An+Equal+Playing+Field+For+Women+&+Girls

__Tutor's Name __: Emily Mann
**RUNNING LIKE A __GIRL__:** **HOW EQUITABLE IS THE PLAYING FIELD WHEN IT COMES TO __WOMEN__ IN __SPORT__? **  // Sport is where an entire life can be compressed into a few hours, where the emotions of a lifetime can be felt on an acre or two of ground, where a person can suffer and die and rise again on six miles of trails through a New York City park. Sport is a theater where sinner can turn saint and a common man become an uncommon hero, where the past and the future can fuse with the present. Sport is singularly able to give us peak experiences where we feel completely one with the world and transcend all conflicts as we finally become our own potential. // ~George A. Sheehan media type="youtube" key="5mfhNVjPP-s" height="451" width="806" align="center"

= **ARTEFACT ANALYSIS**   = 

====  The YouTube film, ‘Sports for Women’s Rights’ promotes access to sport for girls and women around the world with emphasis on female empowerment through sports. The creators of the film use women of all ethnic backgrounds to support feminism and gender equality within sports. The film uses footage of young women performing in all forms of sporting activities portraying them to be confident, strong and powerful. Rather than exploiting the inequalities existing within the sporting world such as gender inequality, little funding, and media coverage, the film praises the benefits that women obtain through involvement in sports and physical activity. The creators of the film build emphasis on the belief that sport makes a difference, and that viewers watching can too, through investing in changing girl’s lives through sport and physical activity participation. ====

= **PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE**   = ==== Sport is an integral part of the culture of almost every nation (Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group, 2008). However its use to promote gender equity and empower girls and women if often overlooked because sport is not universally perceived as a suitable or desirable pursuit for women and girls nation (Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group, 2008). Sports participation as a component of health enhancing physical activity is an important public health issue, and the beneﬁts of an active and sporting lifestyle in relation to well-being and health have been strongly emphasized (Van Tuyckom, Scheerder& Bracke, 2010, p. 1077). The previous and continuing work of the Women’s and Men’s Health Movements in Australia are highlighting specific health concerns of women and men, and advocating for greater attention to gender as a significant aspect of health and illness nation (Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group, 2008).Through structured sports programs, girls and women can become more physically active, benefitting there physical and mental health, including the reduced risk they will suffer from chronic disease, depression and anxiety and engaging in health risk behaviours nation (Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group, 2008). ====

= **LITERATURE** **REVIEW**   =

==== Girls and women have made substantial gains in many areas of sport and physical activity. They have achieved all-time highs in participation rates (Acosta and Carpenter 2006) and the acquisition of several high-profile positions in organizations such as the International Olympic Committee (Shaw and Frisby 2006). However research displays the issue of gender inequality within sports to be far from resolved. ====

==== Research reveals evidence of very little change over the past 10 years in the participation of women and girls in all aspects of sport, and that women remain under-represented at all levels in coaching, officiating and leadership (Australian Sports Commission, 2003). Although there is a common perception that sport leads to an increase in self-esteem, confidence, poise, and self-assurance, a number of researchers suggest that the positive outcomes of participating in sport are not universally experienced (Wolff & Kaufman, 2010). This occurring in female participants in particular, thus sparking the evidence of gender inequality within the social realm of sport. Despite the fact that athletic activism is no normative behaviour, there is still a long, albeit small tradition of individuals who use the playing field to advocate for political and social justice (Wolff & Kaufman, 2010). ====

==== The reality of gender inequality not only within our society, but also throughout the sporting realm, places emphasis on the importance of the issue and the need to resolve the problem. As the years have progressed and sports have evolved, so have the opportunities available to men and women within all areas of the field. Sports commentary, journalism, coaching, umpiring and other such roles, have seen women step up however are still overrun my male counterparts. Thus, sport has tended to celebrate the achievements of men while marginalizing the status of women by placing women in expressive, supportive roles such as cheerleaders, or relegating participation by women to a secondary status (Frey & Eitzen, 1991). ====

==== With research evidence, obtained by the Australian Government, it is apparent that women are not only marginalised on the sporting field but also amongst many other areas. Of the 50 national sporting organisations that consulted with or made submissions to the sporting panel in 2009, only 15 had a female chief executive officer or executive director. Of the 350 identified board positions in these organisations, only 25 per cent were held by women (Australian Government, 2009). With roughly the same number of participants in sport, it would be a realistic goal to have closer to 50 per cent representation of women in these leadership roles (Australian Government, 2009). This evidence suggests that failing toprovide participation opportunities and resources for girlsand women in sport has been habituated over time, and islargely perceived as a justified and legitimate “way thingsare done” (Cunningham, 2008). In a manner similar to the experiences of blacks in sport women have been prohibited from full and equal participation because of formal restrictions and cultural predispositions (Frey & Eitzen, 1991). ====

