Women's Participation in Sport

Girls and women have been discouraged from playing sports by lots of myths and stereotypes

* If she plays sports she will become "mannish" and "unfeminine"

* Because of her anatomical structure she will suffer more knee and back injuries.

* If she trains too hard her ovaries and bladder will be affected

* Women aren't interested in playing sports

These are all common reasons why women don't play sport, taken from the American womens sports foundation website.

Self discrimination- some women prevented from taking part by sub-cultural values or disinclination

? Economical/physical limits preventing full implementation of policy

? Internalised or self discrimination by a cultural group upon members

? Perceived notion of elitism or exclusivity in connection with some activities which act as a deterrent

Stereotyping- reinforces established perceptions or questions new ones women as tennis players or gymnasts reinforce views on what sports women should do. Women as rugby players or fighters fall outside typical stereotyping.

Esteem- self esteem is an important factor in participation, perception of yourself affects participation competitively and otherwise.

Notes from advanced pe for Edexcel these show the reasons why some women don't take part and explain how this affects it.

Things that stop women from participating

Global- constraints which exist at a global level. Eg. No womens steeple chase

Institutional- constraints applied to certain institutions and orgnisations e.g many don't allow women to box

Cultural- some religions don't allow women the same freedom to compete in sport as men

Domestic- some countries have social traditions which prevent women from being free to compete as they wish.

Taken form A-level pe, these show constrains outside a womens own descion to take part in sport, shows that in some events its not possible and in some cultures its not possible as women don't have the same freedom as the men do.

Who's responsibility?Parents?

Parents unknowingly force masculine and feminine stereotypes, they are among key influencers as well as schools which teach that girls shouldn't play sports and shouldn't be interested in them. Girls seldom see images of women playing sport so parents need to be clear and send a positive message that sports participation is desirable.

Research shows that boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 9 are equally interested in sports, girls aren't as discouraged as they were, they're just not encouraged. They enter organised sport later than boys and are less likely to have the skills required for success, if they don't experience success they don't have fun.

As a result of 1lack of opportunities to play as they get older girls teams decrease both in and out of school 2 the same encouragement as boys 3 skill success and therefore fun, girls drop out of sport at a rate 6 times higher than boys at 14.

If a girl doesn't play sports by the time she is 10 years old, there is less than 10% chance she will be playing when she is 25.

This is taken from the womens sports foundation Canada website. I find this piece of research very interesting as it shows that the encouragement and stereotypes that are around when we are young make a big difference in the participation when we are older.

They come in all shapes and sizes. Some stand tall on pedestals while others walk on solid ground. Some go down in history while others rise up as legends. They're heroes and mentors, leaders and role models. Their images are taped to bedroom walls and locker room doors. They walk the earth disguised as parents, teachers, coaches and athletes. They are the chosen ones -- the ones who can make a difference in a girls life at a time when making a difference matters.

But if you look at those pedestals and walls, there are few women present.

he percentage of women coaches has decreased, not increased. At a time when girls strive to define themselves as women, it is still difficult to find a female athlete or coach that can be a source of validation for a girl bursting with athletic passion.

present female athletes found their mentors in brothers, fathers, and male coaches.

the closer a role model is to an individual's profile, the more that individual can realize their own potential to be like them.

This was take from wsf Uk and explores another reason why participation is low because there are few people 2 look up to and it links in with the encouragement when young so they can become role models for others.