Men Still Lead In Overall Physical Activity But Women Are Almost Equal As Athletes

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A University of Minnesota report entitled Developing Physically Active Girls: An Evidence-based Multidisciplinary Approach provided detailed insight into just how females are faring in the area of sports and activity.

According to a scientific news report, the Minnesota Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport’s findings show that the number of girls who are involved in organized sports are at an all-time high, with nearly 45 percent of all sports teams with members of ages 6-17 being girls.

The report also shows, due to rigid barriers, girls are participating in other physical activity at a declining rate and at a rate that is well behind that of the opposite gender.

Of the positive reported aspects, Nicole LaVoi, Associate Direcor at the center and study researcher and author states

"The research within the report confirms that many good things are happening when it comes to girls and physical activity. Girls are participating in organized sports more than ever and at all levels -- from organized youth sports, to interscholastic sports and up through Olympic competition,"

The report discusses the associated benefits of physical activity such as a reduction in the risk of obesity and diseases like heart disease, diabetes and stroke. It also looks at the increase in developmental benefits such as self esteem, social interaction and motor skills.

Girls involved in team sports are less likely to drop out of school, do better academically than those who are not involved in sports overall and they do so for a myriad of reasons such as getting in shape to having fun.

The article goes on to explain how many barriers for participation still exist for girl that prevent them reaping the benefits associated with team sports and physical activities.

Girls' participation rates in all types of physical activities consistently lag
behind those of boys and girls' dropout rates are higher.

Girls' experiences are shaped by the quality and expertise of the adults who make
decisions, manage, govern, deliver and coach physical activity programming,
many of whom have minimal -- if any -- formal training.

Outdated, stereotypical standards of femininity and masculinity continue to
influence the extent to which girls participate in or shun physical activity.

Female athletes continue to be trivialized through the popular media's widespread
sexualization of women.

Traditional models of physical education organized around competition, team
sports, power, strength, aggression and which focuses on the "motor elite" rather
than skill development, disadvantage girls (and boys) who are less skilled to
begin with, which may contribute to a lack of enjoyment and a shunning of lifelong
participation in physical activity.

Even today, women athletes are “trivialized” by the more popular sexualization of females through mainstream media. It is much more sensational to “look” like a star or “drop 15 pounds in five days”, all ads that can be found in any magazine or on television station.

"This report aims at bridging the gap between theory and practice by detailing the best sports and activity programs for girls and how to implement those programs."