A study by the Cabildo and the ULL reveals a significant gender gap in sports

The Tenerife Island Council, through its Sports Department, has conducted a Gender Equality Situation Analysis in collaboration with the University of La Laguna (ULL). Among its key findings is the underrepresentation of women in all areas of sports on the island, a gap that widens at higher levels. The Island Councillor for Sports, Concepción Rivero, along with the Island Director, Ángel Pérez, and Leticia Díaz Polegre, a technician from the University’s General Foundation’s Social Innovation Laboratory, presented the report yesterday.

Rivero highlighted “the scarce presence of women in governing bodies, coaching positions, refereeing teams, their minimal participation in international competitions, and the fact that only 26% of registered athletes are women.” She added that the study “will serve as a basis for developing actions aimed at promoting a greater presence of women in all areas of sport.”

“Although more and more women are participating in sports every day, analyzing registered athletes clearly demonstrates the existing gap, which requires specific policies. Through the ‘Educating Through Training’ program, we will continue working towards equality. To this end, we must help federations develop the necessary equality plans, protocols against harassment, and implement regulations and policies with positive reinforcement measures,” the councilor added.

Ángel Pérez pointed out that “administrations must guarantee equality in organized sports, promote actions that not only allow more girls and young women to join sports, but also promote the incorporation of women into sports education and refereeing teams, and foster the necessary work-life balance to ensure a balanced presence of women and men in national and international competitions at the highest levels.”

Leticia Díaz explained that, considering the results, it is evident “that equality in sports practice has not been achieved, and the study aimed to highlight where these inequalities lie. To this end, a 32-question survey was developed and answered by 40 sports federations.”

Study Data

The study reveals the low representation of women on the governing bodies of sports federations –30.5%–, and very low representation in positions of responsibility –10%. There are also few women in coaching positions; Of the 3,383 people analyzed, 20% are women, or 639. This percentage decreases with increasing age, reaching 15% in the youth and senior categories.

There is a limited presence of women on refereeing teams—only 30%—with very few in certain age categories. In Tenerife, 594 female referees were recorded.

Of the 60,962 registered referees on the island, only 16,088—26%—belong to women and girls. This gender gap widens from adolescence onward. While 37% of registered referees in the pre-Benjamin category are girls, in the youth, senior, and open categories, only one in four registered referees is a woman, or 25%.

The presence of men and women in national and international competitions is fairly balanced in all lower categories, with a gap in the presence of women in the higher categories, especially in international competitions, where only 25% are women.