From Silence to Awareness: Policy Remedies for Harassment of Women in Sports
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60081/SSHA.4.1.2026.596-612Keywords:
- Women athletes,
- Harassment,,
- Struggles,,
- Remedy,
- Sports Policies.
Abstract
Background: Harassment and abuse of women athletes, including physical, sexual, psychological, gender-based and cyber forms of violence, continue to be a major issue in sports. Despite legal protections and recent safe sport initiatives in India, institutional power imbalances, underreporting, and implementation gaps continue to affect athlete safety and welfare. Objective: The study aimed to examine the effectiveness of sports governance policies and safeguarding mechanisms to determine whether the existing legal frameworks are adequate in protecting women athletes from all forms of harassment in sports. It further explored sociocultural and institutional barriers associated with reporting and implementation while proposing an integrated safeguarding framework. Methodology: The study employed a scoping review design based on literature that was adopted using electronic databases including Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and SPORT Discus, along with grey literature sources. A total of 133 sources were screened according to predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria, resulting in 68 studies included in the final narrative synthesis. Results: The results show that although India has extensive legal and regulatory frameworks, their actual efficacy is nevertheless constrained by uneven enforcement, low knowledge, institutional power structures, and reporting anxiety. Transparent reporting methods, safeguarding education, independent monitoring, and organisational responsibility are all necessary, according to the research. Conclusion: Athletes’ safety cannot be guaranteed by legal safeguards alone. To develop safe and inclusive athletic conditions for women athletes in India, an integrated safeguarding approach that incorporates legal accountability, educational interventions, organisational transformation, psychological assistance, and cultural change is required.
Downloads
References
Abell, L., Buglass, S. L., Betts, L. R., & Morohunfola, T. (2024). “It’s all part of the culture”: Undergraduate students’ experiences of banter in university sports clubs and societies. Current Psychology, 43(10), 8727–8739. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05026-w
Antoniadou, N., & Kokkinos, C. M. (2015). Cyber and school bullying: Same or different phenomena? Aggression and Violent Behavior, 25, 363–372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2015.09.013
Arksey, H., & O’Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616
Benítez-Sillero, J. de D., Corredor-Corredor, D., Martínez-Aranda, L. M., Abellán-Aynés, O., Portela-Pino, I., Raya-González, J., Benítez-Sillero, J. de D., Corredor-Corredor, D., Martínez-Aranda, L. M., Abellán-Aynés, O., Portela-Pino, I., & Raya-González, J. (2023). Relationship between Physical Fitness and Cyberbullying Patterns (Cybervictimization and Cyberperpetration) in Spanish Adolescents. Behavioral Sciences, 13(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13110952
Bisgaard, K., & Støckel, J. T. (2019). Athlete narratives of sexual harassment and abuse in the field of sport. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 13(2), 226–242. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2018-0036
Brown, C. S., & Stone, E. A. (2016). Chapter Four - Gender Stereotypes and Discrimination: How Sexism Impacts Development. In S. S. Horn, M. D. Ruck, & L. S. Liben (Eds.), Advances in Child Development and Behavior (Vol. 50, pp. 105–133). JAI. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.acdb.2015.11.001
Cheguvera, N., & Arur, A. A. (2024). Exploring How Gender and Culture Shape the Lived Experiences of Indian Clients with Emotional Abuse: A Social Justice Approach to Counselling. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 46(3), 538–566. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-024-09561-4
Daruwalla, N., Kanougiya, S., Gupta, A., Gram, L., & Osrin, D. (2020). Prevalence of domestic violence against women in informal settlements in Mumbai, India: A cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open, 10(12), e042444. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042444
Dempsey-Brench, K., & Shantz, A. (2022). Skills-based volunteering: A systematic literature review of the intersection of skills and employee volunteering. Human Resource Management Review, 32(4), 100874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2021.100874
Diamond, A. B., Callahan, S. T., Chain, K. F., & Solomon, G. S. (2016). Qualitative review of hazing in collegiate and school sports: Consequences from a lack of culture, knowledge and responsiveness. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(3), 149–153. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-095603
Evans, B., Adler, A., Macdonald, D., & Côté, J. (2016). Bullying Victimization and Perpetration Among Adolescent Sport Teammates. Pediatric Exercise Science, 28(2), 296–303. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2015-0088
Fencing Association of India. (2022, April 27). Safe Sport Policy. https://www.fencingindia.org/constitution/safe-sport-policy/
