Survey Exposes Alarming Sexual Safety Crisis for Women in UK Elite Sport
A groundbreaking survey has uncovered a significant sexual safety problem for women working within elite sport across the United Kingdom. The report, titled Women's Experiences of Sexual Misconduct Working in UK Elite Sport, presents disturbing statistics that highlight systemic issues within the industry.
Shocking Statistics Reveal Widespread Abuse
The research found that a staggering 88% of respondents reported being the target of at least one form of sexual misconduct during the past five years. Among the 260 members of the Women's Sports Collective who participated anonymously in the study, five individuals (representing 2% of respondents) disclosed that they had been raped in work-related contexts outside their main workplace during this period.
The survey further broke down sexual misconduct into three distinct categories: harassment, assault, and rape. Within these parameters, 87% of participants stated they had experienced at least one form of sexual harassment, while 40% reported being targets of sexual assault. These figures paint a troubling picture of the working environment for women across various roles in elite sport.
Participants and Methodology
The study, published on Wednesday, invited members of the Women's Sports Collective to contribute anonymously. The 260 respondents represented a diverse cross-section of professionals working within UK elite sport, including administrators, coaches, current and former athletes, television producers, legal professionals, and physiotherapists.
Lindsey Simpson, who conducted the survey and holds qualifications in sport and recreation alongside workplace health and wellbeing, emphasized the importance of quantifying these experiences. "Was I surprised by the findings? No, but there is something very powerful about seeing the numbers," Simpson noted. "We know people don't tend to report. So this gives an idea of the size and shape of the issue and gets quite specific into what actual behaviours we are talking about."
Intersectional Vulnerabilities and Perpetrator Demographics
The report revealed particularly concerning data regarding women with disabilities working in elite sport. Among the six reported rape incidents (with one individual experiencing two separate assaults), three involved respondents who identified as having a disability. Although the sample size limited detailed intersectional analysis, the nineteen participants with disabilities demonstrated a significantly higher abuse rate compared to other minority groups represented in the survey.
"The responses from people living with a disability really jumped out and I felt it needed to be noted and it's something that needs to be explored further," Simpson explained, highlighting an area requiring additional research and attention.
Regarding perpetrators, the survey included specific questions about gender. An overwhelming 93% of respondents who perceived that sexual misconduct had occurred reported that the perpetrator was always, or in most cases, male. Simpson addressed this finding directly: "There is a widespread understanding that men are disproportionately perpetrators of sexual violence – that's well documented – but what I didn't want was someone to be able to go: 'You didn't even ask who was doing it. How do you know it's not women?'"
Lack of Confidence in Institutional Responses
The survey results indicate substantial dissatisfaction with how sporting institutions address sexual misconduct concerns. Only 38% of participants expressed positive sentiments about governing bodies' handling of these workplace issues, while just 46% felt positively about their employers' responses. Notably, only 29% of those expressed "absolute" confidence in their employers' approaches, with 26% of surveyed women having no opinion on these questions at all.
Practical Implications and Calls for Change
Simpson emphasized several practical implications emerging from the research findings. The report's summary highlights that criminal acts are present within the documented behaviors, warning that "if organisations are not meeting requirements in risk assessment and mitigation, as this research suggests many are not, they expose themselves to negative legal, reputational, and commercial consequences."
Furthermore, Simpson pointed to broader industry impacts, suggesting that this level of sexual misconduct may be "harming the industry's ability to attract and retain female talent, undermining efforts to increase inclusivity and representation, and create more balanced and effective power structures that deliver better organisational outcomes."
The researcher expressed hope that women working in elite sport who have experienced sexual misconduct would find validation through understanding they are not alone in their experiences. Simpson aims for the report to prompt organizations to take decisive action and "drive positive change" across UK elite sporting environments.
