Gender Inequality in Women's Sports

 Trump’s Phone Call  Exposes Deep Roots of Sexism in Sports

In the aftermath of the historic, gold medal-clinching victory over Canada at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, all was joy and bedlam in the locker room of the USA men's hockey team. Among those guzzling beer and popping champagne were not just the players and coaches, but also Kash Patel, the current director of the FBI. An avid fan, player, and promoter of ice hockey, he had flown out to watch the game, and having popped in to offer his congratulations, he also joined the party.  

Before this, however, he made a call, which has since become far more significant than anyone present at the time could have imagined. Perhaps they should have foreseen this, since the man on the other end of the line was a figure who has made an artform out of sparking controversies in moments seemingly impervious to it: President Donald Trump. Giving his congratulations, President Trump then made a magnanimous offer to the players, inviting them to his State of the Union Address that Tuesday.  

However, he additionally threw in a joking remark which has since overshadowed the whole call: “I must tell you, we're going to have to bring the women's team. You do know that?” Laughter filled the locker room, before Trump added that if he didn’t invite the women’s team, “I do believe I probably would be impeached.”  In the context of American society’s continual “culture war,” the men’s team’s laughter proved to be infamous. Yet as with most battlegrounds of cultural warfare, underneath the noise, there are greater societal issues at play which this snobbish interaction encapsulates. 

Many, accordingly, tried to take the situation stoically and avoid flaring up the controversy further, such as Kelly Panek of the Minnesota Frost, who apathetically said, "The phone call specifically is not surprising to be frank, so I don't know why we expect differently." Likewise, her teammate, Caroline Harvey of the University of Wisconsin, said, "It's not something we're focused on or really thinking about. We're moving forward." 

This disinterest in the controversy stands in contrast to an old marketing expression that any publicity is good publicity—one which has served Trump very well throughout his life. But given the absolute effort they put into their craft, such an interpretation of the conflict provides no solace to members of the women’s team. In a separate interview, Hillary Knight articulated these sentiments, lamenting that in conversations supposedly centered around she and her teammates crowning achievements, “I have to sit in front of you and sort of explain someone else's behavior. That's not my responsibility." 

This gets to the heart of why Trump’s comments have caused so much controversy, along with raising questions of how that controversy has deeper roots within American society and gender relations. This moment of the phone call reflects a broader issue of gender inequality in sports, where women’s achievements are often treated as secondary or optional compared to men’s. Even at the highest level of competition, recognition is not always distributed equally, reinforcing long-standing disparities in visibility, pay, and institutional respect.

Allyson Felix, the most decorated American track athlete in Olympic history, once reflected on this struggle in a 2019 New York Times article by saying, "We’re expected to perform at the highest level, to be perfect, but we’re often doing it without the same safety net or the same respect. For so long, we’ve been told to just be grateful for whatever we get, while the men are given the world before they even prove themselves."

Her words highlight the reality for many women in sports. It’s a reality that sinks in when you see the imbalance in how female athletes are treated, paid, and even celebrated. Even with these barriers, female athletes continue to succeed and prove their worth.

Media Bias in Sports 

Grace & Kalila

Agenda Setting Theory perfectly explains the gap within men's and women's sports and how it translates to broadcast television. The theory argues that the media doesn’t tell people what to think, but rather what to think about. In this case, the overwhelming focus on men’s sports in media coverage signals to audiences that men’s achievements are more important, more newsworthy, and more deserving of attention than women’s. By consistently prioritizing men’s hockey through broadcast time, headlines, and even political recognition like this phone call, the media and public figures reinforce a hierarchy in which women’s success becomes secondary, regardless of actual performance. Trump’s comment and the attention it received also reflect agenda-setting at a political level. By centering the men’s team in the conversation and treating the women’s team as an afterthought or punchline, the moment reinforced which athletes were seen as the primary focus of national recognition. Even the backlash itself demonstrates agenda-setting, as the controversy shifted public discussion away from the women’s historic achievement and toward the remark instead. If media outlets, political leaders, and audiencesbegin to intentionally shift their focus toward women’s sports—giving them equal visibility, coverage, and recognition- it could fundamentally reshape public perception.

This coverage disparity reinforces the idea that women’s accomplishments are less valuable or less worthy of attention. When audiences are rarely exposed to women’s sports highlights, storylines, or celebrations, they are less likely to view them as central to the sports world.

