taken advantage of. Let’s hope that 2012, and the colossal increase in awareness of remarkable female athletes, will continue to encourage governmental and commercial backing in women’s sport.
Funding aside, the discrepancy between the number of men who are involved in sport compared to women remains a problem. The WSFF emphasise that 80% of women are not active enough to remain healthy, and only 12% of 14 year old girls reach their recommended levels of activity. However, statistics show that 74% of girls would like to be more active.
There are many reasons why females disengage with sports, including bad experiences of school PE lessons, parents’ anxiousness towards outdoor play for girls, and the lingering social attitudes that view being ‘sporty’ as masculine. There is a certain reticence from girls to become or to stay involved in sport due to a fear of appearing less feminine, and as a result, less attractive. Prominent female role models can be used constructively to demonstrate to the next generation of women that being athletic, energetic, and robust are not characteristics to be uncomfortable with. Indeed, there can be a degree of optimism regarding this issue that with the examples set by some of the Olympic stars, notably athletes such as Jessica Ennis, will have had a positive influence on the perception of leading sportswomen in the social consciousness and in the minds of the next generation of budding female athletes.
For women living in Jersey, there is an incredible amount of sport to get involved in. From watersports to
intrinsic. Statistics, media coverage and even gold medals can’t describe how good it can make you feel. Hormones that are released during exercise are proven to make you feel happier and continue on through pain. However, even the explanation of a chemical reaction doesn’t fully represent the significance sport can have on a person. You don’t have to be the best in your team, your country, the world to have these effects; you just have to be involved.
extreme sports, team sports to individual sports, organised sports to personal exercise, there is something for everyone. The sporting community on the island is accessible and welcoming for both the experienced participant and the newcomer. It is a fantastic way of meeting new people, advancing your social network, breaking from routine and keeping fit. It has been asserted by the Sports and Recreation Alliance that middle-age women who exercise less than one hour per week double their likelihood of dying from cardiovascular disease and are 29% more likely to die from cancer as compared to those more physically active of the same age. Physical activity has also been recognised as an effective method for improving a person’s emotional state and providing a more positive outlook. Pleasure resulting from sport is
Trying something new can be daunting, but it can also be exceptionally liberating. For such a small island, there is a strong concentration on sport and a clear acknowledgement of the benefits it possesses. Therefore, there is a lot of scope for women to try something new in Jersey, and to derive enjoyment from it. Whether it is going along to train with the Jersey United Banks Ladies rugby team and realising that they refute the socially constructed notion of what a female rugby player should look and act like, or deciding to face your fears by giving rock climbing a go, or simply arranging to go for a run with others, physical activity shouldn’t be a chore. Having the motivation to go to the gym on your own can be tough, knowing that you’re going to meet up with allies is a different motivation entirely.
Within an increasingly overweight and underactive culture that has not yet been able to bring full equality to women’s sports, let’s do what we can to make the media pay more attention, to encourage investment in women’s sport and to set a strong example to the next generation, and get involved.
*If anyone is interested in joining the only women’s rugby team in Jersey, please contact:
jubrfc.ladies@
gmail.com
Jersey's Olympic Legacy
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