University of Exeter students host event tackling gender bias in sport

Sport has always played a central role in both students’ lives. For Millie, a 22-year-old from Wiltshire, it was competitive athletics that ignited her passion.

Millie said: “I’ve always been fascinated by how I can use physical and psychological factors to maximise the effectiveness of my training.”

Competing at a national level in athletics deepened Millie’s interest. However, it wasn’t until watching the 2023 Women’s Euros that she began to shift her focus from performance to the broader social factors shaping women’s sport.

For Ama, a 21-year-old from Edinburgh, the journey was less straightforward. Although she initially pursued a law degree, she soon realised that while some aspects of legal studies intrigued her, her true passion lay elsewhere.

Ama said: “Tennis has always been a constant for me—it taught me how to perform under pressure and brought me life-long friends.”

A stint with IBM at Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024 broadened her understanding of the sports industry.

She added: “That’s when I knew I could make a real difference.”

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Both Millie and Ama’s shared passion for sport and dedication to equity inspired them to pursue master’s degrees at Exeter’s Department of Public Health and Sport Science. The idea for the Women in Sport charity event stemmed from their event management module.

Millie said: “Almost all females have had personal experiences of inequality in sport—whether it’s a lack of support or feeling unable to talk openly about issues like menstrual health.”

For Ama, her motivation stemmed from the benefits she has gained through sport. She said: “Fitness, mental health, friendships—I believe everyone should have the chance to experience those.”

Along with their team members Owen, Ethan, and Charles, they curated a speaker panel that showcased the diversity and complexity of gender issues in sport. They selected triathlete Lizzie Rayner and rugby player Poppy Leitch to highlight contrasting sports cultures, while performance nutritionist and psychologist Elle Mace offered important insights on body image and disordered eating in elite sport.

The lecture theatre was full on the night.

Millie said: “We were nervous people wouldn’t show up.

“But seeing a full room, with people of all ages, really settled the nerves.”

The turnout boosted morale and showed genuine public interest in the topic.

Ama said: “It made the event feel impactful.

“It was great to see so many men in the audience too. As the speakers said, this isn’t just a ‘women’s issue’—men need to be part of the change.”

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Audience feedback reflected the same sentiment. One attendee remarked: “I was far more engaged with the discussion than I ever expected.”

Another commented on the realities that women face: “It helped me realise that prejudice against females across many facets of sport is real… I was surprised by how little things have changed over the last 15 years.”

The speakers shared their admiration as well. Lizzie described it as a “fabulous afternoon” that reminded her of how fortunate she was to be in a more equal sport. Elle praised the audience’s engagement and expressed pride in contributing to such a meaningful cause.

The journey to event day wasn’t without its challenges. Millie said: “Coordinating with guest speakers was difficult.

“Everything hinged on their availability. It showed how dependent certain tasks are on one another.”

Ama also reflected on the unexpected challenges they faced: “One teammate couldn’t attend due to a bereavement, and one speaker got lost on the day. It was stressful, but we pulled together to make sure everything ran smoothly.”

Beyond the logistics, the event marked a turning point for both students.

Millie added: “Before the event, I thought a lot more progress had been made in women’s sport.

“But I was naïve. It made me think differently—and apply some of the solutions discussed to my own life already.”

Ama expressed a similar sentiment: “It helped me realise how powerful sport can be in driving change. I learned so much—from gender inequality to disordered eating—things I thought I understood, but didn’t fully grasp until now.”

With strong support from senior university staff, both students hope to make the Women in Sport event an annual tradition at Exeter.

Both Millie and Ama are excited to address emerging issues in sport equity in the future.

Millie said: “We’d love to focus on disability sport.

“Disabled athletes still face major visibility and funding challenges.”

They’re also keen to explore research-led discussions. Ama added: “Bringing in leading researchers on women’s sport—covering physiology, psychology, even kit design—would definitely open eyes.”

In just one evening, two students changed the conversation around gender in sport, raised money for a key charity, and motivated a full room to think differently.

For more information on upcoming events like this one, check out @herathletes.exe.

Featured image via herathletes.exe Instagram