Girls and women face unique barriers and concerns to getting and staying active

October 28, 2001

Beginning at 12, girls' involvement in physical activity declines steadily until their teens, says the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity.

TORONTO (CP) - Laura Robinson, a sports writer and former competitive athlete, points to the cover of a magazine promoting a photo spread on scantily clad women in extreme sports. Robinson, speaking at a recent round-table discussion on violence in sports, said such "exploitation of female athletes" is one reason many girls and women aren't more active.

"I always thought sport was one place where girls could just be themselves, and it didn't matter what they looked like," said Robinson, whose book Black Tights: Women, Sport and Sexuality is due out in the spring. "Now girls are getting the message that if they want to be successful in sports, you have to take your clothes off."

Not everyone believes athletes who shed their clothes for media exposure and money are being exploited, but Robinson's concern that females aren't active enough on a regular basis is real. In fact, beginning at 12, girls' involvement in physical activity declines steadily until their teens, says the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity. Between five and 12, half of boys are considered active, compared to one-third of females, says the association. Between 13 and 17, activity levels drop for both sexes - to 40 per cent of boys and 25 per cent of girls.

The dwindling activity levels of girls are especially worrisome because they're the most likely to have eating disorders and a poor body image, says the association in its handbook On the Move: Increasing Participation of Girls and Women in Physical Activity and Sport.

The handbook looks at barriers that keep girls from being active, and gives ideas to community groups, fitness clubs and others looking to create activity and sports programs. Many young women have eating disorders "because of the way their bodies have been sexualized in sport," said Robinson, who used to compete in cycling, rowing, triathlon and skiing. They are getting the message that athletics can be used to become popular, which is putting pressure on them, she said, adding that those who don't look a certain way may be scared off sports and other activity.

Sue Hylland, executive director of the Canadian women and sport association, says many girls associate physical activity with weight control rather than fun, health or well-being. If the fun element isn't emphasized, there's a good chance girls will drop out, Hylland said from Ottawa. Young girls are particularly a concern, she adds, because if they don't participate regularly by age 10, there's only a 10 per cent chance they'll be active at 25.

The association says that despite the fact females face unique barriers - they are more likely than males to have family responsibilities, and are more easily intimidated by male coaches, teammates and competitors - many fitness, recreation and sport organizations don't allocate their resources and programs fairly to both sexes.

Fun and non-threatening approaches to activity are the focus of On the Move, which has led to the formation of a network of about 800 parks and recreation departments, and other fitness and sports providers that plan female-only programs. For instance, Whitehorse Parks and Recreation has offered a variety of outdoor adventure and health and well-being activities, including camping, hiking and canoeing. In Saskatoon, one program aimed at young aboriginal women included an evening of physical activity combined with educational and social activities.

The $10 booklet, says Hylland, is also useful for parents, who are central to giving their daughters positive activity experiences. The association encourages parents to get their daughters into a variety of activities, avoid comments about their body size and shape, and help them to learn fundamental skills like running, throwing, catching and kicking.

On the Net:
How parents can encourage girls to play sports:

• Photograph your child being active, enlarge it and say how proud you are of it.
• Actively support her involvement, including buying her new equipment, going to her games, volunteering, driving her to and from practices and games, and making sure she has enough time to be active.
• Take her to the park and help her with fundamental skills like running, throwing, catching and kicking.
• Emphasize fun and fitness rather than competition and slimness. Encourage her to try a variety of new activities, and don't undermine her confidence by saying things like "she throws like a girl."
• Introduce her to active women, like athletes, coaches, officials and other sports leaders. Watch women's sports events on TV with her, take her to women's competitions and read the sports pages with her to follow the performances of women athletes.
• Plan active vacations or weekend excursions involving hiking, skiing or rafting, for instance.

reprinted with permission