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Sports minister suggests cheerleading for girls who want to look ‘radiant’

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Britain's sports and equalities minister Helen Grant came under fire on Friday after encouraging women to take up sports such as cheerleading in order to retain their femininity while keeping fit.

The Tory MP told the Daily Telegraph there were many sports in which females could partake while still looking "radiant".

"There are some wonderful sports which you can do and perform to a very high level and I think those participating look absolutely radiant and very feminine such as ballet, gymnastics, cheerleading and even roller-skating," she said.

"We really need to take a step back and actually ask women what they want and give it to them.

"Some girls may well not like doing very traditional hockey, tennis or athletics, others might," she added.

Equality campaigners from the Everyday Sexism project called Grant's comments "discouraging".

"It's really the wrong approach to suggest that the only way for women to get involved in sports is to be girlie and feminine," the project's founder Laura Bates told the paper.

"It's actually discouraging for a minister to say this."

Britain’s sports and equalities minister Helen Grant came under fire on Friday after encouraging women to take up sports such as cheerleading in order to retain their femininity while keeping fit.

The Tory MP told the Daily Telegraph there were many sports in which females could partake while still looking “radiant”.

“There are some wonderful sports which you can do and perform to a very high level and I think those participating look absolutely radiant and very feminine such as ballet, gymnastics, cheerleading and even roller-skating,” she said.

“We really need to take a step back and actually ask women what they want and give it to them.

“Some girls may well not like doing very traditional hockey, tennis or athletics, others might,” she added.

Equality campaigners from the Everyday Sexism project called Grant’s comments “discouraging”.

“It’s really the wrong approach to suggest that the only way for women to get involved in sports is to be girlie and feminine,” the project’s founder Laura Bates told the paper.

“It’s actually discouraging for a minister to say this.”

AFP
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With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

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