However, the media attention they receive still pales in comparison. When a high-profile figure like Donald Trump uses a congratulatory call to the men’s team to mock their women counterparts—who are champions in their own right—it amplifies this imbalance on a national scale. The presidency carries significant agenda-setting power, meaning what is acknowledged or emphasized at that level can influence what the public and media prioritize. Trump’s remarks, and the attention they generated, fit directly into this pattern by redirecting focus away from the women’s success and supports the idea that men’s sports are the default priority.

According to Team USA's hockey page, the numbers show that the women’s team has been consistently better for decades. Since women’s hockey became an Olympic sport 28 years ago, the U.S. women's team has medaled in every single tournament. By comparison, the men’s team recently ended a 46-year gold medal drought. During that same period, the women’s team earned three gold medals.

Despite these accomplishments, the women’s team was overlooked when the president called the men’s team to celebrate their win and invite them to his State of the Union address. Both teams reached the top of their sport, but only one received that level of recognition. This raises a difficult question about how we value sports in this country. When a women’s team is

more successful than the men but does not get the same celebration, it sends a message that their success is simply not viewed as equal. It suggests that no matter how many gold medals they win, women’s sports will continue to be treated as an afterthought.

Women’s Sports Still Fight for Recognition

Opportunities for women in sports have expanded significantly over time, and that shift is widely recognized. Participation has increased, and the level of competition continues to improve across different levels of play. Even so, equal treatment has not fully followed that progress. The conversation has moved beyond access and toward recognition, which is where the gap becomes more visible. Women are clearly competing at a high level, but the way their success is perceived still does not align with their performance.

“If you see lowlights from a WNBA, like a player, it's more of just like, ‘that's just how women's basketball is.’ And then if you were to look at, like, lowlights from like the NBA, it's going to be more like, ‘oh, this player sucks.’ So I think like generally, like there's a lack of respect, but I think personally, you know, I think an individual player in, like, the NBA, deals with a lot, a lot worse comments typically than a woman's player might.” said a male Ohio University student, speaking anonymously.

This disconnect is especially noticeable in media coverage. Women’s sports continue to receive less attention compared to men’s, even in moments of clear achievement. According to the Associated Press, U.S. women played a major role in Team USA’s performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics. USA Today also emphasized how central women were to the overall medal count. Despite this, the level of attention given to women’s performances does not always reflect their contribution. The issue is not a lack of success, but a lack of prioritization.

“The big difference was generally, I would say, is that people just don't take the league as a whole seriously. And players usually don't feel that specifically, but it still hurts them. So it just hurts them in a different way.” the student said.

This pattern is consistent over time rather than isolated to one event. Research cited by The Harvard Independent found that women’s sports accounted for approximately 5.4% of televised coverage in 2019. That figure has remained relatively unchanged for decades, even as participation rates have increased. The way women’s sports are presented also differs in tone. Coverage can appear less detailed or less engaging, which influences how audiences interpret the level of competition. When presentation differs, perception tends to follow.

The tone of broader conversations surrounding women’s sports reinforces this gap. Sexism is not always direct, but it often appears through dismissive comments or humor that minimizes women’s achievements. Women athletes are still more likely to be discussed in ways that extend beyond performance. Even when those moments seem minor, they contribute to a larger pattern. Over time, that pattern shapes how seriously women’s sports are taken. This is where agenda-setting becomes relevant, as repeated framing influences what audiences view as important.

There are, however, signs of gradual cultural change. Some male athletes have been more intentional in recognizing and supporting women’s teams. Players such as Jack Hughes have publicly acknowledged the success of the women’s hockey team and expressed respect for their performance. That type of response helps shift expectations and challenges long-standing norms within sports culture. It also signals that recognition does not have to be limited or conditional.  While these moments are not yet consistent, they suggest that attitudes are beginning to evolve alongside the structural progress already in place.

Progress Since Title IX

Nate

Despite persistent sexism and misogyny in society, tremendous progress has been made in women’s sports and gender equality since Title IX was passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. The law prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal funding and has had a major impact on women’s sports.

According to the NCAA’s The State of Women in College Sports: Title IX 50th Anniversary Report (2022), high school girls’ participation in sports is now 11 times greater than it was before the law’s passage, an increase of more than 1,000 percent. Women’s participation has also grown faster than men’s in recent years. Opportunities for women increased by 135,000 from 2014 to 2019, while men’s opportunities increased by 7,000 during the same period. From 2019 to 2020, the report found a record number of male and female student-athletes participating in NCAA championship sports.

