Girl+talk-+How+can+we+get+more+kids+involved?

Girl talk: How can we get more kids involved? Tutor name: Katie Page Alex Patikura Student number: n8299528

Throughout Australian history, sports participation has been a major part of our growth as a nation and our way of life. Competitive and social sports is extensively seen throughout Australia as a central component of ‘aussie’ existence, and forms a major part of the socio-cultural fabric of this nation. (Tonts and Atherly, 2010) Participation in sporting activities has been passed down through generations. As we move into the reign of a new generation, our focus on children’s participation in sports must be improved, especially with a childhood obesity epidemic looming ever closer. This paper will focus especially on young girl’s participation levels among sporting activities and how this affects the public health issue. Concerns will also be raised about the methodologies of increasing participation rates in schools, and what factors are affecting improvement. It focuses on the public health issues of involvement of young people in sports, and include what recent and historic literature are saying about this issue.
 * Topic**

//“No person (in the united states) shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program receiving Federal financial assistance.”// Title IX, regarding gender equality in sports in America, as cited in //Girls Sports today… Measuring Progress (Noakes, 2011)//

[] This is an Australia wide commercial called ‘Ode to Netball’ and was designed to encourage the participation of netball for women of all ages, but focusing specifically on young girls, primary to high school aged. It includes scenes from social, to competitive and even to representative levels of girls and women playing netball. It depicts many different cultural and social levels of women as they participate in the sport, and briefly talks about the benefits of participation. The video was uploaded by Netball Australia in early 2010, and has since received around 20,000 views on Youtube. It originally aired on ONEHD early in 2010.
 * Cultural artefact**

The prevalence of childhood obesity in Australia is very concerning, with a recent study showing that over 25 precent of girls aged 5-12 are obese. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2010) The central public health issue relating to young children in Australia is childhood obesity. This paper focuses on the how the Australian community has been working against this epidemic, and how this relates specifically to young girls. Childhood obesity in Australia has contributed to one of the largest public health issues this country has ever faced. In recent years the average number of obese children has doubled, rising to at least a quarter of children being considered as overweight. (ABS, 2008) It is obvious that one of the foremost contributors to this epidemic is the lack of any type of physical activity and sporting pursuits in children of generation Z (children born after 1990).
 * Public Health Issue**