==== <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;">The sociology of sport emerged in the 1960s and 1970s. During this time, sport became the focus of social organisation and was moulded around the structural functionalism, a paradigm focusing on the workings of social organisations and their maintenance. Many sport sociologists reacted against structural functionalism with its bias for accepting and rationalizing what is; they adopted, rather, a theoretical perspective-conflict theory-which argues that sport reflects and reinforces the hegemony of societal arrangements, thereby perpetuating class and power differentials (Frey & Eitzen, 1991). Through the development of sport as a social organisation, arose many political arguments and uncertainties, in particular the inequality and unfairness for women and female participants in sport. ====

==== <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;">The silencing of women’s experience and knowledge is discussed in many government bodies around the world. However, the consequences of this silencing and the possible solutions for a change is largely divided in an understanding of essentialist ‘female nature’ and a construction based understanding of gender as a discoursive practice (Weber, 2006). Thus women have taken their rights into their own hands and have formed various bodies to eliminate gender inequality not only within the sporting body but within society also. The Feminist Peace and Conflict Theory, reflects on the need of visibility of women in conflicts and has led to a broader understanding of security issues (Weber, 2006). The genealogy of feminist peace and conflict theory, naturally, comes as a hybrid phenomenon (Weber, 2006). The feminist theory is particularly nurtured by a variety of disciplines and methodologies and is symptomatic for feminist studies and the questioning of normative standards grounded in women’s epistemology. The theory for change has sparked not only a move for change within our society but also within the sporting world. The eradication of gender inequality is now one of the main focus points within the sports arena and its sporting leaders. ====

==== <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;">Amongst the majority of male based sports initiatives aimed at sports participation and recognition for male athletes, there are a minority of policies and frameworks within the sporting world aimed at increasing the participation of women in sports and physical activity. These current strategies address many of the common problems that females associate with participation in sports and physical activity. A major issue impeding the participation levels of women in sport is the lack of funding female sports and its competitors receive. ====

==== <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;">There have been a number of organisations formulated based around the funding of females in sports and the participation levels. The Layne Beachley Aim for The Stars Foundation is one such organisation. It was built to prevent girls and women alike from experiencing much financial adversity as Layne did whilst competing. The lack of recognition of female athletes is another major issue sparking the large dropout rate of female sports participants and further involvement of females in sport. This has sparked the use of various government polices being formulated with the hope of ending gender inequality is sports and our society. ====

==== <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;">Within the established framework of human rights and sport for development and peace, a number of United Nations international and treaty body processes have specifically addressed some of the critical gender equality issues in sport and physical education. Global and regional policy frameworks on women, gender equality and sport have been developed. These policies have laid the foundation for a just and equitable world of sport for women and men. They have also recognized the power of sport as a catalyst for social and economic development. ====

==== <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;">Qualitative cross-national research has shown that three structural features of the sports system have been shown to be positive for the increased participation of adult women in sports (Tuyckom, Scheerder & Bracke (2010). The features including, special programmes and actions to attract women in sports, ‘own’ sports-political organisations i.e. committees or ‘own’ sports clubs and sports associations and statuary positions i.e. laws, are specifically aimed at gender equality or gender mainstreaming (Tuyckom, Scheerder & Bracke (2010). Although such methodologies aim to promote women in sport, the implementation continues to be constrained by gender-based discrimination in all areas and at all levels of sport. ====

==== <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;">Despite the importance of the methodologies, they provide little perspective guidance for those aiming to achieve a culture of diversity. Various limitations to the methodologies have also arisen and have seen the success of understanding the particular issue fade. With much focus on the creation of government bodies and policies aimed at eradicating the issue, there has been much neglect to the simple things that can be done for us to begin to see a change. ====

==== <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;">Teaching participants at a young age, is the major focus to create a culture of equality and diversity. If we are to remove the traditional rituals for affirming masculinity, boys and girls at a young age, need to participate together in sports activities. These changes to the sports culture rely on men seeking to define themselves not through their masculinity but as human beings which requires a wider cultural shift (Grubb & Billiot, 2010). After much research and presumptions, we now realise it is not only up to the individual to take a stand but our society as a whole in order for female equity within the male dominated sporting world. ====

= <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: center;">**CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ANALYSIS**   = <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;">

