In our latest episode of UpLift Women’s Wellness, we confront a truth too often buried beneath medals, scholarships, and performance metrics: abuse in women’s sports is not rare. It’s systemic.
From childhood leagues to elite collegiate programs, female athletes face a spectrum of violence—sexual, physical, psychological, and emotional—often at the hands of those entrusted with their development. Coaches, officials, and peers exploit power imbalances, while institutions remain silent.
This episode, Unheard Voices: Addressing Abuse in Women’s Sports, is not just a conversation. It’s a call to action.
📊 The Numbers We Can’t Ignore
- 21% of women and girls report sexual abuse in sport.
- Only 7% disclose it—most fear stigma, retaliation, or disbelief.
- Interpersonal violence rates range from 26% to 74%, depending on the type.
- During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, 87% of abusive tweets targeted women.
These aren’t isolated incidents. They’re patterns.
🧠 The Cost of Silence
The consequences are devastating:
- Suicidal ideation and self-harm
- Disordered eating and body dysmorphia
- Loss of menstrual cycles and hormonal disruption
- Long-term trauma, shame, and identity erosion
We name Mary Kane’s story at the Nike Oregon Project. We honor the five NCAA athletes who died by suicide in 2022 after experiencing sexual misconduct or harassment. We refuse to let their stories be reduced to footnotes.
🏛️ The System Isn’t Broken—It’s Built This Way
From Larry Nassar’s abuse of over 250 U.S. Olympic athletes to the emotional and physical degradation by coaches at top universities, the problem isn’t just individual. It’s institutional.
- Abusive coaches are often protected, not prosecuted.
- Victims are silenced, not supported.
- Cultural biases devalue women’s pain, especially in high-performance settings.
💬 What Needs to Change
We need a new coaching paradigm—one that centers:
- Consent-based programming*
- Positive reinforcement over punishment
- Open communication and emotional safety
- Education on anatomy, boundaries, and equality from a young age
We must teach girls that their bodies are not tools for approval. They are homes for power, intuition, and joy.
🧘🏽♀️ Where We Go From Here
At Head 2 Toe Strength, we offer scope-aligned care for female athletes navigating trauma, burnout, and body betrayal. Co-led by a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, our model integrates:
- Nervous system-aware strength training
- SMART goals that build trust and clarity
- Emotional support that protects progress
- Programming that honors lived experience—not just performance
We believe every woman deserves to feel safe in her body.
We believe every athlete deserves care that doesn’t compromise her dignity.
We believe silence is complicity—and we choose to speak.
