LettersUneven numbers show how Hong Kong marathon organisers fail women
- While the marathon’s return was generally well-organised and a good experience for many, the paltry number of women involved was alarming
- Organisers must recognise the problems shown by just 28 per cent of runners being women and act to address them
However, overall participation was less inspiring as 3,200 men and 441 women took part in the full marathon. Just 12 per cent of participants in the full marathon were women. For reference, women made up 38 per cent of Abbott World Marathon Majors finishers in 2019.
The organisers have a responsibility to address this uneven registration. In the sphere of work, if only 12 per cent of job applicants for an executive position are women, an organisation truly dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion would take steps to address this.
My running buddy who is a vice-president in human resources shed light on this. We talked about how research shows men apply for challenging and rewarding jobs when they meet about half of the job criteria, while many women will only apply when they meet most or all of them.
Conversations with a friend who runs a running and yoga club echoed this sentiment. Women often tell her they want to join her club but feel the need to train to a certain standard before running with the group.