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Misogyny in Sport
16 September 2020
Lead MP
Alex Davies-Jones
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
Parliamentary ProcedureLocal Government
Other Contributors: 2
At a Glance
Alex Davies-Jones raised concerns about misogyny in sport in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Diolch, Madam Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to introduce my first Adjournment debate on misogyny in sport. I discussed issues like sexism and harassment in wrestling, kit designed primarily for men, barriers to women’s participation due to unequal funding and street harassment, disparities in media coverage of sports stars based on gender, lack of female representation in coaching roles and governing bodies, sexual abuse in wrestling highlighted by the Speaking Out movement, and inequalities in funding during the pandemic. I also praised local initiatives supporting women's sport and called for fair funding and consultation with the Chancellor to ensure that local authority spending does not impact sports facilities adversely.
Mark Fletcher
Lab
Bolsover
I thank the hon. Member for her debate, echoing her calls and highlighting the importance of equal opportunities in sport.
Stella Creasy
Lab
Walthamstow
Paying tribute to the campaign to make misogyny a hate crime and supporting the need for better practices in sports clubs.
Government Response
I thank Alex Davies-Jones for her passionate debate. We agree on the importance of eradicating misogyny from sport. Women's sport has seen progress, with record audiences and sponsorship deals, but challenges persist in areas like media coverage, online abuse, and funding disparities due to the pandemic. The Government aims to raise the profile of women’s sport through initiatives such as 'This Girl Can' and by ensuring public funding benefits women's sports activities. We will continue working with governing bodies to protect investment in women's sport during the crisis.
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House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.