Unit 6 –
Women and Sports
Introduction
Today the battle for equality between men’s and
women’s sports rages on. Women’s sports include participation of women in
professional and amateur competitions. Women participation in sports rose
dramatically in twentieth century, especially in the last quarter, reflecting
changes in modern society that emphasizes gender difference.
The level of participation and performance
varies from country to country, culture to culture and game to game. Today
modern society has accepted the women’s participation in sports competition and
it has risen to great extent as compared to past.
Participation
of Women in Sports in India
Participation of women in sports has a long
history. In the ancient Olympics women were not allowed to watch the sports
competition. Even in the first Modern Olympic Games which were held in 1896 in
Athens, there was no participation of women. Women started to participate in
the Modern Olympic Games from 1900 onwards. The first Indian women participated
in the Olympics held in 1952 were four athletes. Karnam Malleshwari became the
first Indian woman to secure a bronze medal in weight lifting in Sydney Olympic
Games in 2000. In 2012 London Olympic Games, Saina Nehwal and M.C. Merycom put
colourful feathers in the cap of India by securing one bronze medal each.
Though P.T. Usha could not win the medal in 1984 Olympic in 400 metres hurdle
race, yet that was her extraordinary performance.
In fact, there is a long list of female
sportspersons who won various positions in World Cups, Commonwealth Games,
Asian Games and SAF Games etc.
But as a matter of fact, women in India are
still not able to take stand for themselves. They still do not have equal
representation as compared to men. Women are victims of gender inequality. Men
have an upper hand in all spheres of life. They are still considered better in
Indian societies like other conservative societies of the world. Discrimination
against women participation in sports can be seen even in the field of media.
How many people know about Anjum Chopra and other women cricket players? It is
shocking to know all such incidents of discrimination.
Though time is changing very fast and
situations are improving. The number of women in sports is increasing year by
year. Undoubtly, the number of participation of women in sports is having an increasing
trend year by year, but there is still a lot to be done. The number of
participant women in sports is still lesser in comparison to men.
Reasons
for Less Participation of Women in Sports in India
1. Lack
of Fitness and Wellness Movement: Due to lack of fitness and wellness movement
women’s participation in sports is less. We are well aware that sports and
games play a very effective as well as significant role in the development of
fitness and wellness. But it is deplorable matter for women in India and they
do not have strong awareness about their fitness and wellness. Most of women
are not aware about fitness movement and wellness movement. Many women and
girls are not aware and alert about their shape and size. Some are not conscious
about the maintenance of their figure. If they come to know about the value of
figure, shape, health, wellness and fitness, they will definitely like to
participate in sports because sports and games play an important role in the
enhancement of their fitness and wellness.
2. Lack
of Interest of Spectators and no Coverage of Women’s’ Sports: Lack of interest of
spectators is one of the major reasons for less participation of women in
sports. There is no surprise if there is less number of spectators in sports
competitions of women because there is also less number of spectators in sports
competition or tournaments of men. A cricket match may be called an exception
where there is always a huge number of spectators but not in women’s cricket
match.
3. Lack
of Personal Safety: Personal safety on the roads, streets, on public transport,
in and around venues is an important as well as particular problem for women
who want to participate in sports. They may be the easy targets of abuse.
Travelling to and fro from sports stadia may be dangerous to women. They do not
feel safe. Due to this reason, parents refuse them to take part in sports.
4. Lack
of Proper Access to Facilities: There is a lack of proper access to facilities
provided to women in the field of sports. Facilities in terms of equipment,
training and coaching etc. are not usually provided to women in comparison to
men. Hence, the participation of women remains low. Even the programmes related
to games and sports in girls’ schools and colleges are less in comparison to
boy’s schools and colleges. Generally, females do not have adequate playing
facilities near their homes that makes it more difficult for them to participate
in sports.
5. Sports
and Games are Considered Masculine: It is one of the reasons of less participation
of women in sports because they take it as a masculine activity. However, there
is no truth in this statement. Even then they think that they may be lebelled
as lesbians if they play almost any sport, apart from few sports which are seen
particularly feminine.
6. Attitude
of Society towards Women’s Sports Participation: The attitude of society
plays a vital role towards women’s participation in sports. In male dominated
society, the views of male sportspersons about female sportspersons are
definitely of low level. It is said, “Why don’t they stay in kitchen, where
they belong”. Definitions of masculinity and feminity are given by our society.
There is no link of masculinity and feminity with the participation in sports.
7. Lack
of Education among Women: Due to lack of education, women are surrounded
by baseless and imaginative misconceptions spread in our society, e.g., it is
considered in our society that physical, social and psychological
characteristics or qualities of women are changed who participate in games and
sports. It is also considered that a number of problems occur at the time of
delivery to those women who participate in sports. However, the truth is
completely opposite. There are various msiconceptions prevailing in our society
by participating the women in sports, such as bones of women become weak and
their feminity is also endangered. In fact, these are only misconceptions which
are not related to any fact. Due to lack of education, women also start to
think on the same line and, that is why their participation becomes limited.
8. Lack
of Women Coaches: Lack
of women coaches in India is also one of the reasons of less participation of
women in sports. If the number of women coaches is enhanced there will
definitely be an increase in women’s participation in sports and games.
