Jason Robinson Foundation’s Post

65% of girls drop out of sport by the time they're teenagers. BUT 96% of female C-suite executives participated in sports as teenagers. The correlation between the two is fascinating, yet not surprising. In order to achieve gender balance in the boardroom (and oh boy do we need it), focusing on reducing the drop out rate of girls in sports must be a priority for everyone. Lack of role models is not an issue anymore. Thanks to the wonderful momentum of female sports, we have an abundance of incredible role models, that are rightly in the media spotlight & taking centre stage. The Paris Olympics is a shining example of this, whether it be competing, coaching or broadcasting. If you can see it, you can become it! It’s now down to schools, governing bodies and brands to work harder to reduce the dropout rate of girls in sports, increase accessibility and break down barriers. Playing sports at any level can really help women progress in their corporate careers. Let’s keep things moving !! https://lnkd.in/eUUcbDCw https://lnkd.in/ejAD3Jmp

Question: Has playing sports in your younger years, helped with your career development? • I was lucky enough to play at university in America (albeit came out with many major injuries). There are so many transferable skills sports can teach you, not only in your career but in every day life. Plus you get to enjoy the physical and (mental) health benefits. #development #sports #pushingboundaries #mentalhealth

A lot of people ask me what my career purpose is. For some it's money, others it's climbing the ladder. Maybe it's the joy of giving back through service or the pride in delivering something amazing. For me it's always been wanting to leaving things better than I found them. Having a genuine impact on the world around me and sport has been the most inspiring and powerful way I've found to achieve this. My passions lie in equal opportunities and ensuring sport has a place in every persons world should they want it. So this figure hit me. Girls drop out for a number of reasons but the three biggest are: ❌ Lack of accessibility: limited teams or clubs offering to girls, unequal opportunities in school, lack of kit that supports girls bodies, financial constraints etc. ❌ Loss of confidence: teenage girls go through huge losses of confidence as they navigate puberty, judgemental teens, school pressures and the first feelings of love ❌ Safety fears: most sports training happens in the afternoons or early mornings. When it's dark before 8am and after 4pm, girls simply don't feel safe making their way home. No matter how many keys we put between our fingers, how fast we walk, how much we change what we wear - the fear is real and change must be made to overcome this. And yet we are more in need than ever to have women represented at the most senior and prominent positions. If brands are genuinely keen to invest in women's sport, join me in making an impact by supporting women and girls in overcoming these barriers and opening sport up to everyone. Thanks for sharing Rachel Walsh! #IfYouCanSeeItYouCanBeIt #womenssport #LinkedInSport #SportBiz #Equality

Playing sport at any level helps with your career and professional development. It ignites passion and joy. It makes you feel connected to something tangible. It gives you purpose. It shows you that anyone and everyone can be on your team. Looking around in the last week, these are things that seem to be missing from many of our disaffected younger generations. Sport teaches us teamwork, leadership, humility, joy in movement, a sense of achievement, the importance of persistence and resilience and consistency in success, work ethic, losing well and winning well and learning from both. From the post: ‘It is now down to schools, governing bodies and brands to work harder to reduce the dropout rate of girls in sports.’ This is imperative for young people and certainly young girls: 1. Encourage them to try different sports 2. Create positive training environments 3. Create and fund competitions for them to work towards 4. Encourage them to feel good about their bodies and how powerful they are 5. and keep them playing!

I had the privilege of attending Women's Sports Foundation's Equity Project Title IX Convening this week and was truly inspired by all of the advocates fighting for #genderequity in sports. There were discussions about access and opportunity, health and safety, pay, and workplace bias. From these discussions, it became very clear that: 1) We need to put more work into educating key stakeholders (athletes, parents, coaches, administrators) about what gender equity in athletics truly looks like at every level. That includes increasing women and girls’ ability to access athletic spaces, improving facility conditions, providing practice times that are equivalent to their male counterparts, etc. Advocates need to provide tangible examples of gender equity and resources to help stakeholders hold schools accountable and promote #TitleIX compliance. 2) We CANNOT assume that everyone is on the same page about what #genderdiscrimination in athletics actually is. Raising awareness and having a mutual understanding about what’s not acceptable (and what’s necessary) is essential to ensure gender equity in sports. 

