Institutional Negligence and Abuse in Women's Sports

Institutional Negligence and Abuse in Women's Sports

• Larry Nasser, the former US Gymnastics Women’s National Team doctor, was accused of sexual assault by hundreds of former gymnasts in 2016.
• Stephen Penny, former President of US Gymnastics, did not act on the allegations when they were first reported.
• Quentin Hillsman, Syracuse Women’s Basketball Head Coach, was accused of abuse by former players and staff members in June 2021.
• 11 players had left the Syracuse Women’s Basketball program, including the team’s leading scorer and ACC Rookie of the Year.
• Players had previously reported Hillsman’s abuse to the school, but nothing was done.
• Paul Riley, former North Carolina Courage Head Coach, was accused of sexual and verbal abuse but was still hired by the NWSL even after being fired from the Portland Thorns for the same allegations.
• Four different coaches, all men, have been fired in the past four months for off-field reasons, including alleged sexual misconduct, verbal abuse, toxic work environments, and racist remarks.
• The German Olympic and Paralympic Committee conducted a study in 2020 that found 54.2% of elite athletes had experienced some form of sexual abuse during their lifetime.
• 48% of the victims were abused in and out of their sport.
• In a 2011 report by Celia Brackenridge, 49% of sexual abusers in UK swimming were authoritative figures (coaches, trainers, club officials, etc.), and all were male.
• Many institutions are implementing new policies to ensure the safety of athletes, but players want tangible evidence that clubs will not tolerate any abuse, bias, or discrimination.
• Athletes who stand up to their abusers and institutions are paving the way for a better future for society as a whole.

Institutional Negligence and Abuse in Women's Sports

• Larry Nasser, the former US Gymnastics Women’s National Team doctor, was accused of sexual assault by hundreds of former gymnasts in 2016.
• Stephen Penny, former President of US Gymnastics, did not act on the allegations when they were first reported.
• Quentin Hillsman, Syracuse Women’s Basketball Head Coach, was accused of abuse by former players and staff members in June 2021.
• 11 players had left the Syracuse Women’s Basketball program, including the team’s leading scorer and ACC Rookie of the Year.
• Players had previously reported Hillsman’s abuse to the school, but nothing was done.
• Paul Riley, former North Carolina Courage Head Coach, was accused of sexual and verbal abuse but was still hired by the NWSL even after being fired from the Portland Thorns for the same allegations.
• Four different coaches, all men, have been fired in the past four months for off-field reasons, including alleged sexual misconduct, verbal abuse, toxic work environments, and racist remarks.
• The German Olympic and Paralympic Committee conducted a study in 2020 that found 54.2% of elite athletes had experienced some form of sexual abuse during their lifetime.
• 48% of the victims were abused in and out of their sport.
• In a 2011 report by Celia Brackenridge, 49% of sexual abusers in UK swimming were authoritative figures (coaches, trainers, club officials, etc.), and all were male.
• Many institutions are implementing new policies to ensure the safety of athletes, but players want tangible evidence that clubs will not tolerate any abuse, bias, or discrimination.
• Athletes who stand up to their abusers and institutions are paving the way for a better future for society as a whole.