Sexual harassment of girls and women may be common within the horseracing industry, suggests research by Durham University.
The five-year study found that sexual harassment remained unchallenged and was accepted as "banter".
An overpowering culture is potentially pushing females to leave the industry, according to the PhD study.
The findings of the study have already been shared with the British Horseracing Authority, calling for changes to make the industry safer and more inclusive. This is helping to drive positive changes across the sport including a code of conduct and training.
Culture of sexual harassment
The study was based on interviews, focus groups and observational accounts recorded over a period of five years and aimed to find out why there are so many young, aspiring females coming into, but then leaving the industry.
It found a deeply engrained normalised culture of sexual misconduct.
Unchallenged sexual harassment was shown to be accepted, and sometimes expected by girls and women, regardless of age or position within the sport.
When asked if the girls and women had reported it to anyone, there was a common response that they didn't know who to report it to or didn't want the person to get into trouble and they just "wanted it to stop".
There was an overarching sense that people did not understand what defined sexual harassment and that they were in receipt of these behaviours.
Unequal treatment
The research also found that young women are potentially leaving because they do not feel that they belong or will not be able to reach their potential.
Women and girls also felt the female body is treated as inferior. They highlighted issues around strength and fitness, body shape, ill-fitting equipment, a lack of changing facilities and stigma around periods, leading to some women suppressing their periods.
The research team from our Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences is now carrying out a follow-up project, funded by the Racing Foundation, to develop evidence-based solutions that can be implemented by the racing industry to create a more inclusive and safer environment for girls and women.