Fileborn, B., & O’Neill, T. (2023). From “Ghettoization” to a Field of Its Own: A Comprehensive Review of Street Harassment Research. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 24(1), 125–138. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380211021608
Fisher, L. A., & Dzikus, L. (2017). Bullying in Sport and Performance Psychology. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology. https://oxfordre.com/psychology/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.001.0001/acrefore-9780190236557-e-169
Ford, J. L., & Ivancic, S. R. (2020). Surviving organizational tolerance of sexual harassment: An exploration of resilience, vulnerability, and harassment fatigue. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 48(2), 186–206. https://doi.org/10.1080/00909882.2020.1739317
Gaedicke, S., Schäfer, A., Hoffmann, B., Ohlert, J., Allroggen, M., Hartmann-Tews, I., & Rulofs, B. (2021). Sexual Violence and the Coach–Athlete Relationship—A Scoping Review From Sport Sociological and Sport Psychological Perspectives. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3, 643707. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.643707
Haobijam, S., & Singh, K. A. (2022). Socioeconomic Determinants of Domestic Violence in Northeast India: Evidence From the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4). Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(15–16), NP13162–NP13181. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605211005133
Hartill, M., Rulofs, B., Lang, M., Vertommen, T., Allroggen, M., Cirera, E., Diketmuller, R., Kampen, J., Kohl, A., Martín, M., Nanu, I., Neeten, M., Sage, D., & Stativa, E. (2022). CASES: General Report. The prevalence and characteristics of interpersonal violence against children (IVAC) inside and outside sport in six European countries [Report]. Edge Hill University. https://doi.org/10.25416/edgehill.17086616.v2
Hennink, M., & Kaiser, B. N. (2022). Sample sizes for saturation in qualitative research: A systematic review of empirical tests. Social Science & Medicine, 292, 114523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114523
Hodgins, M., Pursell, L., Itzkovich, Y., MacCurtain, S., & Rayner, C. (2025). A Scoping Review of Bullying and Harassment in Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 35(4), 813–836. https://doi.org/10.1002/nml.21646
Hoffmann, M. D., Barnes, J. D., Tremblay, M. S., & Guerrero, M. D. (2022). Associations between organized sport participation and mental health difficulties: Data from over 11,000 US children and adolescents. PLoS ONE, 17(6), e0268583. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268583
Holt, N. L., Neely, K. C., Slater, L. G., Camiré, M., Côté, J., Fraser-Thomas, J., MacDonald, D., Strachan, L., & Tamminen, K. A. (2017). A grounded theory of positive youth development through sport based on results from a qualitative meta-study. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 10(1), 1–49. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2016.1180704
Indian Olympic Association. (2019, December 30). IOA SAFE SPORT POLICY. https://olympic.ind.in/public/pdf/IOA%20Safe%20Sport%20Policy.pdf
Johansson, S. (2022). From Policy to Practice: Measures Against Sexual Abuse by Swedish Sports Federations. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4, 841653. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.841653
Joseph, D. (2022). Teacher Perceptions of Hazing among Middle & High School Students: A Phenomenological Study. Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/3457
Karami, A., Spinel, M. Y., White, C. N., Ford, K., & Swan, S. (2021). A Systematic Literature Review of Sexual Harassment Studies with Text Mining. Sustainability, 13(12), 6589. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126589
Kim, S., & Connaughton, D. P. (2024). Sexual Harassment/Abuse Policies in U.S. Youth Sport Programs. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 39(21–22), 4169–4191. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241234341
Koontz, J. S., Mountjoy, M., Abbott, K. E., Aron, C. M., Basile, K. C., Carlson, C. T., Chang, C. J., Diamond, A. B., Dugan, S. A., Hainline, B., Herring, S. A., Hopkins, B. E., Joy, E. A., Judge, J. P., LaBotz, M., Matuszak, J., McDavis, C. J., Myers, R. A., Nattiv, A., … Roberts, W. O. (2021). Sexual violence in sport: American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Statement. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 55(3), 132–134. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-102226
Landau, D. (2019). Choosing between simple and complex remedies in socio-economic rights cases. University of Toronto Law Journal, 69(supplement 1), 105–123. https://doi.org/10.3138/utlj.69.s1.005
Livingstone, S., & Smith, P. K. (2014). Annual research review: Harms experienced by child users of online and mobile technologies: the nature, prevalence and management of sexual and aggressive risks in the digital age. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 55(6), 635–654. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12197
Lundqvist, C., Camps, J., Vertommen, T., Barker-Ruchti, N., & Kolbeinsson, Ö. (2025). Toxic leadership in high-performance sports and its consequences for mental health and performance: A scoping review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 0(0), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2025.2457038
Luthar, H., & Luthar, V. (2007). A Theoretical Framework Explaining Cross-Cultural Sexual Harassment: Integrating Hofstede and Schwartz. Journal of Labor Research, 28(1), 169–188.
