Minister visits Ross County ground for women's sports week
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Scottish Government minister for social care, mental wellbeing and sport Maree Todd believes more work needs to be done to level the playing field for women in sport.
Visiting Ross County Football Club’s stadium to meet the club’s women’s team and representatives from Scottish Women’s Football as part of Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week, she reflected on the progress that has been made in equality, and where improvements still need to be made.
Women’s sport, in particular football, has seen exponential growth in terms of participation levels and media coverage over recent years.
However, Ms Todd, the MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, still feels the balance is too lop-sided, and feels there remains not enough women in positions of power across sport.
“I think we need a bit more media visibility, we’re not quite equal there so we’ve got a media summit coming up at the end of November,” she said.
“The women’s Scotland rugby team had an outstanding game last Saturday night, but on the radio it was all about the men’s team. Admittedly it’s a World Cup, but it was such a big match for the women’s team and they did really well, so that was disappointing.
“If your national team is playing in an international game, I would expect it to be in the news, and it wasn’t, so we still have a bit to do there.
“We’ve also got a bit to do with evening up boardrooms. We have improving statistics in participation, but we’re not seeing women represented equally in positions of power in the jobs around sport.
“We need more female referees, and we need more women in the boardroom, but it’s coming, and it’s improving.
“It reflects society, and we’re working hard to make sure that sport can lead the way.
“I believe that sport can lead the change in society, it doesn’t need to wait for society to change.”
“We know that women are discriminated against – that’s the reality we live in – but sport can lead that change.”
The minister firmly believes that there is a place for every woman in sport, something that Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week is designed to encourage.
The campaign is in its seventh year, with the theme for 2023 being inclusion while continuing to promote the visibility and participation of women and girls in sport and physical activity.
It also looks to highlight the many physical, mental and social benefits that getting active on a regular basis can bring.
“This week is about celebrating women and girls in sport, it’s about increasing the visibility of women and girls in sport and encouraging people to get out and have a go at any age,” Ms Todd added.
“I ran a 10k this week, and I’m 50, so I’m out there encouraging the middle-age mums.
“I’m a great believer in the power of sport – I want everyone to have the opportunity to be more active and get involved in team sports.
“I passionately believe there’s a sport out there for everyone.
“It’s kind of obvious I haven’t got much hand-eye co-ordination and I do fall over regularly and bash into people, and I found a sport where that was a strength.
“There is a sport that fits every skill set, and there are different teams that you can join. I love that girls are getting the opportunity to try lots of different sports now, because if you get that chance you’ll find one that fits you.”
