A/79/299 position, those Special Procedures mandate holders urge the continuous unpacking of the decades-old gender stereotyping and policing of gender norms in sport. 2. Racial stereotypes 48. In addition to gender, body image and athletic expectations in sports are strongly influenced by racial stereotypes, which significantly influence how people perceive themselves and how they are perceived by others when engaging in sports. 49. Persons of African descent often contend with stereotypes that emphasize natural physical prowess while downplaying intellectual abilities. This “natural athlete” stereotype can have a dual effect: while it may initially seem complimentary, it reinforces a limited view of those persons’ abilities, focusing on their bodies rather than their skills, work ethic or intellect. 30 The stereotype therefore creates an image with which persons of African descent have to conform. In addition, black women may face the compounded challenge of gendered and racialized body ideals, on the basis of which their physiques are scrutinized against both white feminine standards and athletic stereotypes. 31 50. Similar stereotypes exist in relation to Indigenous individuals, who are also portrayed as innately physically gifted and are often actively sought after to play sport; however, such positive assessments do not extend to their leadership, intellectual or management skills in sport. 32 The difficult challenges facing Indigenous women as a result of the intersectionality of racial and gender stereotypes are similar to those facing Latina female athletes, who often have to manage the cultural expectations of their own communities about femininity, body shape and even lifestyles, as well as the expectations of their sporting communities. 33 51. In contrast, persons of Asian origin often also encounter racial stereotypes that depict them as less physically capable of athletic excellence than others. Studies have shown that Asian sportswomen are still depicted as delicate, graceful, modest, obedient and psychologically weak, while their successes are attributed to their male coaches, leaders, fathers or husbands. 34 Those stereotypes direct them away from participating in sports that require strength and power, can lead to a lack of representation in certain sports, and contribute to body dissatisfaction among those who defy those prejudices. 3. Age stereotypes 52. In many sports disciplines, there are strong prejudices concerning the physical abilities of persons above a certain age, and against the participation of older persons as equal players and participants in sports activities. __________________ 30 31 32 33 34 24-14354 John Hoberman, Darwin’s Athletes: How Sport Has Damaged Black America and Preserved the Myth of Race (Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1997). Kristen Harrison and Barbara L. Fredrickson, “Women’s sports media, self -objectification, and mental health in black and white adolescent females”, Journal of Communication, vol. 53, No. 2 (June 2003), pp. 216–232. See also Patricia Hill Collins, Black Sexual Politics: African Americans, Gender, and the New Racism (New York, Routledge, 2004). Nicholas Apoifis, Demelza Marlin and Andrew Bennie, “Noble athlete, savage coach: how racialised representations of Aboriginal athletes impede professional sport coaching opportunities for Aboriginal Australians”, International Review for the Sociology of Sport, vol. 53, No. 7, pp. 854–868. Christy Greenleaf, “The impact of physical activity on psychological well -being and body image”, Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, vol. 27, No. S1 (January 2005), p. 39. Yue Xue and others, “Media portrayal of sportswomen in East Asia: a systematic review”, International Review for the Sociology of Sport, vol. 54, No. 8 (December 2019), pp. 989–1004. 13/24