Inequality & Sport: Myths & Facts

Myth 1: Women are simply less interested in sport.

Fact: Participation gaps do not tell us why they exist. Current sport bodies identify practical, cultural and emotional barriers as well as opportunity gaps.

Myth 2: If an activity is open to everyone, it is equal.

Fact: Open entry does not show whether people can afford, access, enjoy, stay or progress within it.

Myth 3: A mixed session is automatically inclusive.

Fact: Mixed provision can work well, but inclusion must be assessed through actual experience and opportunity.

Myth 4: Women just need more confidence.

Fact: Confidence can matter, but unclear systems, judgement, poor experiences, harassment or lack of opportunity can create the uncertainty.

Myth 5: Women need more resilience.

Fact: Resilience should not be used to normalise avoidable barriers or degrading behaviour.

Myth 6: If the session is cheap, it is affordable.

Fact: Travel, parking, equipment, food, childcare and time can exceed the headline fee.

Myth 7: If she really wanted to go, she would find the money or travel.

Fact: Purchasing power and transport access are not reliable measures of commitment.

Myth 8: Childcare is purely a personal problem.

Fact: Clubs cannot solve every caring need, but scheduling, predictability and properly governed support can reduce avoidable barriers.

Myth 9: Mothers are less serious competitors.

Fact: Parenthood does not determine sporting ambition.

Myth 10: Good players will always get noticed.

Fact: Opportunity can depend on visibility, networks, travel, selection systems and access to competition as well as skill.

Myth 11: Participation is the only equality issue.

Fact: Retention, progression, coaching, officiating, leadership, visibility, safety and voice also matter.

Myth 12: Having one woman on the committee solves representation.

Fact: One person cannot represent every woman or every intersection of experience.

Myth 13: Women all face the same barriers.

Fact: Age, disability, income, race, religion, location, parenthood and other factors can change the experience.

Myth 14: If she leaves, her priorities must have changed.

Fact: That may be true, but leaving can also reflect cost, culture, opportunity, safety or practical barriers.

Myth 15: Teenage girls simply lose interest.

Fact: Do not assume interest is the cause without asking about environment, opportunity, life changes and experience.

Myth 16: Elite visibility proves grassroots equality.

Fact: High-profile success can inspire, but it does not itself demonstrate accessible local pathways.

Myth 17: Women-only sport solves every barrier.

Fact: Women-only provision can be valuable, but quality, cost, access, safety and progression still need attention.

Myth 18: Women-only activity is less serious.

Fact: The participant — not the label on the session — determines her ambition.

Myth 19: Disability is a separate issue from women’s inclusion.

Fact: Disabled women can experience barriers connected to both gender and disability; systems should consider intersectionality.

Myth 20: Older women are not interested in serious competition.

Fact: Age does not determine ambition.

Myth 21: Treating everybody identically is always fair.

Fact: Different barriers may require different practical support; equal opportunity is not always identical process.

Myth 22: No complaint means there is no problem.

Fact: People may leave quietly, lack confidence in reporting or not know the route.

Myth 23: It is only banter.

Fact: Humour does not neutralise harassment, discrimination or degrading conduct.

Myth 24: People who complain are difficult.

Fact: A functioning concern route is part of safe, accountable sport.

Myth 25: Accessibility is always expensive.

Fact: Many improvements involve information, scheduling, communication or layout rather than major capital work.

Myth 26: A special programme fixes the main club.

Fact: Targeted programmes can help, but the wider sporting pathway still needs review.

Myth 27: We consulted once, so the work is finished.

Fact: Barriers change and consultation must lead to action and review.

Myth 28: Current attendees can tell us why non-attenders stay away.

Fact: They can describe their own experience; former participants and non-attenders may hold different information.

Myth 29: High attendance proves equality.

Fact: Attendance alone does not show safety, belonging, retention or progression.

Myth 30: A bursary solves affordability.

Fact: It may help individuals, while structural costs and logistics remain.

Myth 31: Women’s sport has to prove its value before receiving opportunity.

Fact: Opportunity should be assessed on transparent sporting and organisational criteria, not a presumption that women must first justify belonging.

These statements describe evidence-informed organisational principles. Where a point refers to women in sport generally, it should not be misrepresented as a cue-sports/darts prevalence finding.