Rewriting Sport Culture
A docuseries following women as they share their journeys in male-dominated sports.
“As of today, over 7.2 million women in England play sport – a record high for the country. But barriers remain.”
Despite the success of the Lionesses, the rise of women’s rugby, and female athletes taking home nearly half the medals at the Paris Olympics, UK studies show women still face misogyny and exclusion on and off the pitch.
Key stats:
48% of women surveyed report receiving sexist insults during sport.
87% of online abuse targets female athletes, including sexist, racist, transphobic, and homophobic attacks.
Many still face belittling attitudes, hyper-masculine behaviour, and entrenched “lad culture” simply because of who they are.
Meet the athletes
Each athlete in #TellYourStory shares her personal journey – moments of triumph, struggles against discrimination, and the perseverance it takes to succeed in male-dominated sports. These are real stories of courage, resilience, and defiance.
Sienna Cohen
Women’s Football
Bal Dosanjh
Taekwondo
Gabby Ward
American Football
Caitlin Pearcy
Fencing & Ultimate Frisbee
Their fight isn’t just personal, it’s a challenge to the system. A call to rewrite sport culture.
Watch the series
In this first episode, our athletes talk about why they chose their sports, the early challenges they faced, and what motivates them to keep going despite stereotypes and exclusion society puts on them.
Part 2 and 3 to be released soon!
Our Mission
#TellYourStory isn’t just celebrating success – it’s calling out harmful stereotypes and inspiring real change. By amplifying women’s voices, we aim to:
- Build a more inclusive sporting culture at universities and beyond
- Hold clubs accountable for their behavior and ensure inclusivity
- Empower women to take their rightful place in sport
Why it matters
Even with record numbers of women playing sport in England, barriers remain. Women are still pushed to the sidelines by:
- Stereotypes about strength, skill, and “belonging”
- Underrepresentation in team and contact sports
- Cultural norms like lad culture, casual banter that undermines women, and the use of gender or sexuality as insults
These everyday challenges can make women feel unwelcome, unsafe, or invisible, but their stories deserve to be heard.
Transitioning to Varsity 2026 Campaign
This campaign will joins forces with Think Before You Speak, a campaign led by Molly Davies, Student Life President at CCSU, to drive culture change across varsity sport. Together:
- KSU’s #TellYourStory – spotlighting women navigating male-dominated sports
- CCCU’s Think Before You Speak – promoting respect, inclusion, and accountability
“We’re challenging old norms, calling out toxic culture, and creating sporting spaces where everyone feels welcome, valued, and equal.”
Every club participating in Varsity is signing a pledge to listen, learn, and act, because real change happens when we all commit to building an inclusive, empowering, and safe sport culture.
Join the Movement
Watch the docuseries, share your story, or follow the journey of these incredible athletes. Together, we can change the culture of sport.
#TellYourStory | Women. Sport. Power.