Happy International Women's Day!
At Inclyousion Sports, we’re actively working to identify and remove barriers to children’s participation in youth sports. In honor of IWD, we reflect on why girls are not participating equally with boys in youth sports and how, together, we can influence change.
Gender Equity Remains an Issue
The lack of gender equity for America’s youth is nothing new. Despite the implementation of Title IX of the Omnibus Education Act, enacted in 1972 by the United States Congress, to ensure that institutions that received federal funding were providing equal opportunities for male and female students at higher education institutions, as of today we have still not achieved gender equity in youth sports and beyond. In 2018, the Women’s Sports Foundation released a report stating that 40% of teen girls do not participate in sports compared to 25% of teen boys. In addition, by age 14 girls are dropping out of sports at 2X the rate of boys.
Benefits of Participation in Youth Sports
We know that all children benefit from being active, but when girls are disengaged, they miss out on a number of health benefits unique to them. Research explains that participation in sports offers girls many positive benefits including:
Increased levels of confidence and self-esteem
Decreased levels of depression
Positive body and self-image
Higher states of psychological well-being
Learning important life skills such as teamwork and leadership
As little as four hours of exercise a week may reduce a teenage girl’s risk of breast cancer by up to 60%
Fosters communication and trust between parents and children
High school girls who play sports are less likely to be involved in an unintended pregnancy; more likely to get better grades in school and more likely to graduate than girls who do not play sports
Barriers to Participation in Youth Sports
So why are girls not participating in youth sports or dropping out of youth sports?
To understand the answers, it’s important to consider the diverse experiences that girls have in our country.
Lack of access to sports opportunities (girls have 1.3 million fewer opportunities to play high school sports than boys). If a girl’s school has limited or no physical education or extracurriculars, she may have to explore sports outside of her community which may not be geographically or financially accessible.
Safety and transportation issues. If traveling by car or through unsafe neighborhoods is a requirement to attend a sports program, girls and their families may choose not to register.
Social stigma. If a girl feels that she may be discriminated against for perceived or real sexual orientation, gender identify or for being seen as masculine, she may not participate to avoid the potential bullying and/or social isolation.
Decreased quality of experience. As compared to boys sports, girls may not have access to quality coaches, facilities or equipment, which may make participation less enjoyable.
Cost. If families are not able to afford extracurricular programs, particularly if school budgets are cut, access to affordable programming becomes difficult.
Lack of positive role models. Access to mainstream female athletic role models isn’t as common as it is for boys.
Take Action
Parents
As parents, we must create opportunities for girls to participate and have successful experiences in youth sports. Here’s some ideas how we can achieve more equity in youth sports:
Register girls for sports classes and introduce them to a variety of sports. Having an opportunity to try many sports, like we do in Inclyousion Sports classes, will allow girls to explore their interests and find one or more sports that they may feel passionate about. Participation will also introduce a new social network to girls to build friendships.
If a girl’s sport is not available or accessible in your area, contact your city/town or school to support you with identifying options for starting a team or program.
Advocate for sports program funding in your community and in your schools.
Introduce girls to female athletic role models, including professional athletes, as well as local athletes.
Communities
As sport and recreation organizations, we must regularly evaluate the barriers that exist for girls to have positive experiences in youth sports. Here’s some ideas how:
Consider the girls sports offered in your programs and whether they’re diverse enough to provide equal opportunities to boys and girls in your community.
Invest in coaching, facilities and equipment equally across boys and girls sports.
Engage young girls in marketing and advertising campaigns to get them involved in sports from a young age. Ensure that marketing shows pictures of girls from diverse backgrounds.
Ask girls and families which sports they’re interested in what barriers they may be experiencing.
Hire women coaches and coaching assistants.
Do you have other ideas to share? Leave a comment and let us know!
References:
National Recreation and Park Association, The Time for Gender Equity in Sports Is Now
https://www.nrpa.org/blog/the-time-for-gender-equity-in-sports-is-now/
Women’s Sports Foundation: Do You Know the Factors Influencing Girls’ Participation in Sports?
https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/do-you-know-the-factors-influencing-girls-participation-in-sports/
Women’s Sports Foundation: Benefits – Why Sports Participation for Girls and Women
https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/advocacy/benefits-sports-participation-girls-women/
