A 51.8% of Hispanic women engage in some form of sport. A five year study on sports habits, prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, Department of Statistics and Studies together with the Supreme Sports Council YSK, is presented for the first time. The report shows more women participating in sports than those who do not.
While these findings reflect a growing desire to lead active and healthy lives, they also reveal the strength of women who are increasingly taking up roles in social spaces once dominated by men. Yet barriers remain and the gender gap stands at 11.3%. This figure has fallen by only one point since 2015, which was 12.3%. Martha Guerra, a general health psychologist at the Claritas Institute, notes that more women are claiming this as a personal privilege that was once reserved for men.
Experts point to various factors behind the rise, including influences from Asian communities and policy changes after the pandemic. Pedrona Serra, a professor at INEFC Barcelona, explains there was a surge in women focused sports in Catalonia. The study occurred every five years and could not be completed in 2020 due to the pandemic. The lockdown significantly changed sports habits and raised concerns about both physical and mental health for many people.
gender-focused sports
In Spain after the pandemic, six out of ten people participate in sports, a rate of 57.3% of the population, up 3.8% from 2015, yet gender bias continues to color activity. Serra notes that lines in sport are still drawn by gender norms and expectations.
The data show that 66.7% of women prefer individual sports, compared with 55.7% of men. Directed activities appeal to 46.6% of women and only 25.1% of men. Just 9.2% of female athletes participate in organized competitions, while 22.3% of men reach that level. Outdoor activities such as football, cycling, paddle tennis and weightlifting attract more men, while women gravitate toward swimming, gymnastics, nature walks and activities conducted indoors or in musical settings.
Raul Sanchez, a professor of social sciences at INEFC Madrid, remarks that men have historically held public space and outdoor sports. He adds that competitive models are often associated with men and that women are linked more to aesthetics. The push for equality remains essential, with Guerra emphasizing that both genders deserve equal access to sports even when the environment does not always encourage certain activities.
Serra also argues that empowering women means inviting men to participate in activities such as dance or direction, which are not usually labeled as masculine. This broadens the range of sports and experiences for everyone.
the reason is important
Woman participation is often driven by fitness, health, and relaxation, while many men pursue sport for pleasure, competition, or self improvement. Younger respondents show a shifting pattern of motivation that favors personal enjoyment over social pressure.
Serra describes a social dynamic in which society pressure centers on youth and slenderness, with sport used as a tool to meet those expectations. Yet more and more young women choose sports based on personal interest rather than gender expectations. This shift mirrors changes in the broader sports culture shaped during childhood.
Sánchez notes that older generations still see soccer and other traditional female spaces limited, and reversing this trend will help women seize roles in the broader sports field.
Age is a brake on exercise
The study shows activity declining with age. About 84.4% of those aged 15 to 19 report having played sports in the past year, while the rate drops to around 16.2% for people aged 75 and older. The pattern holds across genders, with the elderly showing the highest activity levels.
Serra notes that as people age, women continue to exercise while men often reduce activity. The traditional masculine sports culture does not always support older participants in high impact or federated sports. Women, meanwhile, tend to remain underrepresented in federations, and maternity can influence exercise patterns. Serra adds that a social pressure to preserve the pre motherhood body also affects sports participation.
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