Girls are already less likely than boys to enjoy, and want to participate in, sport. But a new report shows that these attitudes are amplified when female pupils have other characteristics of inequality such as a SEND, coming from a low-income family or a non-majority ethnicity.
In these cases, they are much more likely to not be active every day, not feel confident doing physical activity, and less likely to like PE than their peers.
The report, from the Youth Sport Trust’s annual Girls Active Survey, found that girls aged 5-18 years are less active than boys, with only 45% of females meeting recommended activity levels, compared with 51% of boys.
It found that only a quarter of disabled children participated in sport and activity all the time at school, compared with 41% of non-disabled children.
The study, of almost 18,000 young people in 137 schools in England and published ahead of International Day of the Girl (October 11), found that a lack of enjoyment of sport and PE impacted on health, wellbeing and happiness, and vital life skills such as confidence and resilience.
This is exacerbated by social and health inequalities. Just over half of children with no characteristics of inequality took part in sport regularly, compared with 39% of those who had two or more inequalities, such as a SEND.
The report said: “If everyone with one or more characteristics of inequality could be as active as those with none, there would be 328,000 more active children and young people.”
Ali Oliver MBE, Youth Sport Trust CEO, said: “These findings shine a light on the reality that too many girls, particularly those with multiple inequalities, are being left behind in PE and sport.
“Gender is already a barrier, but when combined with other factors such as income, ethnicity or disability, the impact on girls’ confidence, enjoyment and wellbeing is even greater.
“We cannot let this and subsequent generations believe that the opportunities to be active and healthy are determined by background or circumstance.”
The Youth Sport Trust offers a number of sports programmes to encourage more girls into sport and PE. For more information go to Girls Active – Youth Sport Trust.