==== <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;"> In the 1960’s and early 1970s, the obvious gender bias of sociological inquiry was exposed (Turner, 2003). Both theory and research in sociology had focused on males and, in a very real sense, contributed to patterns of gender inequality (Turner, 2003). Feminist Peace and Conflict Theory reflects on the need of visibility of women in conflicts and has led to a broader understanding of security issues (Weber, 2006). The conflict-theory approach works to analyse gender as yet another form of conflict-producing stratification. Most feminist theorists sought to explain why women have experienced discrimination, and how this discrimination has placed them in disadvantaged positions in the stratification system, not only within society itself but also within the sporting world. In addition, the roles that society encourages men and women to fill in sports activity, reflects the roles of women and men in society as a whole ( Flanagan, 2008). At the same time that sport is a product of social reality, it is also unique. However this unique pastime for many individuals is partially to blame for the current issues of gender inequality within our society. ====

==== <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;"> Throughout history it is clear that not only women, but both genders have faced seemingly insurmountable barriers when attempting to break into a sport that is not "proper" or stereotypical for their gender to participate in ( Flanagan, 2008). Although as a society we are working towards greater equality within sport, it is clear we still have a long way to go to break the barrier that exists between male and females within the sporting world. Various policies currently work towards eradicating gender inequality within sports however other evidence points towards the fact that as a society we are still more comfortable with women in traditional female sports such as netball in comparison to football, since these activities fit with our preconceived notions of what is "normal" for female sports-persons. ====

==== <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;">Sport is a very prominent social institution in almost every society because it combines the characteristics found in any institution with a unique appeal only duplicated by, perhaps, religion (Frey & Eitzen, 1991). It is an activity within society that involves a variety of people of different ages, sexes and nationalities. No other activity so paradoxically combines the serious with the frivolous, playfulness with intensity, and the ideological with the structural (Frey & Eitzen, 1991). Although sport and physical activity participation is often associated with competing and overall domination, it is highly valued and promoted throughout society for health and wellness within individuals. The positive community attitudes towards sport are justified by research, which finds physical activity to be associated with reductions in the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, some forms of cancer, osteoporosis, and some mental disturbances (Australian Sports Commission, 2011). Physical activity also improves quality of life and is associated with reduced antisocial behaviour among young people (Australian Sports Commission, 2011). Despite the foregoing analysis, there is still support for the notion that sport can, and indeed should, be a vehicle for progressive social change (Wolff & Kaufman, 2010). ====

=<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: center;">ANALYSIS OF ARTEFACT AND OWN LEARNING REFLECTIONS =

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">‘Sports for Women’s Rights’, is a YouTube film representing the benefits women receive as a result of participating in sports. These benefits are not only health based but place emphasis the empowerment women receive within society. The film promotes sport to be a social practice that changes the lives of women and the greater need for the termination of present gender inequalities. ====

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Upon reflection, this assignment has enabled me to critically analyse various speculations about gender inequality in sports throughout society, and the broader social world. I have obtained a new found understanding of the connections between gender inequality within sport and a feminist approach to social theory. Gender is viewed as a social construct. It outlines the roles, behaviours, activities and attributes that a particular society believes are appropriate for men and women (Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group, 2008). By critically analysing this topic, I have come to the conclusion that although there currently a focus on eradicating gender inequality within sport, the issue is far from being resolved. It is currently at a standstill. ====

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Max Grubb once quoted, “Sport is the nectar that nurtures the masculine self. It is a culture; the dominant culture where men rule and women are marginalized and objectified” (Grubb, 2010). He could not be more correct in saying this. In the realm of sports culture, the ongoing competition among sports teams and athletes serves as a continual mechanism for constructing, validating and commemorating manliness (Grubb & Billiot, 2010). Sport is the nectar that nurtures the masculine self. It is a culture; the dominant culture in the United States where men rule and women are marginalized and objectified (Grubb & Billiot, 2010). Women as a cohort, realise the great potential they have to give to the sporting body. Women need to use the currently methodologies and governing rules to put a stop to inequity within sports and further more society as a whole. ====

= <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: center;">**LINKS** =


 * ===<span style="color: #db4ddb; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 27px;">__http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/__ ===
 * ===<span style="color: #db4ddb; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 27px;">__http://www.un.org/womenwatch/__ ===
 * ===<span style="color: #db4ddb; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 27px;">__http://www.feminist.org/sports/__ ===
 * ===<span style="color: #db4ddb; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 27px;">__http://www.playlikeagirlsports.com/__ ===
 * ===<span style="color: #db4ddb; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 27px;">__http://www.ausport.gov.au/__ ===
 * ===<span style="color: #db4ddb; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 27px;">__http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais__ ===

