Olympics 2024: Gender Parity or Gender Parody?

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) proudly trumpets that the Paris 2024 Games have achieved “full gender parity” with an equal number of women and men athletes. Bravo! But before we break out the champagne, let’s take a closer look at what this so-called equality really means. Spoiler alert: It might not be as progressive as it seems.

While the number of women athletes is now on par with their male counterparts, the reality of their experience is anything but equal. Far from basking in the glory of true equality, women athletes are still subject to a barrage of sexist commentary that undermines their achievements. This isn’t a case of isolated incidents but a troubling trend that persists despite the so-called advancements in gender equality.

A Glimpse into the Past

Let’s rewind a bit. In 1924, the last time the Olympics were hosted in Paris, women comprised a mere 4% of competitors, relegated to “suitable” sports like swimming, tennis, and croquet. Pierre de Coubertin, the French aristocrat who resurrected the Olympics, envisioned them as a grand celebration of male athleticism with “female applause as its reward.”

A charming vision of women as mere spectators to male glory, right?

Pierre de Coubertin, in another instance, articulated his belief in male superiority by stating that the inclusion of women in the Olympics was “impractical, uninteresting, ungainly, and I do not hesitate to add, improper.”

Alice Milliat, a trailblazer in women’s sports, the first president of the Federation of Women’s Sports Societies of France, and founder of the Women’s International Sports Federation, vehemently opposed de Coubertin’s views.

Influenced by the rise of the feminist movement in her era, Milliat founded the first Women’s Olympics in 1922, creating a platform for women to compete on an international stage. Her efforts ultimately compelled the Olympic Games to include more women’s events, solidifying her legacy as a pioneer who challenged the patriarchal structures of sport and expanded opportunities for women athletes.

Fast forward to 2024, and while the numbers have improved, some of the same antiquated attitudes seem to have stuck around.

The Camera’s Ogling Eye

The misogyny isn’t just limited to outdated attitudes—it’s also captured in the lens of the camera. Despite assurances from Olympic Broadcasting Services CEO Yiannis Exarchos that “women athletes are not there because they are more attractive or sexy… They are there because they are elite athletes,” and despite his warning against the  “unconscious bias”, the evidence tells a different story.

Women athletes are frequently filmed in ways that emphasize their appearance rather than their athletic prowess. France 24 reported that camera operators and TV editors tend to show more close-up shots of women than men. It seems that the camera and the men behind it can’t resist turning women into objects of visual interest rather than celebrating their skills and achievements.

Policing Women’s Behavior

But wait, there’s more! The scrutiny of women athletes often extends beyond their performance to their behavior off the field. Luana Alonso, the 20-year-old Olympic swimmer from Paraguay, faced backlash—not for her athletic performance, but for her “inappropriate conduct” after failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Her crime? Wearing her own clothes, mingling with fellow athletes, and spending time in Paris as she pleased. This was deemed disruptive by her team, earning her a stern warning. It seems that even at the pinnacle of their careers, women athletes must still conform to patriarchal expectations of behavior and dress—or face the consequences.

Let’s not forget the issue of uniforms. Women athletes are often required to wear more revealing attire compared to their male counterparts. This not only objectifies women but also subjects them to additional scrutiny and harassment. UNESCO’s reports confirm that women athletes face more than just visual objectification—they are also more likely to experience harassment and abuse, adding yet another layer to their challenges.

Freedom to Conform: The Hijab Ban

Hold on, it gets even better. While some women athletes are scolded for wearing too little, others are barred from competition for covering up too much. Welcome to the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the French authorities have taken it upon themselves to liberate Muslim women from the “burden” of their religious head coverings. Yes, because nothing says gender equality like forcing women to choose between their faith and the sport they love.

The ban on the hijab, proudly enforced by France, ensures that Muslim women are sidelined, all in the name of “laïcité” and “inclusivity.” After all, what’s more inclusive than excluding women who don’t fit into a neat, secular box? So, while Luana Alonso is chastised for her “skimpy” attire, Muslim women athletes are outright banned for covering up. It’s all about balance, right? Respect for women’s bodies and choices—just as long as those choices conform to a very narrow definition of what’s acceptable. Vive la liberté!

The Beauty Trap

And then there’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh, the Ukrainian high jump champion, who not only won gold but also became the center of media attention for her beauty rather than her athletic prowess. Dubbed “Sleeping Beauty,” the focus was on her eye makeup matching the Ukrainian flag rather than her record-breaking jump. The media’s obsession with “Olympic Beauty,” from sweat-proof makeup to intricate nail art, highlights how women athletes are still seen as objects of visual interest first, and athletes second.

Boxing Misogyny: The Knockout Blow

On the other hand, take the case of Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer who dared to step into the ring with features that don’t fit the “acceptable” mold of femininity. Winning gold wasn’t enough to silence the critics—no, she had to endure a global smear campaign questioning everything from her gender to her right to exist in the sport. The International Boxing Association’s vague “eligibility tests” couldn’t keep her down, but that didn’t stop everyone from internet trolls to ex-presidents from trying.

Khelif’s victory should have been celebrated as a triumph, but instead, it’s another chapter in the Olympics’ ongoing saga of “We Support Women—Just Not Ones Who Don’t Fit the Mold.” So much for progress, Paris 2024!

Sexist Commentary: A Persistent Issue

It doesn’t stop there. The commentary isn’t just condescending—it’s outright sexist. A Eurosport commentator was recently suspended for suggesting that women swimmers were more focused on “fixing their makeup” than on their sport. Meanwhile, an RMC commentator compared a woman tennis player to a stereotypical housewife, saying, “On the left, there’s Sara Errani, who’s the boss. She does everything: The washing up, the cooking, the mopping up.” Such gems of commentary reveal that for some, progress means finding new ways to belittle women rather than celebrating their achievements. This misogyny isn’t exactly helping the Paris 2024 Games live up to its claims of gender equality and parity.

The Language of Disrespect

Language plays a pivotal role in reinforcing stereotypes. Studies from Media Smarts highlight a disturbing trend: male athletes are described with adjectives like “strong,” “brilliant,” and “gutsy,” while women athletes are labeled as “weary,” “fatigued,” and “vulnerable.” This disparity in description not only diminishes the athleticism of women but also perpetuates outdated and limiting stereotypes. It’s almost as if the sports world is stuck in a time warp, unable to move beyond its historic biases.

A Call for True Equality

The IOC’s celebration of gender parity at Paris 2024 feels a bit like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Achieving numerical equality is a step forward, but it’s far from the whole journey. True equality means more than just equal numbers; it requires dismantling the persistent biases that continue to plague women athletes. This includes combating the objectification of women athletes, addressing the sexist language used in commentary, and ensuring that all athletes are respected and celebrated for their skill, not their appearance.

In the end, if the Olympics are truly committed to gender equality, it’s time to look beyond the numbers and tackle the deeper, more insidious issues that continue to affect women athletes. Until then, the so-called “gender parity” at Paris 2024 might just be a new coat of paint to purplewash an old, and still deeply flawed, system.