Throughout history, sports have been divided not only by skill or talent but also by gender. From female-dominated dance studios to male-dominated football fields, the division between sports through gender stereotypes is the root of many problematic views on athletics.​

Since 7000 BC, sports have existed,  as wrestling matches were documented on cave paintings in the Bayankhongor Province of Mongolia, dating back to the Neolithic Age. These first grapplers were depicted as men with a crowd of masculine figures surrounding them. Though grappling is just one sport, many other sports that are more prominent today came into existence soon after. From the ancient Greeks’ creation of gymnastics for military purposes to Ebenzer Cobb Morley‘s creation of modern soccer, one thing has become increasingly more apparent: a mix of cultural and physical stereotypes appeared to restrict women from any involvement in the development of sports.

For hundreds of years, societal norms pushed the idea that either women were too weak and physically fragile to participate in sports, or that intense somatic effort was “unladylike” or unattractive. In the 1800s, some medical professionals, such as Dr. Edward Clarke, went so far as to claim that intense physical exertion could harm a woman’s uterus. When combining this constant oppression by many men with the pressures inflicted to live up to the high standards set, rising to the occasion and creating a whole new field of performance seemed like a daunting task. Women’s sports were never performed in any professional sense until 1884, when Suzanne Lenglen of France began her exhibition of tennis at Wimbledon in 1919. This led her to become the first well-recognized female professional athlete, as she toured the world as a paid tennis performer in 1926.

Even now, many ideals around female sports still run deep. Many schools don’t offer sports such as wrestling or football for girls, reflecting the influence of conservative gender norms that still have on sports. This inequality widens the gap between experience and opportunity, restricting the advancements young women can make. These setbacks can also limit the opportunity for scholarships, the pursuit of athletic interests and create larger reinforcements of the idea that certain sports are meant for certain genders.

Many question whether men’s higher testosterone rates are also a point in debates. Though this doesn’t have an exact stream of aggression for boys, many male-dominated sports are the epitome of fierce competition. “Men participate in martial arts at a much higher rate than women, representing about 73% of overall martial arts studio membership,” said Gymdesk.

Even though many sports are male-dominated, there are still times and situations where traditionalist ideologies could raise doubt and restriction for sports considered more feminine. “I think that many people look down on the men who dance in pointe shoes because they think it is very easy, or we do it because we cannot dance as a man traditionally,” said Iván Félix in an interview with The Guardian discussing difficulties of ballet throughout his career. Male dancers are expected to be strong and athletic, while still performing and being graceful. The difficulty of attempting to balance masculine stereotypes while performing feminine acts creates a visual juxtaposition of opposing gender norms.

Although things have improved for women’s athletics, they still face many obstacles in the path to equality compared to men. Many female athletes still struggle to neutralize sports mainly played by men — fair pay, media coverage and leadership opportunities are still huge obstacles women face every day. Recognizing both the history and ongoing struggles of women in sports can help provide a base of understanding on how to move forward and take strides in female athletes’ recognition and representation in sports. Sports should be about talent and dedication, not gender, and true inclusivity benefits society and athletes alike.