Credit: Getty

Charity London Sport says that “highlighting” female role models is a way to encourage awareness of opportunities for women. This is in response to a survey which has revealed a high level of sexism within sport coaching.

The survey by London charity Kick It Out has revealed that that 80% of female coaches in the UK have experienced sexism in their working environment.

Over half of the the respondents felt they had been spoken to differently based solely on their gender and 70% said they experienced sexism while on a coaching course.

Many of the 80% said that this sexism came from coaching staff internally and externally.

Hollie Varney, Kick It Out’s chief operating officer, said that “at the time of huge growth for the women’s game, it’s alarming that over half the coaches surveyed said they thought about quitting because of the sexism they had experienced”.

Ms Varney said that a lot of sexist remarks come from “micro-aggressions” such as parents at matches asking “are you one of the parents?”

“People might not think, ‘Oh, that’s sexist’, but when it’s just aimed at a woman and you wouldn’t do it to someone of the same sex, it makes you feel uncomfortable.”

London Sport told City News that currently “highlighting role models” is the most important way “to engage communities to raise awareness of opportunities.”