Madsen, I. E., & Nielsen, M. B. D. (2023). Work-related sexual and gender harassment: Conceptual challenges and the need for evidence-based prevention. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 49(7), 449–452. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4121
Mahmoudi, M., & Moss, S. (2020a). The absence of legal remedies following academic bullying. BioImpacts, 10(2), 63–64. https://doi.org/10.34172/bi.2020.08
Mahmoudi, M., & Moss, S. (2020b). The absence of legal remedies following academic bullying. BioImpacts: BI, 10(2), 63–64. https://doi.org/10.34172/bi.2020.08
Marshall, S., McNeil, N., Seal, E.-L., & Nicholson, M. (2025). The Gender Harassment Experiences of Women Who Play, Coach, Officiate and Manage Sport in Australia. Australian Journal of Social Issues, (n/a). https://doi.org/10.1002/ajs4.70000
Mary P, M., Jacob, A. M., & Shetty, A. K. (2025). Physical violence and its associations: Insights from nationally representative data in India. Women’s Health (London, England), 21, 17455057241310633. https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057241310633
Mattey, E., McCloughan, L. J., & Hanrahan, S. J. (2014). Anti-Vilification Programs in Adolescent Sport. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 5(3), 135–146. https://doi.org/10.1080/21520704.2014.925528
McMullen, J. (2014). Addressing Abusive Conduct in Youth Sports. Marquette Sports Law Review, 25(1), 181.
Menesini, E., & Salmivalli, C. (2017). Bullying in schools: The state of knowledge and effective interventions. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 22(sup1), 240–253. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2017.1279740
Merkel, D. L. (2013). Youth sport: Positive and negative impact on young athletes. Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, 4, 151–160. https://doi.org/10.2147/OAJSM.S33556
Miller, L. (2012). Stalking: Patterns, motives, and intervention strategies. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 17(6), 495–506. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2012.07.001
Ministry of Women and Child Development. (2019, July 19). Mahila Police Volunteers. https://www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1579525
Ministry of Women and Child Development. (2025, January 21). Empowering India’s Daughters. https://www.pib.gov.in/www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=2094929
Ministry Of Women And Child Development. (2025, March 29). India’s Commitment to Women’s Safety. https://www.pib.gov.in/www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=2116557
Mishna, F., Kerr, G., McInroy, L. B., & MacPherson, E. (2019). Student athletes’ experiences of bullying in intercollegiate sport. Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education, 13(1), 53–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/19357397.2019.1581512
Moon, P., Bayle, E., & François, A. (2022). Assessing International Sport Federations’ Sustainability Practices: Toward Integrating Sustainability in Their Main Sports Events. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.752085
Moore, B., & Woodcock, S. (2017). Resilience, Bullying, and Mental Health: Factors Associated with Improved Outcomes. Psychology in the Schools, 54(7), 689–702. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22028
Mountjoy, M. (2020). #Time2Act: Harassment and abuse in elite youth sport culture. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(7), 367–368. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-101975
Mountjoy, M., Brackenridge, C., Arrington, M., Blauwet, C., Carska-Sheppard, A., Fasting, K., Kirby, S., Leahy, T., Marks, S., Martin, K., Starr, K., Tiivas, A., & Budgett, R. (2016). International Olympic Committee consensus statement: Harassment and abuse (non-accidental violence) in sport. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(17), 1019–1029. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096121
National Commission for Women. (2025, March 20). Other Helplines. https://www.ncw.gov.in/other-useful-helplines/
Nickodem, K. K., Basile, K. C., Espelage, D. L., Leemis, R. W., Ingram, K. M., & Barbero, C. (2023). Sports Participation, Social Networks, and Sexual Violence Perpetration. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(1–2), 1690–1717. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605221092067
Ohlert, J., Vertommen, T., Rulofs, B., Rau, T., & Allroggen, M. (2021). Elite athletes’ experiences of interpersonal violence in organized sport in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. European Journal of Sport Science, 21(4), 604–613. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2020.1781266
paula A & Johnson. (2018). Sexual Harassment of Women. https://books.google.com/books/about/Sexual_Harassment_of_Women.html?id=uyZnDwAAQBAJ
Peters, M. D. J., Marnie, C., Tricco, A. C., Pollock, D., Munn, Z., Alexander, L., McInerney, P., Godfrey, C. M., & Khalil, H. (2020). Updated methodological guidance for the conduct of scoping reviews. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 18(10), 2119–2126. https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-20-00167
Sabri, B., Rai, A., & Rameshkumar, A. (2022). Violence Against Women in India: An Analysis of Correlates of Domestic Violence and Barriers and Facilitators of Access to Resources for Support. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work (2019), 19(6), 700–729. https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2022.2105671
Selvaraj, J., & Malik, S. (2024). Witness. Juggernaut Publication.
