"Fast forward to my work today in women's sports. I find myself thinking about that same phrase-this time with a twist. In sports, a pipeline problem is very real, and very serious. Girls drop out of sports at far higher rates than boys, often by age 14. Not because they lack talent or ambition, but because hidden, solvable barriers stand in their way. Research points to a variety of reasons: lack of access to facilities, fewer female coaches, cultural pressures, and economic hurdles."
"But there are also subtler obstacles-menstrual stigma, inadequate athletic gear, transportation gaps, or not feeling seen and supported in spaces where they're underrepresented. These aren't headline-grabbing issues, but they can determine whether a girl keeps playing or quietly walks away. This isn't just about missed opportunities on the field. Sports participation is directly tied to confidence, leadership skills, academic performance, and future career success. When we lose girls from the pipeline, we lose future team captains, CEOs, scientists, and community leaders."
Girls drop out of sports at far higher rates than boys, often by age 14. Dropout stems not from lack of talent but from hidden, solvable barriers such as limited facilities, fewer female coaches, cultural pressures, and economic hurdles. Subtler obstacles include menstrual stigma, inadequate athletic gear, transportation gaps, and not feeling seen or supported in underrepresented spaces. Sports participation builds confidence, leadership, academic performance, and future career success, so losing girls reduces future leaders across sectors. Tackling both visible issues like media coverage and pay and the less visible practical barriers is essential to retain girls and achieve gender equity in sports.
Read at Fast Company
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