Girls who play sport become women who lead. EVERYONE deserves equal OPPORTUNITY in sport...but that isn't the case at the moment. 1 in 2 girls will drop out of sport by the age of 20. It's our mission to change that. For YOU, for YOUR daughters, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, friends. Be part of the change. We're at a moment in time where we can accelerate what the future looks like for women in sport. Help us build on that momentum and consider becoming a Her Sport MVP. With your support, we can continue to create cultural change through Visibility, Education, Policy and Research. Did you know that over 60% of our digital audience surveyed believe Her Sport has positively impacted their participation in sport? Moreover, since we founded, we have delivered workshops to over 12,000 participants and in schools, 86% of students that attended were more likely to continue sport throughout their lifetime. We are making an impact and your support goes a long way. Be part of the change. Become an MVP today. https://lnkd.in/gWRg6eYM #HerSportMVP #MakeAnImpact

Mind the gender play gap! ⚖ In chapter 2 of our 2024 Election Manifesto, Stephanie Hilborne, CEO of Women in Sport, outlines 5 policy proposals for the next government. See more ⤵

Did you know that yesterday, 7th February, was National Girls and Women in Sports Day? I didn’t! N.G.W.S.D. came about in 1987 in remembrance of the Olympic Volleyball Player, Flo Hyman, recognising her as the most iconic female volleyball player of her time, and her incredible work in promoting equality of women in sports. The mission is to break all gender stereotypes that are built within the sports industry, inspire and celebrate women athletes – and inevitably keep supporting the fact that women belong in every aspect of sports! The Women’s Sports Foundation based in New York celebrates this movement annually by hosting several events around the US, where different organizations and foundations can get involved. They work with incredible athletes and partners in the industry such as ESPNW, Gatorade, Delta Air Lines and many more. They specialise in advocacy, research, awards, programs and resources in this sphere. So why is the National Girls and Women in Sports Day important? 🔸 It breaks gender stereotypes. A study showed that at least 75% of young girls have heard derogatory remarks about girls in sports. The N.G.W.S.D. reiterates the narrative that women belong in sports. 🔸 It inspires women to be active and encourages them to unlock their full potential. 🔸It honours the achievements of female athletes. Check out the Women’s Sports Foundation below: https://lnkd.in/ey9xCbGh

Equality Does Not Come From Silencing Each Other The BBC recently ran a survey sent to elite sportswomen, and of the 143 responses, there was some interesting data about the transgender debate and salaries. - 104 athletes feel uncomfortable or very uncomfortable about transgender women competing in female category sports. - 96 feel uncomfortable or very uncomfortable talking publicly on the subject One of the solutions could be the creation of a third open category. In 2022, British Triathlon became the first British sporting body to establish an open category in which transgender athletes can compete. This compromise could lead to the end of female sports, as funding and salaries could be really affected for the 143 respondents. More than three-quarters said they earn less than £30,000 a year from sport, with more than four in 10 earning less than £10,000 and six in 10 earning less than £20,000. There are two conversations that need to happen, and this needs to be done soon. Conversation One How do we allow transgender athletes the opportunity to compete, as there seems to be a biological advantage in female sports and a medicated disadvantage when transitioning? Conversation Two How do we ensure women can speak freely about the support and funding they need to become elite athletes, encouraging them to speak about the inequalities in their sports so we can build interest and investment?

Women sports have been chronically underfunded for far too long, despite showcasing incredible talent and generating significant interest. This lack of investment not only limits the growth of women's sports but also perpetuates a cycle where female athletes do not receive the recognition, support, and resources they deserve. Investing in women's sports is not just about fairness; it's a strategic move. Women athletes have proven time and again that they can deliver exceptional performances, capture audiences with their stories, and inspire generations. By investing in women's sports, we are not only supporting gender equality in athletics but also tapping into a lucrative and rapidly growing market that has immense potential for growth and impact. It's time to recognize the value of women's sports and invest in their future. As a female athlete who almost retired after college due to the fear of not being able to financially support myself , I understand firsthand how crucial the access to these opportunities and resources is in pursuing my athletic dreams of winning an Olympic medal. That is why I am so pumped to announce that I will be joining Team Parity. PARITY | A Group 1001 Company is an awesome organization dedicated to narrowing the income and opportunity gaps in professional sports. Through impactful collaborations between brands, professional women athletes, and their fans, Parity aims to help women athletes have more opportunities to earn income. I am incredibly excited to join this movement and share my story, working together with Parity to shatter barriers and support current and future generations of female athletes #TeamParity