'Shut up lady, the footy is on... get back in the kitchen': Horrendous online abuse sportswomen face is laid bare in troubling report
- Australian sportswomen cop three times more negative online abuse than men
- New report highlighted examples of sexist, belittling and sexualised comments
- Analysed more than 1,300 Facebook comments shared by sport broadcasters
- AFL womens star Tayla Harris and soccer star Sam Kerr have hit back at abuse
Australian sportswomen cop three times more negative online abuse than their male counterparts, according to an alarming social media analysis.
Shocking examples of the sexist, belittling and sexualised comments towards women in sport have been highlighted in a new report released by leading girls' rights agency Plan International on Wednesday.
It comes just weeks after vile online abuse was directed at AFL womens star Tayla Harris when a photo of the Carlton star kicking a long range goal was posted on the 7AFL site.
The photo was taken down due to inappropriate comments before it was reposted in response to overwhelming protests.
Included in the alarming analysis were vile online comments in response to this photo of AFL womens star Tayla Harris last month
The agency analysed more than 1,300 comments on Facebook posts shared by major sport broadcasters in the past 12 months until April 2 this year, including Wide World of Sports, 7 Sport, Fox Sports, and ABC Grandstand.
Almost 17 per cent of comments towards sportswomen were negatives, compared to just 8.52 per cent for men.
Sexist online abuse accounted for almost one quarter of the negative comments directed at sportswomen.
Some of the worst examples includes 'Women should be in the kitchen' 'Shut up lady, the footy is on', Get women back to being bare foot and pregnant' and 'Stick to netball you dribbler.'
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Another 20 per cent of comments were belittling, such as 'Sorry girls..... Men do it better....' and 'Its like watching grass grow.'
Almost 14 per cent of negative comments were sexual in nature, including 'She took it good little bitch', and 'Wouldn't mind getting her in the end zone.'
Victim blaming accounted 3.26 per cent of negative comments.
Online abuse and trolling of sportswomen can have significant negative impacts on not just the victims but also girls and women in the broader community.
'Misogynistic online abuse is known to have a silencing effect on girls and women, restricting their involvement in public life and leadership opportunities – be they in sports, politics, or any other high profile arena,' the report states.
While the majority of negative comments towards men were related to cheating or drugs, 15 per cent referred to traditional gender stereotypes.
One month on from the social media controversy, the photo of Harris remains as the pinned tweet on her Twitter account.
'Here’s a pic of me at work... think about this before your derogatory comments, animals,' her tweet read, which now has 63,000 likes.
Even Australia's best womens soccer player Sam Kerr (pictured) is no stranger to online trolls
Harris isn't the first women's sports star to hit back at online trolls.
Australian Matildas soccer sensation and 2018 Young Australian of the Year Sam Kerr has previously admitted she still gets the odd chauvinistic comment from keyboard warriors, despite being ranked one of the best players in the world.
'Some men seem to think they can comment on a women's game and say 'Get back in the kitchen',' Kerr told Wide World of Sports a year ago.
'I'm a pretty fiery person, so when someone says stuff like that I normally comment back or sometimes I have to bite my lip and turn the computer off.
'I don't know what their problem is, or what their agenda is, but that's where we need to change the game.
Plan International Australia chief executive Susanne Legena said the report findings had serious implications.
AFL womens star Tayla Harris (pictured earlier in April) is hitting back against online trolls
'This toxic online abuse can not only have severe consequences for the victim's wellbeing and mental health, but also for girls and young women in the broader community who witness this despicable behaviour and receive the message that they are not welcome in this space
'Fear of discrimination and abuse is silencing girls and young women, restricting them from speaking out, participating and leading everywhere from social media forums to politics.'
There are fears online abuse could be linked to low female participation rates in sport.
'Girls and women have the right to be safe online and be free to speak up without fear of abuse,' Ms Legana said.
'Everybody in our community has a responsibility to combat this toxic behaviour every single day by tackling attitudes that reinforce the idea that our girls deserve less respect, fewer opportunities and less pay than our boys.'
Australian Matildas star Sam Kerr (pictured) may be one of the best players in the world of women's soccer but even she admits she's subjected to the the odd sexist comment
