While millions of sports fans gather at stadiums to cheer on their favorite team, so many women dread the return of their partners, not because they hate the sport but because they would like to make it out alive that night.
There has been a significant increase in reports of domestic violence following major sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup. A study conducted by Lancaster University indicated that the increase in domestic violence rates after England won was 26%, and when they lost, it was up by 38%. Some studies show that the increase is higher when their team wins.
While the statistics speak for themselves, it raises the question of what could contribute to this. According to a study published in the Journal of Medicine and Sports, violent and aggressive behavior in sports is directly related to the rate of normalized violence among male athletes.
Moreover, the relationship between sporting culture and violence against women could also be large because sport is seen as gendered, exemplifying hegemonic masculinity and its associated violence (Kristy et, al., 2022).
This could also be attributed to the increased alcohol consumption during these events. While the cause of it is yet to be researched in depth, it doesn't take away from the severe impact of such abuse on the emotional and physical well-being of the women and the family as a whole.
During an interview with Times Radio regarding the impact of domestic violence and its link to sports, Jess Finnegan, a victim of child abuse, stated that when a football match was going on, it meant there was deadly silence in the house. No one would be allowed to go to the father's room, and if they did, there would be dire consequences. This was during the 1998 World Cup when Jesse was eight years old.
Although sporting events might be a big celebration for fans of the sport, they also present a dark reality for many women who suffer during these celebrations. And the correlation between domestic violence and male-dominated sports is high enough for it to be a cause for concern.
References:
Sønderlund, A. L., O’Brien, K., Kremer, P., Rowland, B., De Groot, F., Staiger, P., Zinkiewicz, L., & Miller, P. G. (2014). The association between sports participation, alcohol use and aggression and violence: A systematic review. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 17(1), 2–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2013.03.011
Forsdike, K., O’Sullivan, G., & Hooker, L. (2022). Major sports events and domestic violence: A systematic review. Health & Social Care in the Community. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.14028
The Economist. (2021, July 9). Domestic Violence Surges after a Football Match Ends. The Economist. https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/07/09/domestic-violence-surges-after-a-football-match-ends
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