“I do think things have changed. I do think that there's more opportunities. There seems to be just more attention, equal attention given to women's sports.” said an Ohio University alumna, speaking anonymously. “I think women's sports are seen as being individual in their own right, not just compared to men. I mean, they may be playing the same sport with pretty much the same rules, but it's a different product on the field or on the court than it is with men. And I think it’s moving toward where people can accept that they’re different. They’re not necessarily needed to be compared to one another.” For women around the world, this year’s Winter Olympics highlighted the progress made since Title IX became law. After decades of existing in the shadow of men’s sports, women reached the highest levels of international competition.

Of the 33 total medals won by the United States, including 12 gold medals, American women won six, compared to four by men’s teams, with two won in mixed-gender events. In total, American women won 17 medals in the tournament. Without Title IX, many opportunities for women to participate in sports would not exist, and the U.S. may never have developed the elite talent displayed at the games.

 Jackie Joyner-Kersee, a six-time Olympic medalist, once highlighted the impact of this progress in an article for CNN by stating, "The 2012 Olympic Games was a great start but hopefully what these games taught us is that if women are given an opportunity on an equal playing field the possibilities for women are endless." This quote referencing the 2012 London Games, which was the first time every nation sent female athletes, Joyner-Kersee made it clear that limits only exist when opportunities do not. She sees Title IX as the spark that turned a legal rule into a global launchpad for women. By forcing the door open, Title IX proved that when women actually get a fair shot, they dominate the game. 

Given the country’s current political climate, the irony of these accomplishments is difficult to ignore. The success of women in the Olympics highlights the importance of Title IX and the athletes who benefited from it. Without them, the United States would not have achieved the same international success that President Trump so salivates at. Following the controversy surrounding the president’s remarks and the reaction to them, players from the U.S. men’s hockey team attempted to distance themselves from the situation and emphasize their support for the women’s team.

“We should have reacted differently. We are so excited for the women’s team. We have so much respect for the women’s team.” goalie Jeremy Swayman said. “To share that gold medal with them is something we’re forever grateful for. Now that we’re home, we get to share that together forever and see the incredible support we have from the USA, and share this incredible gold medal.”

Some players also suggested the reaction had been exaggerated and did not reflect their actual views.

“Looking back at it now, I think it was a mistake. But I think things got blown out of proportion a little bit. You know, we have nothing but the utmost respect for the women.” Jake Sanderson, a U.S. defenseman, said in response to the controversy that stemmed from the incident. “We had a lounge in the village that we’re hanging out with them all the time, watching other events, and going to their games. I remember watching their game, their gold medal game in the lounge, just biting my nails. So nervous, such a great game. When Megan Keller scored, we all jumped up and everyone was freaking out. So, it was cool to just watch them get it done.”

A Pattern of Sexism

        Thomas

Few figures illustrate how these issues have continued to permeate in society more clearly than Donald Trump. His rhetoric is not an isolated or recent development, but part of a long, well-documented pattern of controversial and widely criticized comments about women spanning decades, reinforcing that such attitudes are deeply rooted rather than newly emergent.

During the 2016 election, an unreleased recording from “Access Hollywood” in 2005 surfaced in which Trump was heard making remarks about forcing himself onto women, saying, “When you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything...Grab them by the p----. You can do anything.”

In an interview with Esquire Magazine in 1991, Trump said “It doesn't really matter what [the media] write as long as you've got a young and beautiful piece of ass.” 

This is all to say nothing of the more than two dozen sexual assault and misconduct allegations that have dogged the president for much of his public life since the 1970s, culminating in a 2023 civil case in which Trump was found liable for sexual assault and abuse against writer E. Jean Carroll. It also does not include his connection to the late disgraced financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, along with his prominence in the infamous Epstein files that have been a source of constant aggravation for President Trump for much of his second term.

Speaking about her reaction to the president’s joke, the Ohio University alumna described her initial feeling upon hearing the news as “disappointed” rather than outright anger.

“I think not altogether surprised, but disappointed that had come to light and that was the reality of it,” she said. “I think that it's laziness on the part of the president to try to find solidarity with the men by kind of going back to that very old school humor and attempting to show that they have this thing in common where they're ‘the guys’ and they're close because of that, or they have a bond because of that, and that the women are outside of that bond. And it's disappointing only because that feels like a really old and retired way of thinking, let alone acting upon it.” In the case of the call to the men’s hockey team, where acting in only the most basic, courteous manner would be seen in a positive light given his past, Donald Trump showed that he couldn’t even meet that minimal standard.