Throughout extensive research on the topic of participation of primary school aged girls, and how it affects public health, it can be seen that there are many different views as to the efficiency of certain programs implemented in Australia, compared with others. In a recent study completed by Pamela Noakes, in the United States, she seeks to establish a comparison between the participation of young girls in sports and the effects that this has had on childhood obesity in America over the last few decades. Noakes states that in the past 20-40 years, the average participation levels of primary and secondary school aged girls have steadily increased to over 3 million participants per year. The study highlights an act passed in the United States, title IX in 1972, stating that no person shall, on the basis of sex, be discriminated against or denied the benefits of any educational program. (Kimball, 2001) (National women’s Law Centre, 2008) This resulted in a major participation spike for young girls in America, with participation levels increasing almost ten times since the act passed. Over such a long period of time it seems as though progress has been made, and in truth it has, but the real question here is, has it been enough? Has the progress been enough to provide equal opportunities between boys and girls at school levels? And if so how can it be further improved? In the exact same study, it shows that the rate of childhood obesity in especially girls in the United States has doubled over the past 20 years. The contradiction between the increased rates of sport participation compared with the increased prevalence of childhood obesity is staggering. (Hellrung, 2008) A similar statistic concerning the growing childhood obesity epidemic is seen among Australian children over the past 20 years, with over a quarter of children being considered as overweight or obese. (ABS, 2009) This study was limited to information gathered in the United States, but as can be seen, it has very similar statistical qualities to that of Australia. It is obvious through analysis of this study that gender equality in sports has improved dramatically over the past decade, but hasn’t quite had a positive effect on the public health issue at hand. Although there are many other factors, as mentioned in the study that hinder the improvement of childhood obesity. Noakes claims that in order for further improvement to continue, coaches, parents, peers and even the young athletes themselves need to completely understand the implications of equal participation between boys and girls, and in future start to place into action sporting opportunities that can help to slow or diminish the spreading effects of childhood obesity. One of the major influences affecting the participation of young girls in school sports is the introduction of mixed gender PE classes. The Australian bureau of statistics shows that the majority, over 60% of a child’s physical activity is completed within school times, a large proportion of which would be completed within physical education classes. (ABS, 2008) How does the inclusion of boys in physical education classes affect the participation levels among young girls? Is it positive or negative? In a second unrelated study completed by Dr. Bethan Evans, he has sought to develop a greater understanding of the perspectives of young, primary to teenage school girls and how they view their physical education classes and specifically the differences between mixed and single gender classes. The study was designed to examine the low participation rates of young girls in primary and high school, and was carried out very successfully with supporting results. Evans found that girls in physical education settings felt pressure from many different levels. These began with the pressure from other students particularly male, in order to present a ‘beautiful’ body while participating. The other pressure formed through the own girls individual need to be competent or competitive in the sport. On numerous occasions in this study, interviews were carried out, in order to find out what these young girls really thought. Four different girls were interviewed and with each interview the girls protested heavily against mixed PE classes. Evans states that girls become over-obsessed with their need to ‘look good’ and perform under the pressure of the male gaze, and if asked to participate in mixed gender classes, most girls would rather sit out. (Young, 1990) This study was limited to results found in one school in the United Kingdom. Other factors are also contributed to the limitations, such as the limited test subjects from a single school or area. For instance, the socio-economic status of the area has a contributed effect on the prevalence of childhood obesity which through previous studies indicate, are affected by the lack of participation in physical activity. These results show a very disturbing feature about the effect mixed gender classes could have on young girl’s participation in sport. If the introduction of mixed physical education classes is continued throughout schools, it can have a strong diminishing effect on the total amount of sport participation by young girls. This can have serious ramifications on the public health issue of childhood obesity, reinforcing the already staggering average amount of obese children. As has been traditionally seen sports more commonly played by women have a very strong positive effect on young girl’s outlook on sports participation. This is seen in the sport of netball in Australia. Netball Australia has worked very heavily on designing a junior policy that focus’ more on participation and involvement, rather than success. (Netball Australia) With the sport being dominated by female participation it has a greater influence towards getting young girls involved.
 * Literature Review**

Generation after generation, Australian sporting culture has remained heavily dominated by ‘male supremacy’ on and off the field. As a result this creates a negative view of the sport, especially for young girls looking to elite athletes for encouragement, support and role models. However as we move into the 21st century there has been extremely strong support towards creating gender equality in sports, including sport participation, media coverage, and social encouragement for women. (Shaver, 2007) This has a very strong effect upon the younger generation, due to the ongoing need for a socially equal standing among the sporting culture. Young girls growing up need to have a positive foundation to their participation in sports, and before this can be improved, today’s culture needs to embrace and accept the fact that women’s sport is becoming a strong contender on the world sporting stage. The health issue of increasing childhood obesity depends quite severely on the participation, or lack thereof of children, especially at a young age (primary school). Although Noakes states that there has been very little positive change in the childhood obesity level in America, since the introduction of gender equal sports, there is still imperial evidence that physical activity and participation in sports among children has a positive effect towards lowering obesity levels. (Olds, 2006) In order to fight this growing epidemic in Australia over the last ten years, government incentives have been put in place to increase schools participation in sporting activities. In 2004 the Australian government allocated over A$100 million in funding towards establishing after-school physical activity programs and community sporting organisations across Australia. (NewsRX, 2004) As a result over 20 different areas around Australia were provided specifically with netball facilities, along with a number of other sporting fields. With the inclusion of a larger number of facilities, dedicated specifically to women-related sports, the Australian government was able to heavily boost the sports participation levels among young girls. The prevalence of childhood obesity especially in young girls in Australia is extremely high, especially with only a quarter of young girls meeting the current healthy level of physical activity per week. (Women’s fitness and sport foundation) Further repercussions of childhood obesity include cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes and even some types of cancer. With Australia coming in an extremely close second in the worlds fattest women ranking, awareness of this epidemic needs to be voiced among all schools and communities. (Sikora, 2010)
 * Cultural and Social Analysis**