= <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: center;">** REFERENCE LIST ** =


 * ====<span style="color: #141314; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 27px;">Acosta, R. V., & Carpenter, L. J. (2006). Women in intercollegiate sport: A longitudinal study-twenty nine year update-1977–2006. Unpublished manuscript, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Australian Government: Australian Sports Commission. (2011) //Good News Stories about the Benefits of Sport//. Canberra, ACT: Australian Government Publishing Service ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Australian Government: Independent Sport Panel. (2009) //The future of sport in Australia.// Canberra, ACT: Independent Sport Panel ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Australian Government: Australian Sports Commission. (2003) Towards Better Sport. //Good Practices for Women and Girls in Sport.// Canberra, ACT: New Millennium Print ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Cunningham, G. B. (2008). Creating and sustaining gender diversity in sport organizations.//Sex Roles,////58// (1), 136-145. doi:10.1007/s11199-007-9312-3 ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Flanagan, K. (2008). Gender Barriers in Sport. Retrieved 23rd October 2011 from [] ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Frey, J. H., & Eitzen, D. S. (1991). Sport and society.//Annual Review of Sociology,////17// (1), 503-522. doi:10.1146/annurev.so.17.080191.002443 ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Grubb, M. V., & Billiot, T. (2010). Women sportscasters: Navigating a masculine domain.//Journal of Gender Studies,19// (1), 87-93 doi:10.1080/09589230903525460 ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Quotations about Sports, 2011. Retrieved on 17th October from [] ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Shaw, S., & Frisby, W. (2006). Can gender equity be more equitable?: // Promoting and alternative frame for sport management research, education, and practice // . Journal of Sport Management, 20, 483–509 ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group. (2008) //Harnessing the Power of Sport for Development and Peace//. Retrieved 19th October from [] ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Turner, J. (2003). // The structure of sociological theory // (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thompson/Wadsworth ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Van Tuyckom, C., Scheerder, J., & Bracke, P. (2010). Gender and age inequalities in regular sports participation: A cross-national study of 25 european countries.//Journal of Sports Sciences,////28//(10), 1077-1084. doi:10.1080/02640414.2010.492229 ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Weber, A. (2006). Feminist Peace and Conflict Theory. Retrieved 23rd October from [] ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Wolff, E. A., & Kaufman, P. (2010). Playing and protesting: Sport as a vehicle for social change.//Journal of Sport & Social Issues,34// (2), 154-175. doi:10.1177/0193723509360218 ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">[|WomenWinOrg]. (2010). Sport for Women’s Rights. Retrieved 17th October 2011 from [] ====

= <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: center;">LEARNING ENGAGEMENT AND REFLECTION TASK   =

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">__Mental Illness and Suicide Hidden Within Society__ **
====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">I found your artefact, Institutionalized, to be extremely relevant to your chosen topic of Mental Illness, Suicidal Tendencies and Ecological Systems. As a person with very little knowledge about the facts of mental health, listening to this song assists with my understanding of the health issue and gives an idea of the thoughts and tendencies of a person experiencing a mental illness, sometimes leading to suicide. ====

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">I agree with what you have mentioned about the prevalence of suicide and suicide attempts, mostly underreported. You have mentioned that this is due to the privacy code the coroners need to follow, however I believe it is also due to the fact that suicide, although a mental illness, can be looked upon by many as a shellfish and cowardly thing. Thus I believe you have made a solid point by recognising and writing in detail the links between the socio-cultural environment and the behaviour of an individual. ====

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">__Women Vs. Men on the Sporting Field__ **
====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">I commend you on your chosen artefact and its relevance to your chosen topic. The film advertisement definitely does a great job of breaking down the barriers and ideology that women are inferior to men when it comes to physical activity and competition. I also think the artefact supports your judgement that women as a cohort, if they stick together and support each other, will attain successful gender equality on the sporting field and other aspects of sports. ====

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;"> As mentioned in the Public Health Issue section, the inadequate and selective media coverage of women’s sports has led astray the authentic perception of women, harbouring false ideologies (NSW Sports and Recreation, 1997). I could not agree more with this. It’s so disappointing that along with various other factors, many young girls and women for that matter have limited participation in sports due to the lack of female role models and encouragement by various sporting greats. Furthermore I think you have thoroughly explained the link between the great controversies in regards to allowing women to compete in sporting events and the stereotypical views on the nature of women and the myth of the ‘weaker sex’. ====


 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px;"> NSW Sport and Recreation. (1997) infosheet, Media Coverage of Women in Sport. // www.dsr.nsw.gov.au // . Available from [] ====