Despite his long history of degrading comments about women, Trump has been able to seemingly brush them off, along with the rest of America, as his election victories in 2016 and 2024 demonstrate. Time and time again, the country has chosen to dismiss the president’s behavior as inconsequential. The question of why and how is one that people have been and will continue trying to answer for years to come, long after Trump himself is gone.

Some experts argue that misogynistic behavior is often rooted not only in cultural norms but also in personal insecurity and fear of women’s independence.

“I think it comes from a fear, self-doubt, needing to feel some validation about themselves,” the source said. “I mean…that's behavior you'd see on a playground…trying to make somebody else feel small or showing that you're above someone else, I think is what we're talking about. And that all comes from someone, their own feelings that they have about themselves on the inside.”

The bigger question may be this: Is Donald Trump a symptom or a cause? Is Trump’s ability to evade consequences for making such inappropriate remarks about women, and his political success in spite of them, an indicator of a broader societal problem when it comes to how gender and misogyny are discussed? Or is his behavior as the most powerful man in the world part of the reason why the “old school humor” he referenced remains so prevalent today? Said the alumna, “I think we're talking more about an individual in this example, I do. I think that him being able to kind of skirt through and not get burned says more about who he is and his own abilities, let's say, versus more of a cultural acceptance, I really do...And I think that his behavior, let's say, especially in the office or in his business world, doesn't always correlate with some of the offensive language. He seems to be a real champion of some of the women that are around him, for example, in the administration or in his organization. So, it's very easy, or I shouldn't say easy, but it makes it maybe easier for people to accept when he says, ‘oh, that was just a comment, you're reading too much into it because here I've been a supporter, I'm a real champion,’ and that kind of thing, and people can accept that from him.”

The president’s joke also highlighted the intense gender divide that exists in American politics today. According to exit polls reported by major outlets including CNN and NBC, about 55% of men voted for Trump in the 2024 election, while a majority of women — around 53% — voted for Kamala Harris.

Because of this divide, reactions to the president’s joke varied widely. Was the comment simply that, a joke that should not be overanalyzed, or did dismissing it risk excusing the kind of misogynistic attitudes that many argue remain a problem in modern society?

“I think the whole thing with at least like the men's reaction, the men's hockey team, is like, it's a bit of a nothing burger,” said an anonymous male Ohio University student. “I can't tell you how many times I've been at work, and someone wants to start saying some ignorant stuff. You can just smile, laugh along, you know, you’re not really put in a comfortable position to immediately start pushing back and be like, ‘whoa, whoa, stop everything.’ You can't do that. So, I think that's the case. If the president is on the phone, he makes a joke, and you're also in a good mood, I think it was kind of a perfect storm to have that reaction, but I don't think that would be a true judge of their character.”

The Ohio University alumnus said the broader issue may lie less in blatant remarks and more in the accumulation of smaller ones over time, and dismissing them as simple jokes contributes to these societal problems.

“A really blatant sexist remark or derogatory remark is probably, in this day and age anyway, maybe less and less common. It's more of those smaller kind of minor, what do they call them? Micro aggressions that really end up adding up quite a bit. So yeah, I do. I do think that that's the issue.”

The phone call moment sparked discussion about recognition and respect in women’s sports, especially at a time when both teams had achieved the highest level of success on the same global stage. Rather than escalating tension, however, members of both teams appeared to respond with humor and unity in the public eye.

This dynamic was on full display during a joint appearance on Saturday Night Live, as reported by Politico (2026). The segment featured players from both the men’s and women’s teams celebrating their Olympic victories together, offering a moment that blended athletic pride with lighthearted commentary. Stars including Hilary Knight, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and members of the men’s team like the Hughes brothers took the stage in their Team USA jerseys, gold medals visible around their necks.

Knight set the tone for the segment with a pointed but playful remark: “It was going to be just us, but we thought we’d invite the guys, too.” The joke flipped the narrative of Trump’s earlier comment, subtly highlighting the women’s team’s equal standing while showing camaraderie between the two squads. The audience’s strong reaction—marked by a long ovation—suggested widespread support for both teams and an appreciation for how the athletes handled the situation.

