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Female media managers locked out of press conferences,questions on your sexual preferences and strings of comments on your appearance – just some of theissues raised by an interesting BBC documentary “Sexism in Football” this week.

Narrated by journalist Gabby Logan, the doco was packed withexamples of behaviour you might have thought extinct by now. Based oninterviews with women from “Women in Football” (WiF), it was an eye-opener.
Having worked in boxing for years, it wasn’tso much that the behaviour was shocking but I was surprised it takes placein such a mainstream sport. *shakes head at self *

Had to laugh at this story though: Logan was working at a football match and thefans started shouting: ‘Get your tits out’. Sitting in the press box, sheignored them as did the other journalists. Then Sir Bobby Robson, renownedformer Englandmanager, turned to the crowd, lifted his shirt and proceeded to massage hischest in their general direction. Priceless.
One thing mentioned in every interview will ring a bellfor any woman working or playing in a male-dominated sphere – don’t rock theboat! Some of the women Loganapproached declined to be interviewed, while others visibly pulled theirpunch-lines.

“Sexism in Sport” was reaching for positivity towards theend, looking at the inclusion of Helen Rabbatts on the FA Board and otherchanges. There's been a big shift for example since this story of the Dick Kerr Ladies in 1921. This is what really makes the doco I think, we do have to recognise the huge progress made in the last 50 years but the trick is to keep onpushing.
What do you think – has your sport changed, is there more todo?

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