There Is No Such Thing as a "Man's Sport"

Misogyny doesn't just exist at the highest levels of our sport; It's also a constant presence among fandoms, changing our perceptions just because gender doesn't align with other people's expectations.

For as long as I've been a fan of motorsports, I have always been an advocate for women in racing. It’s been joked about that I am a ‘raging feminist’ and probably care way too much but if I didn’t care then who would?

I was not a particularly ‘sporty’ child. Growing up in rural Ireland, there are only so many sports that children can participate in whether that be Soccer, Hurling or Gaelic Football, most of which were deemed ‘boyish’. It wasn't until I hit my teenage years that I started to gain an interest in sports, particularly motorsports.

Something I instantly noticed within the motorsport world was, and still is, the increasing amount of comments dictating it as a ‘man's sport’. This mindset isn’t just outdated; it’s reflective of a much deeper issue within the culture of the sport. The concept of a ‘man's sport’ is out of date and based on long challenged and disproved societal prejudices. Regardless of gender, sports are for everyone; with the increasing number of women participating in historically male dominated sports showing that motivation and commitment are not limited to gender.

The level of backlash that women face compared to men can be brought back to societal biases. Women having traditionally male dominated roles in the workplace or exhibiting assertiveness in any way often faces scrutiny due to these traditional beliefs. These biases can result in harsher criticism when women challenge norms or succeed in certain fields; particularly sports.

This is especially apparent when looking at how girls, young or not, are introduced to motorsport. So often, the narrative is that they must first prove they ‘belong’ before they're even allowed to just be. I’ve met countless women in this sport, whether online or at the track, working within it or simply as fans, who have, at some point, been questioned or made to justify their place in it. When will it end?

The recent release of the F1 movie only highlighted how far we still have to go. Despite the sport’s push for progress, the film faced immediate backlash for its portrayal of women. It was a evident reminder that even in storytelling, women in motorsport are often sidelined or reduced to background characters, rather than being shown as the passionate and capable individuals we are. It felt as though it was creating harmful stereotypes that have already been plaguing this sport for years; and instead of helping, it played into it. It’s upsetting that in a time where representation should be evolving, especially in a sport striving for inclusivity, it feels as though we are going backwards. It is stereotypes like these that are making the world of motorsports increasingly inaccessible for young women trying to achieve their goals of working in the sport.

Representation matters. Not just for visibility, but because it shifts the boundaries of what’s possible. Seeing someone who looks like you in a racing suit or on the pit wall or behind a camera challenges everything that we have been taught to believe.

Motorsport is evolving, but not quickly enough. For every one success story, there’s a girl who walked away because she felt unwelcome or unheard. And until those voices are as valued as any other in the paddock, my ‘raging feminist’ badge stays firmly in place.

Because I do care. I care deeply; not just about seeing more women on track, but about building a culture where they don’t have to fight twice as hard to stay there. A culture where I am not judged for being a woman, but for my strengths and abilities. A culture where hard work and passion are what open doors; not assumptions or stereotypes.

I care because I know I’m not the only one. And I care because change doesn’t happen unless people speak up and stand firm in the spaces they’ve fought to be part of. So I will keep showing up, not just for myself, but for the ones who are watching, wondering if there’s space for them too.