Podcast listening recommendation: Sexism in mountain sports is not an isolated case

The description of the first episode of the podcast "Bergfreundinnen" on the topic of sexism begins with a content warning, as it is about assaultive behaviour, sexualised violence and sexism. In the episode, some explicit testimonials are read out.

In general, the relay is about how to organise cooperation in such a way that as many people as possible feel comfortable with it and how each individual can contribute to this.

Bergfreundinnen - Who is that?

The podcast Bergfreundinnen from Bayerischer Rundfunk originated from the Munich Mountain Girls, a community by and for women to exchange ideas and arrange mountain tours of all kinds. Kaddi Kestler, Toni Schlosser and Cathi Schauer research, talk and report on very different topics relating to the mountains. The spectrum ranges from lighter topics such as the first mountain bike or ski tour to a bikepacking tour from Munich to Paris and difficult topics such as menstruation or sexism in mountain sports.

Under the first Instagram post on the monthly theme at Bergfreundinnen:

Unfortunately, sexism is part of life with the mountains for many of us. [...] With our big topic of sexism in mountain sports, we female mountain friends don't want to point the finger at others, but above all contribute to making it a little more pleasant for all of us out there in the mountains.

Topic of the month at the Bergfreundinnen

Mountain girlfriends: "How sexist are the mountains?"

As part of the Bergfreundinnen's research work, numerous mountaineering associations and clubs are contacted and interviews are conducted to find out about their experiences and how they deal with sexism. The female mountaineering community is also asked. And it quickly becomes clear that sexism is not an isolated case. In fact, it turns out that there is no mountain sport that stands out in a particularly positive or negative way. Assaultive behaviour, sexism and even sexualised violence are everywhere.

Gitta Axmann from the Institute for Sports Sociology and Gender Research at the German Sport University Cologne explains the concepts of sexism and sexualised violence in sport.

What do clubs do?

How do you react when you realise that someone is behaving in a way that makes another person feel uncomfortable, perhaps even staying away from sport out of fear? In episode 2 of the monthly topic, the Bergfreundinnen talk to clubs in their podcast: How are they educating people about the topic? What do clubs and associations do to protect their members from sexualised violence? They also share experiences from the Bergfreundinnen community.

We can all do that

The short version: It's about respecting the boundaries of others, even if they differ from your own. The long version can be found in episode 3 of the monthly theme.