The ‘Ode to Netball’ video shown at the beginning of this report represents the women of Australia and how through encouragement, awareness and funding, can become a nationwide sport helping to fight against gender inequality and specifically childhood obesity. Its central method is to encourage women, and more importantly young girls to take up participating in the sport. The video shows both the competitive and social sides of netball in order to provide opportunities to young women looking for many different things in a sport, from friendship to fitness, and from competition to character building. By encouraging women at a young age to take up a sport, it is effectively joining the battle against childhood obesity and in future could become a very strong advocate of healthy living in women of all ages. I believe that as Australia continues to develop its women’s based sports, to include further opportunities for success, the nation will begin to see a change in this national health crisis. Childhood obesity can be fought, but In order to see positive results, this culture needs to fully embrace the aspects of women’s sports, through their outlook in the media, community and most importantly individually, through every sportswoman in Australia.
 * Analysis of the artefact**

Kimball, R (2001). //Sports Her Way: Motivating Girls to Start and Stay with Sports,// Women in sport and physical activity journal, 10, 2, 205 Noakes, P (2011). //Girls, Sports Today… Measuring Progress,// Women in Sport and Physical activity Journal, 20, 1, 101-103 Hellrung, A, (2008) //Athleteic girls: External support, internal motivation, and advanced participation in sport,// Women in Sport and Physical activity Journal, 20, 1, 56- 59 Tonts, M, Atherly, K. (2010) //Competitive sport and the construction of place identity in rural Australia,// Sport in Society, 13, 3, 381-398 Evans, B (2006) //I’d feel ashamed: Girls’ bodies and sports participation,// Gender, Place and Culture: A Journal of Feminist Geography. 13, 5, 547-561 Young, I (1990) //Throwing like a Girl, and other essays in feminist philosophy and social thought,// (Indianapolis, Indianna University Press) Parnell, K (2006) //Giving Children a Sporting Chance,// Australian Doctor, 2, 2006, 35-37 Shaver, J. (2007) //Women’s Participation in Sports Growing,// Club Industry’s Fitness Business Pro, 23, 1, 11-12 Olds, T (2006) //Obesity Wars,// Sport Health, 24, 4, 6-10 Sikora, K (2010) //Aussie women have the highest rising obesity rate,// The Daily Telegraph, February 01, 2011. Womens Fitness and sport foundation. <[]>
 * References**

Netball Australia, Australian Netball Diamonds <[]> ‘Ode to Netball’ < []>

Australian Bureau of Statistics <[]>

Reflection. Women, Sport and Gender equality. Tom, this piece was very captivating in that you provided a thorough investigation into the different media responses between each gender in sport. The opposing views of each party give an in depth view into the gender inequalities of sport in our modern day society. your choice of argument has obviously been very well researched and i believe your diversity among cultural artifacts and research articles provides a strong point.I particularly enjoyed the video outlining the government incentive to introduce and encourage women's sport in Victoria. Very well done and a very good way to introduce a vital struggle within our society. Kudos well deserved.

Reflection. Athlete or sex symbol? **I thoroughly enjoyed reading your piece, its obvious that your artifact has done the job of attracting readings, so well done. I was caught off guard by the picture and was then interested to see the literature review, and i love the comparisons seen between women's sports and ALL other sports in the media. Well done researching the topic and it is clear you have a very good understanding of the health topic at hand. I think you have done a very good job presenting the inequalities of womens sports as a pose to men's. Thank you for your contribution to hopefully getting some balance between the two.** 