As described in the article, this moment demonstrated how humor can serve as a rhetorical tool to address controversy without deepening division. Rather than directly confronting the remark, the athletes reframed it, using comedy to assert equality and mutual respect. The SNL appearance ultimately became more than just a celebration—it was a public display of solidarity.

This interplay between politics, media, and sport underscores how meaning is constructed not just through official statements, but through the ways individuals and communities respond. In this case, the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams turned a potentially divisive moment into one of collective celebration—proving that sometimes, the most effective response is not confrontation, but collaboration and wit.

What can be done?

Thomas & Alex

Collaboration implies the participation of two parties, raising the issue of what men can do to positively contribute to the future of athletics. Like any such societal issue based on the biases and prejudices of individuals, the solution, in large part, will rest on the conscious efforts of men to make sure that they are being part of the solution, and not the problem. Furthermore, this entails not just the correction of one’s own behavior, but also not providing encouragement to the actions of other men—like those of Trump—which only deepen the issue. It is imperative that in their personal lives, men expect more of not just themselves, but also their friends in showing basic respect towards the efforts of female athletes. But when it comes to combating misogyny and sexism in modern society, there are many avenues and pathways that can lead to real change but it is difficult, at times, to identify what the best course of action is.

““I think it's probably more about the continuation of things.” Said the former Ohio student. The source went on to speak about how she believes that having strong advocates and voices speaking out against behaviors and attitudes such as the ones that the president has showcased is the best way to keep the fight for women’s equality in society and sports moving forward. “I think there's real momentum with women's sports in the United States, at least, and in Western countries. and just continuing to kind of fuel that is the best thing we can do for it to continue to get better.”

Of course, one could hardly have expected the men’s team to openly push back at the president in the midst of the most triumphal moment in their lives. But as members of the men’s team themselves have already acknowledged, reacting with such a “boys club” demeanor served as a tacit endorsement of Trump’s patronizing mockery, undermining the cross-gender unity of US athletes, and ensuring that the accomplishments of the women’s team would be assessed, in large part, through the skewed lens of “cultural warfare.” Had the men’s team, at a minimum, not laughed, the interaction would not have taken on such broad social implications. Trump’s joke would have been little beyond one of the crass utterances for which he is by now well-known. Even this would’ve gone a long way in showing solidarity with the women’s team, along with respect for their achievements. It is these sorts of small, yet vital acts of respect which men must start with in doing their part to give women athletes a supportive environment in which to strive.

The way to true, transformative change, however, comes from the top. When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ending segregation in the United States, it was not a moment that marked a decisive victory or an end to the ongoing fight for equality. Even still, it was a watershed moment in the country’s history. With the passing of this law by those in power, the country shall never again return to the oppressive and primitive practices by which it operated under for over 200 years. 

For women and their fight against equality, women's sports and women in society being elevated and treated with the respect that they deserve must ultimately come from the top, just as it did in 1964 and 1972 with Title IX’s passing. Regrettably, the current president and his administration, in the same White House that Lyndon Johnson occupied, seem content to stay silent, refusing to comment on the backlash that came from President Trump’s call. While the expectation of the president being a role model for the country in addition to being a leader is one that has seemingly been long since abandoned, the fact of the matter is that people in power have the ability to use their position in society to shape culture and narratives surrounding certain issues. When someone like the media-savvy Trump is allowed to wield such awesome power without repercussions when it comes to his comments and behavior towards and about women, that can have a trickle-down effect, showing that behavior such as his is okay and can be dismissed, or, even worse, that it is the way that things should be.

“I think it has to be sustainable long-term,” said the anonymous current Ohio student when speaking about what work has yet to be done to ensure that women are treated and seen as equally. “And then, just like as a whole for society, I think the most meaningful progress would be if some of these specifically powerful men, like P. Diddy, Jeffrey Epstein, you know, Donald Trump, these guys that don't respect women don't hold as much power in this society [as they do] and that there is a fair justice system that can legally bring these people to justice and not allow them to get away with such awful things.”

Just because you feel as if you support women to your best ability, it doesn't mean the man next to you does. People can only refer to misogyny as ‘just joking around’ for so long, and it is far past time to start giving women the respect they have ultimately earned and deserve. This goes for the media, political figures and leaders, but also goes for each and every single person in the US. 

Challenging dismissive comments, even when framed as jokes, and holding peers accountable are necessary steps in breaking long-standing patterns of inequality. Progress will not come from opportunity alone, but from recognition. When women’s achievements are consistently treated as central rather than secondary, real change becomes possible.

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