Since their inception, the Olympic Games have been the largest international sporting event, bringing together athletes from all over the world. Despite the ideal of equality, their development has long been marked by a patriarchal social context. In my diploma I examine how the representation of women at the Olympic Games has evolved throughout history. I focus on the obstacles they have faced and how the social and cultural context has influenced their role in the Olympic movement. Based on an analysis of primary and secondary scholarly sources, I conclude that the representation of women in the modern Olympic Games is closely connected to broader social, political, and economic changes. The journey from outright exclusion at the 1896 Games in Athens to equality in Paris 2024 has been long, uneven, and often characterised by struggles against entrenched stereotypes and social norms that viewed sport as an exclusively male domain. Despite significant progress towards equality, cultural and religious restrictions in some countries, economic disparities, differences in funding, and stereotypical portrayals in the media still create an uneven playing field for women’s participation in sport. Although the story of women at the Olympic Games is one of progress, it remains an ongoing process that requires constant attention and strategic action to ensure that future generations of female athletes truly compete on an equal footing.
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