The FIM Women’s Commission (CFM) is delighted to announce a three-part series of webinars focussing on Portrayal, one of three focus areas within the FIM’s Equal Gender Opportunities Recommendations that aim to provide a framework for the promotion of diversity and gender equality while developing and growing motorcycling dynamically and sustainably.
With the ultimate goal of increasing the number of women involved in all motorcycling-related activities and providing them with better opportunities and possibilities, theFIM’s Equal Gender Opportunities Recommendations also include increasing women’s representation in key decision-making roles and increasing women athlete participation.
These goals align with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Gender Equality and Inclusion Objectives and its guidelines for promoting and supporting the implementation of gender-equal, fair and inclusive Portrayal practices at the Olympic Games and across the Olympic Movement.
Published in October 2023, theFIM Portrayal Guidelines are designed to raise awareness among the motorcycling community of what constitutes gender bias across the various aspects of Portrayal within the sporting context with the implementation of initiatives specified as a main objective.
To fulfil this objective, the engagement and involvement of all FIM stakeholders is needed as is providing actionable advice to reduce potential gaps in Portrayal practices to National Federations (FMNs), Continental Unions (CONUs) and media outlets. The challenge is to increase understanding of Portrayal both as a concept and an opportunity – what it means, why and how it is relevant – and these webinars are a vital tool in ensuring the effective implementation of both the FIM Guidelines and good Portrayal practices.
The three-part series of ninety-minute webinars – that will be recorded and made available post-event – will address these challenges and explore how gender-equal and fair Portrayal practices can significantly enhance not only the overall public perception of sports but also an organisation’s reputation, leading to positive trends and results.
Awareness-raising, capacity-building and knowledge-sharing will be central to these webinars that are designed to help FIM stakeholders:
- Understand existing biases in sport and build capacity to deliver content and communication that challenges gender stereotypes.
- Spotlight existing initiatives from the wider sport ecosystem helping to transform the narrative around women and sport.
- Offer tools and inspiration as to what actions can be taken and how.
Objectives are to:
- Provide definition, contextualisation and practical guidance into what Portrayal means, why it matters in sport and how FIM stakeholders – FMNs, CONUs, sport media, communicators and leaders – can adopt good Portrayal practices across key aspects of media coverage and communication.
- Provide examples of specific, tangible initiatives that have been implemented by IFs/ NFs/ NOCs and other actors in the sport ecosystem.
- Motivate and support FIM stakeholders in their efforts to adopt and adapt gender-equal portrayal practices in line with the FIM Equal Gender Opportunities Recommendations and FIM Portrayal Guidelines.
The first webinar – entitled ‘(re)Framing gender in sport media and communication’ – will take place on 23 September followed by ‘Power in Partnerships: Building visibility, value, and new connections’ on 9 October with the series concluding on 28 October with ‘A new era of role models: Leading by example and driving change’.
Janika Judeika, FIM Women’s Commission Director, said: “We fully recognise the importance of promoting diversity and gender equality while actively looking to grow motorcycling in a sustainable manner and this series of webinars is an important tool in accomplishing this. It is by no means an easy undertaking and we are aware of the challenges that lie ahead, but I believe that through education we can increase understanding among FIM stakeholders and achieve our objectives.”
Jorge Viegas, FIM President, added: “Sport is such a powerful platform to promote gender equality and empower women and girls and we know that the method of coverage has a major effect on both how women and girls are viewed and how they view themselves. The FIM’s Portrayal Guidelines give us a firm framework and I’m confident these webinars will be a very effective way of educating FIM stakeholders and getting the message across.”