Strength, dominance, leadership, physicality — traits long celebrated in men’s sports are often challenged in women’s sports.
For centuries, women in sports have battled not just their opponents on the field but deeply ingrained gender norms, perpetuated by a system of misogyny that views a strong woman as lesser. Traits essential to athletic success are often reframed as “unfeminine,” reinforcing the idea that their place in sports is conditional for women.
Nowhere is this a more apparent phenomenon than in women’s rugby.
Because women’s rugby challenges traditional views of femininity, athletes often face scrutiny, ridicule, and dismissal as serious and successful figures in the sports industry. This alienation extends beyond the field, affecting how women in rugby and other sports are misrepresented and underrepresented in the media. This proves that new and different representation in women’s sports is essential.
Furthermore, women’s rugby doesn’t just tolerate the differences among athletes — it thrives on fostering a culture where all athletes, especially those from marginalized communities, may find empowerment, camaraderie, and belonging.
Women’s rugby offers an environment accepting of typically undervalued body types — a stark contrast to mainstream beauty standards that don’t appreciate a muscular, bulky, or larger-bodied physique for female athletes. This inclusivity extends far beyond physicality, as women’s rugby has long been a refuge for athletes who feel alienated or unwelcomed in other sports. By emphasizing teamwork, resilience, and self-expression over rigid gender norms, rugby provides an atmosphere where athletes can fully embrace their identities without fear of judgment.
Participation in inclusive sports can reduce feelings of isolation, enhance self-esteem, and improve overall mental health, especially for individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ and experience higher rates of anxiety and depression due to marginalization in their communities, according to a 2008 paper by Dr. Drew D. Richards of the American Psychiatric Association.
In challenging tradition, women’s rugby doesn’t just cultivate strong athletes — it cultivates strong, confident, and resilient individuals who carry that empowerment beyond the pitch and into their daily lives. A shocking 94% of women in C-Suite executive positions have a background in team sports, according to a survey of executives conducted by Ernst & Young in 2015, further proving the benefits that team sports provide to women of all ages.
To continue tackling traditions in the realm of women’s sports, we must take collective action to grow and develop our athletic programs, inspire adolescents, and hold others accountable. At a local level, you can help by supporting and engaging with young women’s rugby teams and other inclusive athletics programs by attending games, joining teams, and advocating for more visibility of women’s sports on school campuses.
On a broader level, push for institutional changes that ensure LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults, and other female athletes receive the mental health support, funding, and respect they deserve — whether through student governments, voting in DEI initiatives, or donating to organizations like the You Can Play Project.
Keeping these programs up and running is imperative to the health and wellness of our youth.
Finally, on a systemic level, you can challenge outdated gender norms in sports by raising awareness, educating yourself and others, and supporting policies that promote equity for all athletes.
Beyond women’s rugby, this applies to any program aimed at supporting, without judgment, all female athletes, all LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults, all body types, and all those ready to better our world. If we want to see a future where all athletes are championed — not challenged — for their strength, it starts with us.
Paige Perricone is the Colorado State University Women’s Rugby senior officer and peer education and social media manager.
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