‘This Girl Can’ … And Boys Can Too!

[Cyclone]

I'm not after analysis - I'd like to hear idea's as to why this situation has occurred.

You appear to have contradicted yourself in the space of one sentence.

 

Also, you failed to use quotes in your OP, making it look like it was your commentary, when in fact you were quoting the article.

 

The campaign is based on studies which suggest that fear of judgement is a major barrier to participation, and ‘This Girl Can’ features a range of every day women doing a variety of sports and activities, working hard, getting sweaty, being competitive and having fun.

 

As to why women and girls are less likely to do activities, it explains in the article (see sentence in bold).

 

I don't think risk taking or inherent ability has much to do with it, it's only my opinion, but I think it's almost all down to societal attitudes towards women and girls.

 

---------- Post added 29-01-2015 at 14:59 ----------

 

Some evidence to support my view here

 

It’s no secret that exercise helps everything from depression to metabolic syndrome—so why are women skimping on it?

 

A lack of confidence may be to blame, says Paul Loprinzi, PhD, an assistant professor of exercise science at Bellarmine University and one of the study’s authors. “Some evidence indicates that women, compared to men, have less confidence in their ability to overcome their exercise-related barriers,” Dr. Loprinzi says. And that lack of confidence may stem from women’s childhoods, adds study coauthor Bradley Cardinal, PhD, a professor at Oregon State University. “We know from other studies that parents are more likely to ‘rough house’ and play with boys more than girls during childhood,” he says.

 

Add to that a political layer: the average participant in the study was 48 years old, and so grew up before Title IX—the 1972 law requiring gender equality in federally funded educational programs—would have really kicked in. “At least some of these participants would not have had the opportunities to experience physical activity and sport in the same way a young person would today,” says Dr. Cardinal.

 

http://www.prevention.com/fitness/fitness-tips/why-do-women-exercise-less-men

 

---------- Post added 29-01-2015 at 15:05 ----------

 

Some underlying causes (or speculation about them) reported here as well

 

http://www.science20.com/news_releases/women_exercise_less_men_study

[Flanker7]

Thank-you Cyclone. Too much to expect a criticism free post from you but a commendable effort. Re: the phrase you quoted -

 

".....which suggest that fear of judgement is a major barrier to participation".

 

Is the above with regard to females or both sexes? I would guess that its about women, but it don't say that.

 

If it is, Why do female fear judgement more than males? Are parents and society more critical of females especially when they are young - I think not.

 

Perhaps male and females are different. They certainly are when left to their own devices in the school playground , according to your quotes.

[Cyclone]

I think it's specifically with regard to females.

 

I think society is definitely more critical towards girls regarding image and appearance.

 

If you could edit your OP and use

or even just " " around the bit that you are quoting, it would be helpful.

[Flanker7]

Ever heard the story about the solitary woman who worked in an office full of men. She was presentable and smart but it wasn't a big deal. Then another woman joined the team and it was 'game on' with regard to appearance and a marked difference in turnout. The original woman was heard to complain about the extra effort she was having to put in regarding her clothing and hair and make-up.

 

When you factor in the size of the women's fashion industry compared to the male. It's obvious women care more about their appearance and this fact effects many other aspects of their lives.

 

Even though 'This Girl Can' . . . . . . she my not want to.

[bigfat_rich]

until we get to a situation where people are judged for who they are then we can never move forward.

 

We had a situation when at a suppliers and the secretary went towards her car to drive home and it was icy

 

Bear in mind this lady had blonde hair so you know the issues.

 

She got in the car and we all said "this is going to be carnage"

 

- will she drive into a lamppost?

 

- what if she forgets its icy and can't stop at the junction?

 

Do you know what happened?

 

she got in her car and drove to the junction without any problems. She stopped and then joined the traffic

 

She returned to work the following day after she had driven

 

Unless we stop judging people based on their sex things can never improve. Women are just as able as men and vise versa.

[Cyclone]

Ever heard the story about the solitary woman who worked in an office full of men. She was presentable and smart but it wasn't a big deal. Then another woman joined the team and it was 'game on' with regard to appearance and a marked difference in turnout. The original woman was heard to complain about the extra effort she was having to put in regarding her clothing and hair and make-up.

 

When you factor in the size of the women's fashion industry compared to the male. It's obvious women care more about their appearance and this fact effects many other aspects of their lives.

 

Even though 'This Girl Can' . . . . . . she my not want to.

 

It's a silly anecdote, but women generally are under more pressure from society to present a certain image.

And that image isn't often a sporty, sweaty, physically competitive one, although I think it has improved over time.

 

---------- Post added 30-01-2015 at 08:42 ----------

 

Women are just as able as men and vise versa.

 

Pretending that gender differences don't exist isn't particularly helpful either.

[Cyclone]

Don't click on that, he's spamming it to multiple threads.

[PeteMorris]

Don't click on that, he's spamming it to multiple threads.

 

Sorted Cyclone...thanks

[skinz]

I think a lot of gyms already cater for them quite adequately.

 

Never heard of bigots hour...never.

[go4it]

This headline from a junior 'parkrun' report.

 

For once Boys are included too. We have initiatives for all sorts of minorities and even for some majorities (women = 50%+) but never for male, white, heterosexuals. Luckily most of us don't need to be told because we are out there actually doing it, whatever it is.

 

We do feel oppressed but it is not our way to moan about it.

 

So what is it that we do to our young males that gives them this attitude and how can we imbue the rest of the population with it?

 

I hate all this girl can stuff. Very patronising to girls who are active.

 

I remember Handsworth Grange asking their girls to redesign their PE kit because that was the reason they weren't doing sport. Absolute rubbish!

 

On the whole female athletes are more successful than the men - Pavey, Ennis, Johnson-Thompson, Bleasdale etc.