This Is My Ongoing Contribution to Gender Equity in Sport
In 2017, I began researching the experiences of women working in the Australian sporting sector. I was curious, driven to go beyond my own experiences as a corporate executive, sports director, and gender equity strategist to understand what was really going on. I expected the data to be confronting. I wasn’t prepared for just how bad it was.
Sport and recreation in Australia ranks worse than many other industries when it comes to gender equality. The data was staggering, especially the gaps in representation, pay, and opportunity. So, I kept digging.
What started as research has evolved into an ongoing body of work: the Advancing Women in Sport report series and this podcast. You’ll hear directly from people who are actively changing the game, on and off the field, for women in sport. These conversations are a call to action.
You can download the reports, access the data, and get the tools to shift the system at my website, michelleredfern.com
The Advancing Women in Sport podcast is where truth meets strategy, and where we stop admiring the problem and start fixing it.
Subscribe to listen, learn, and lead change in sport.
michelleredferndotcom.substack.com (https://michelleredferndotcom.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
Levelling the Playing Field for Womens Breast Health with Suzie Betts
In this episode of the Advancing Women in Sport podcast, I interviewed Suzie Betts, the founder of Boob Armour. Boob Armour is revolutionary protective gear specially designed for women athletes. The idea for Boob Armor was born out of Suzie's personal health scare, which highlighted a significant gap in sports safety for women's breasts. The mission of Boob Armour is to reduce breast injuries and provide women in sports with both protection and confidence. Despite facing industry resistance and challenges in initiating targeted research, Betts is a staunch advocate for gender-specific safety gear. The conversation throws light on the lack of a systemic approach to breast protection in sports, which is supported by research indicating a high prevalence of breast injuries among women athletes. This episode is a call to action for sports administrators and decision-makers to include Boob Armour in safety protocols, emphasising the importance of prioritising women athletes' health and safety. Through Suzie's advocacy, the podcast underscores the urgent need for solutions like Boob Armour. It advocates for a safer, more inclusive sporting environment where women's specific safety needs are acknowledged and addressed.
Resources:
Boob Armour Website: https://www.boobarmour.com.au (https://www.boobarmour.com.au)
Research on Breast Injuries in Sports: https://www.boobarmour.com.au/why-boob-armour/medical-research/ (https://www.boobarmour.com.au/why-boob-armour/medical-research/)
Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez: https://carolinecriadoperez.com/book/invisible-women/ (https://carolinecriadoperez.com/book/invisible-women/)
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LinkedIn (https://au.linkedin.com/in/michelleredfern)
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25 Apr 2024
Levelling the Playing Field for Womens Sports Advocacy with Karen Hennessy
In my latest episode of the Advancing Women in Sport podcast, I had an energising conversation with Karen Hennessy, the founder of Women's Sport WA. We discussed Karen's journey from Ireland to Australia, her roots in physical education, and her lifelong involvement in various sport. I was so pleased to hear Karen's tireless voluntary advocacy for women's sports. Karen shared insights from her Save the Force campaign and the establishment of Women in Sport WA. We discussed the challenges faced by women in sports administration and the critical need for visibility and representation. Her initiatives, like starting a LinkedIn group and an Instagram account during the pandemic, are geared towards inspiring young girls in sports by providing them with accurate role models. Our conversation also covered the prevailing gender inequality in sports workplaces. It looked towards the future of women and girls in sports, highlighting the global trend of breaking attendance records and increasing visibility. You can find Karen on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-hennessy-7b12b250/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-hennessy-7b12b250/) and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/womeninsportwa/ (https://www.instagram.com/womeninsportwa/)
Follow me on Social Media
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AdvancingWomeninBizandSport/)
LinkedIn (https://au.linkedin.com/in/michelleredfern)
Twitter (https://twitter.com/RedfernMichelle)
Instagram (https://instagram.com/advancewithmichelle)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
18 Apr 2024
Levelling the Playing Field for Women Football Players with Sarah Karlik
Sarah Karlik joins me in this Advancing Women in Sport podcast episode. Sarah, a multi-talented figure in sports, shared her journey, spanning over 25 years, from a young athlete to a respected name in women's soccer.
Our discussion was about Sarah's academic pursuits, particularly her PhD research focused on the experiences of international women's football players. This research coincides with the growing professionalisation and globalisation of women's football. It aims to influence future sports policies and practices.
A significant aspect of our talk was women athletes' challenges, especially concerning earning a living wage and the disparities between men's and women's earnings in sports. Sarah emphasised the importance of networks in supporting athletes' careers locally and globally.
We also explored practical steps for sporting organisations and individuals to support women in sports. This included the importance of gender-inclusive hiring practices and the role of mentorship in advancing women's careers in sports.
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkarlik/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkarlik/) and follow her insights on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coaches_digest/ (https://www.instagram.com/coaches_digest/)
Follow me on Social Media
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AdvancingWomeninBizandSport/)
LinkedIn (https://au.linkedin.com/in/michelleredfern)
Twitter (https://twitter.com/RedfernMichelle)
Instagram (https://instagram.com/advancewithmichelle)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
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