Sports Deemed Unsuitable for Women in India

• Posted In : 2021-Apr-30

‘I promised myself, and I proved myself.’ - Mary Kom

To this date, there are still people that feel the need to dictate the lives of Indian women and the sports they want to play. According to research conducted within India on sports, ‘more than a third of the respondents picked one or more sports as not suitable for women’. These sports included ‘boxing, wrestling, and kabaddi’. The reason behind such a clearly absurd statement is that ‘women are unable to play at all times’ or ‘aren’t strong enough. However, countless successful sportswomen in India are breaking this stereotype every single day.

‘Don’t let anyone tell you you’re weak because you’re a woman.’ - Mary Kom, one of India’s greatest boxers. 

How can we solve the ill-informed thinking of some Indians?

Indian sportswomen need more recognition in the media. Sportswomen in India are constantly placed under scrutiny with unique challenges, such as never ‘receiving as much recognition as their male counterparts.

Sportsmen such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Milkha Singh are well-recognized within India and internationally, but ‘50% of people surveyed in India were unable to name even a single sportswoman’. 

The total coverage of sportswomen averaged only five percent of total sports coverage, which means strong and powerful Indian sportswomen, such as Babita Kumari, Pinki Rani, and Payel Chowdhury are usually precluded from media.

The younger generations of India need role models to look up to and without adequate coverage in media, generations will continue to grow up thinking that sportswomen are not as good as sportsmen. But the truth is, women can excel at any sport.

To the sportswomen in India, do not let what others think dictate you from your true passion. 

Go box and go wrestle, you can do anything that you set your mind to, don't let others limit you.

Author : Meghala Srinath

Meghala Srinath loves writing about things that aspire her and spending time with friends and family.

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