Let’s call gender bias what it is: SEXISM

Sexism permeates throughout sport. It’s in our communities, our commentary boxes, our armchairs.

have and the impact that has on their sport participation is sexism.

To make women and girls wear uniforms that are not fit for purpose, or are white, is sexism.

To not provide adequate facilities including changing rooms and toilets for women and girls is sexism.

To have (mainly male) commentators continually referring to adult female athletes as ‘‘girls’’ is sexism.

To not meet the 40% board gender quota by the deadline required by the government is sexism.

To say women aren’t ‘‘built’’ for sport – high performance or otherwise – or comment on their appearance, is sexism.

To say no-one is interested in, watches or cares about women’s sport is sexism. (Fun fact, the last Women’s Football World Cup had more than 1 billion viewers. The last men’s Rugby World Cup had about 857 million.)

To tell women to shut up, or say they need a sock shoved down their throat, is sexism.

To dismiss women’s lived experiences and voices is sexism. Unrelenting, isn’t it?

But sexism doesn’t just impact women, it impacts men, too.

It reinforces traditional hyper hetero-normative masculine ideals within sport, where ‘‘locker room talk’’ and ‘‘boys will be boys’’ mentality permeates and is still an accepted practice.

It inhibits men from speaking up in support of women and others.

It reinforces that if you’re not part of the ‘‘boys’ club’’ you’re on the outer.

Sexism reinforces that men can’t cry, or share their emotions. It’s harmful to their mental health and wellbeing. It prevents male survivors of rape, sexual violence and harm from speaking up.

Sexism and sexist practices are pervasive. They happen daily. They are damaging.

There is quiet optimism that sport will change for the better following the cycling review, but it’s going to take a bit of work from all of us.

We all play a role in banishing this type of discrimination, regardless of our place in sport. Now is the time to listen, to learn and to walk alongside those who are sharing their experiences. Then we must act. Speak up. Call it out.

It might be uncomfortable, but change isn’t comfortable. There is no place for sexism in sport. The time for change is now.

Zoë George is a Stuff senior sports journalist and has a background in sport sociology.