Shah, P. (2024). Safeguarding Female Athletes in India: Formulating a National Safe Sport Policy.
Sharma, D., & Johari, R. (2025). Cyberbullying Trends in Indian Sports—A Sentiment Analysis of Twitter Feeds. In S. Tiwari, M. C. Trivedi, M. L. Kolhe, & B. K. Singh (Eds.), Advances in Data and Information Sciences (pp. 103–118). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-9619-9_9
Stefaniuk, L., & Bridel, W. (2018). Anti-Bullying Policies in Canadian Sport: An Absent Presence. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 36(2). https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2018-V36-I2-8439
Talboys, S. L., Kaur, M., VanDerslice, J., Gren, L. H., Bhattacharya, H., & Alder, S. C. (2017). What Is Eve Teasing? A Mixed Methods Study of Sexual Harassment of Young Women in the Rural Indian Context. Sage Open, 7(1), 2158244017697168. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244017697168
Tanrikulu, I., & Erdur-Baker, Ö. (2021). Motives Behind Cyberbullying Perpetration: A Test of Uses and Gratifications Theory. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(13–14), NP6699–NP6724. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518819882
Tricker, B. (2019). Corporate Governance. Oxford University Press. https://www.oxfordbusinesstrove.com/display/10.1093/hebz/9780198809869.001.0001/isbn-9780198809869
UNESCO & UN Women. (2023). Tackling violence against women and girls in sport. A handbook for policy makers and sports practitioners (UNESCO). UNESCO. https://doi.org/10.54678/OIYQ8917
Vveinhardt, J., Fominienė, V. B., & Andriukaitienė, R. (2020). THE DARK SIDE OF SPORT: MANAGERIAL BULLYING AND HARASSMENT CHALLENGES IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPORTS. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 21(6), 1525–1542. https://doi.org/10.3846/jbem.2020.13458
Walsh, R. (2021). Property Rights and Social Justice: Progressive Property in Action. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108551373
Webster, K., Ward, A., Diemer, K., Flood, M., Honey, N., Morgan, J., Politoff, V., Powell, A., & Stubbs, J. (2021). How are gender inequality and violence against women related? Findings from a population-level community attitudes survey. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 374–392. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajs4.158
WHO. (2023, March 8). WHO Policy on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct. https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/WHO-DGO-PRS-2023.4
Wilinsky, C. L., & McCabe, A. (2021). A review of emotional and sexual abuse of elite child athletes by their coaches. Sports Coaching Review, 10(1), 84–109. https://doi.org/10.1080/21640629.2020.1775378
Wurtele, S. K., & Kenny, M. C. (2016). Technology-Related Sexual Solicitation of Adolescents: A Review of Prevention Efforts. Child Abuse Review, 25(5), 332–344. https://doi.org/10.1002/car.2445
Yildiz, S. M. (2015). The relationship between bullying and burnout: An empirical investigation of Turkish professional football players. Sport, Business and Management, 5(1), 6–20. https://doi.org/10.1108/SBM-09-2012-0034
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Aiswarya, Priyam Patel, Binthumathavan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
