“Kababaeng tao…”

This phrase echoes in courts, gyms, and barangay sidelines—half-mocking, half-doubting. In a patriarchal society, where local basketball leagues dominate barangays and boxing matches cap off familial lunch times, Filipinos have put men at the center of the sports scene. Yet as time buzzes and courts open, women have slowly entered the picture, all equipped to play and fight in the same field.

Even then, the stereotypes against women in the sports industry do not break in one single game.

Driven by Strength

“Kababaeng tao, naglalaro.”

With a contrast in body physique, men often having a larger figure than women, an infamous misconception enters the sports narrative: women players are not as physically capable and strong as men.

On average, men surpass women in raw physical abilities, tending to run and jump faster, and also having more grip strength. On the other hand, the average woman has 33% less lower-body strength and 40% less upper-body strength. This difference leads to a general perspective that men involved in sports are more profitable due to their aggressiveness and capability.

Gely Tiu, managing director of Girls Got Game, mentioned how this gender bias deprived women of opportunities to play. “Many of them would indicate that sports aren’t for girls,” she said, narrating the lack of sports background of girls in their clinic. While young women continue to aspire to play, societal dismissal and inaccessibility continue to hinder them.

Angel Canino, DLSU Lady Spikers’ captain, also acknowledges this biological disparity between women and men, but emphasizes that women have the mental toughness and skill to compete at the highest levels. “Kapag there’s mix na naglalaro lang, nagkakayayaan lang, kailangan talaga different ‘yong babae sa lalaki. Parang hindi kayang makipagsabayan sa lalaki. I think, for me, oo sa genes, iba, pero kayang-kaya ng mga babae makipagsabayan lalo na mentality.”

Despite this myth, many women slowly infiltrate the sports industry, and athletes who put in the same amount of effort as men only differ now by about 10% when it comes to running and jumping, gaining a huge spike compared to previous ratings. Nevertheless, women continue to prove that they are equally capable in mental strength, showcasing how they are driven by resilience, perseverance, and dedication.

Woven by Comfort

“Kababaeng tao, ganyan manamit.”

Women faced a recurring concept of being boxed into conventional clothing. This stereotype gets dragged more into the sports industry, and women have yet to deal with another misconception: women athletes have to wear hyper-feminine clothes to be classified as players.

Deemed practical, women are forced to wear tight, fitted, short sportswear to play properly. The International Volleyball Federation only allowed female volleyball players to wear other attire aside from the mandatory bikinis in 2012, and the International Skating Union only stopped requiring female figure skaters to wear skirts until 2004. With the organization heads’ reasoning, these clothes would attract sponsors more, leaving women athletes with no choice but to bear the bothersome feeling.

Dr. Ian Banzon, an athlete and sports acupuncture specialist, acknowledges this discomfort experience. “A lousy activewear fit restricts one’s movement, which may result in unwanted injuries and limited movement,” he said. 

Vernice “Crystal” Gabriel, a Philippine Wrestling Revolution (PWR) champion, also shares the same sentiment of experiencing harassment because of her inappropriate sportswear. Despite understanding that in-ring outfits are meant to attract people’s attention to the sport, she mentioned how it shouldn’t be an invitation for any form of sexual harassment. 

Ultimately, women are continuously striving to change the status quo. New rules in beach volleyball have been added, such as allowing longer shorts and a top. Gymnasts from other countries can also wear full bodysuits now, although this uniform was hardly ever used. But this slow yet evident progress showed the collective effort of women for their rights and choices when it comes to their bodies and passions.

Empowered by Voice

“Kababaeng tao, bumoboses.”

Sports are filled with dialogue of both support and criticism, but women tend to attract discerning eyes once they open their mouths, inviting once again another stereotype: women players should be less outspoken.

A long-running notion is that women are supposed to be reserved, even outside sports. Women are always expected to be submissive and quiet. Male athletes are frequently commended for their leadership and assertiveness, while female athletes are questioned for these qualities, perpetuating the traditional belief that women should be more restrained.

Kayce Balingit, UE Lady Red Warriors’ captain, underscores this double standard, “Hindi nagiging vocal kasi parang babae kami. Pero kunwari, kapag lalaki, okay lang magsabi ng salita.” These expectations to be silent in their games continue to press them.

“Women are told to be very prim and proper,” Beatrice “Bee” Go, a freelance sports journalist, echoes the thought. She acknowledges that women athletes are receiving a lack of recognition in the industry, with many factors hindering and excluding them from the narrative.

Although a solid myth, women constantly attempt to battle this obstacle. As part of a female sports journalists group in the Philippines, Bee uses her platforms to speak out against gender stereotypes. Many athletes continuously voice out their rights and liberty to play.

Inna Palacios, Philippine Women’s National Football Team goalkeeper, also said, “I think the best way to really support an athlete and teams here is to … give them the opportunity to be successful … It’s important that we also share our stories and what everyone’s doing here.”

In the present, female athletes keep speaking up about something as minuscule as a game error or as huge as gender equality, demonstrating that communication and confidence are critical for success in any sport.

As society slowly progresses, women’s sport stereotypes may be deemed cracked, but these need to be fully shattered, completely clearing off misogyny and inferiority in the field. Despite the multiple success stories, women players have yet to fully grasp inclusivity and recognition in a safer environment. It should be the starting point for a change in the sports scene. After all, women athletes have not only a game of sports to fight, but also a game of rights to defend.