Parent Argues Gender Stereotypes Push Girls Away From Sports

In a column for the Dutch newspaper NRC, a parent and cycling enthusiast argues that deep-seated gender stereotypes are pushing adolescent girls away from sports.

The author contends that the cultural perception of what constitutes “femininity” creates a barrier that discourages girls from maintaining the fanatical, high-intensity engagement required to emulate elite athletes like Demi Vollering.

The author observes that while young boys are frequently encouraged to adopt the personas of professional cycling stars like Mathieu van der Poel, adult women rarely express a similar identification with top female riders. The piece suggests that the perceived gap between an average person and a world-class cyclist like Vollering is viewed as insurmountable for women in a way that it is not for men, reflecting a broader societal disconnect.

When the author asks groups of male cyclists who they imagine they are, the answer is often Van der Poel, but the author notes that among adult women, the idea of comparing oneself to the world’s best female cyclist is dismissed as ridiculous.

On Tuesday, a motion introduced by SP Member of Parliament Sarah Dobbe was passed, calling for a formal investigation into why girls in puberty participate in sports less frequently than boys and why they are more likely to drop out of athletic activities entirely. The author expresses hope that Dobbe is aware of the societal dynamics at play regarding gender-based expectations.

The author of the NRC column expressed skepticism regarding whether “targeted measures” can effectively dismantle gender stereotypes, which they describe as the core of the problem. According to the piece, the societal narrative often emphasizes that girls should be “pretty and soft” rather than loud or fanatical, whereas boys are granted the freedom to be “strong, tough, and fast” under the guise of “boys will be boys.”

The author describes a personal experience with their seven-year-old daughter, who currently views herself as a “mini-Demi” while cycling in the park. The piece argues that this functional, confident relationship with the body often shifts during puberty, as girls begin to feel that their bodies are being scrutinized for appearance rather than athletic capability.

The column states that as muscles, sweat, and intensity are increasingly framed as “non-feminine,” young girls may begin to feel uncomfortable in sporting environments. The author notes that they attempt to counter this by telling their daughter she is strong and capable of being a sports hero, but they acknowledge that society remains heavily influenced by traditional gender expectations.

The author concludes the piece by expressing a fear for the future: that their daughter will eventually step onto her bicycle without the belief that she can aspire to be like Demi Vollering.