following sexual harassment. The female athlete was, allegedly, sexually harassed by a few senior athletes. 

• A few players of the Indian National Women's Hockey team registered a formal complaint in 2010 regarding sexual harassment against their then coach. 

The fact that sexual harassment can be perpetrated by coaches, other athletes or other parties involved in supporting and training athletes. 

Research demonstrates that sexual harassment and abuse in sports seriously impacts on athletes physical and psychological health. It causes anxiety, depression, substance abuse, self harm and suicide are some of the serious health consequences. In addition, a surprising number of females had chosen to drop out of elite sports altogether because of harassments.

Second World conference on women and sports in 1998, addresses the responsibility of all parties involved in sports to ensure a safe and a supportive environment for girls and women participating in sports at all levels by taking steps to eliminate all forms of harassment, abuses, violence and exploitations. Laws on sexual harassment should be extended to apply to sporting activities.

The authorities should develop policies and procedures for the prevention of sexual harassment and abuses. 

ABUSE AND HARASSMENT IN SPORTS DETER  GIRLS AND WOMEN'S FROM PARTICIPATING AND DEVELOPING AS ATHLETES . IMPLEMENTING POLICIES TO SAFEGUARD GIRLS AND WOMEN REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCH OFFENCES.