Gender inequality in sports has been a major issue over time, even with women’s athletics having majorly grown. The criticism that went around regarding the track and field uniforms at the Olympics highlights that women are often judged on their appearance rather than their performance. My question for this project is, how does the inequality women face in sports, shown through controversies like the 2024 Olympics uniform backlash, limit their opportunities for recognition and achievement?I will be using a qualitative case study to conduct this research to further elaborate on how uniform policies are one of the many ways inequality is shown in sports, influencing how female athletes are perceived.This study is meant to contribute awareness to the recurring issue that is gender inequality. This matters politically because it represents gender politics. The Olympics are a major international event where women have the ability to represent their country, yet the way uniforms are created for women shows that no matter the scale of an event, they are still judged and treated differently than men. The backlash against the uniforms reflect femininity and control over women’s bodies, making it a bigger issue than just sports, it shows the struggle for equal treatment.