9. Lack
of Sports Culture: India lacks sports culture. Too much emphasis on classroom
theoretical studies has made most of Indian children couch potatoes. Sports is
a last priority in schools.
Very
Short Answer Type Questions (1 Mark)
Q1. What
do you mean by menarche?
Ans. A girl's first menstrual
period or first menstrual bleeding is known as menarche. Menarche is a sign of
growing up and becoming a woman. Menarche usually occurs between 9 and 15 years
of age.
Q2.
What is menstrual disfunction?
Ans. A menstrual disorder is an
irregular condition in a women’s menstrual cycle. Most menstrual cycles occur
every 22 to 35 days. Normal menstrual flow lasts 3 to 7 days, with most blood
loss occurring within the first 3 days. Increasing numbers of women of all ages
have been participating in sports at both recreational and competitive levels.
Most girls and women derive significant health benefits from regular physical
activity. They can achieve the same training effects as do men, such as
decreased blood pressure, lowered heart rate, and improved aerobic capacity, as
well as decreased percent body fat.
Q3.
What is menopause?
Ans. Menopause is the time when a
woman stops having menstrual periods and she is no longer able to have
children. The age of menopause is normally between 45 and 55 years. It is not a
disease or illness. It is a transition between two phases of a woman's life.
Q4.
What is amenorrhea?
Ans. Poor nutrition, low
calories intake, high-energy demands, physical and emotional stress, or low
percentage of body fat can lead to hormonal changes that stop menstrual
periods.
Q5.
What is osteoporosis?
Ans. Lack of periods disrupts the
body’s bone—building processes and weakens the skeleton, making bones more
likely to break.
Q6.
What is anaemia?
Ans. Abnormal eating habits or
excessive exercise keeps the body from getting enough nutrition.
Q7.
What is the time when a pregnant women athlete should not participate in
sporting competition?
Ans. There is no definite point
during pregnancy when a female athlete should cease competition. Decisions
regarding participation should be made by the female athlete in conjunction
with her healthcare provider.
Short
Answer Type Questions (3 Mark)
Q1. What
are the factors that cause hindrance in the participation of women in sports?
Ans. The following factors are
responsible for less participation of women in sports:
(ì)
Time constraints:
Women find less time for sports due to their domestic duties.
(ii)Social
constraints: the
attitude of society towards participation of women in sports is negative.
(iii)
Lack of sports infrastructure: There is particularly less infrastructure for
women.
(iv) Absence
of skill: There
are very few female coaches available to develop the skills of women. Sociological
constraints limit the success of male coaches with female athletes.
(v)
Concerns for personal safety: Women are more afraid to venture in female
field as they are concerned more about safety from harassment or exploitation.
Q2.
What do you understand by female athlete triad and what are its components?
Ans. The Female athlete triads
syndrome of three related conditions are generally seen in teenage or adult female
athletes who aren't meeting their energy requirements, which ultimately leaves
them undernourished.
The three components of the female athlete triad
include:
(í) Disordered eating and anemia (Energy
deficits)
(ii) Amenorrhea (Menstrual irregularities)
(iii) Osteoporosis (Decreased bone density)
A female athlete can exhibit symptoms of one,
two, or all three parts of the triad.
Q3.
How can osteoporosis ruin a female athlete's career?
Ans. Osteoporosis is a disease of
the bones. It happens when you lose too much bone, make too little bone or
both. As a result bones may break from a minor fall. Estrogen is lower in case
of female athletes. Low estrogen levels and poor nutrition, especially low
calcium intake, can lead to osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a weakening of the bones due to
the loss of bone density and improper bone formation. This condition can ruin a
female athlete's career because it may lead to bone fractures and other injuries.
Q4.
Why there is less participation of women in India? Give any three reasons.
Ans. Here are some factors
regarding women’s non-participation in games and sports. The result may go a
long way in removing some of these prejudices. Some hidden talents of women
will be helpful in improving the level of participation and achievement at the
national and international level of Indian women.
1. No
parental encouragement: There has been lack of encouragement from the parents and
family members.
2.
Traditional Society: The
traditional way of living was a big hurdle for women taking part in games and
sports.
3.
Less Knowledge:
There was lack of sports orientation of the people living m the society. Taking
part in games and sports for women has not become a common phenomenon.
Long
Answer Type Questions (5 Marks)
Q1.
What are psychological factors affecting women’s participating in sports.
Ans. Gender beliefs and
stereotypes are found everywhere. Social pressures are very strong. Parents,
teachers, peers and social institutions treat girls and boys differently from
birth. Overall, differential treatment and gender bias remains with women throughout
the life. Society has set certain yardstick for male and female acceptable
behaviour in society. Social traditions and customs has great influence upon
psyche of women. In male dominating conservative societies boys are aggressive,
loud, independent and dominating whereas in contrast girls remain emotional, sensitive,
helpless and timid. We can’t ignore social content in the real world. Social
situations has great influence upon the psychological aspect of women’s
personality. Sports psychology research on gender is limited. On the basis of these
researches, we conclude the following facts about psychological variables of
sports women:
1. More goal oriented.
2. Fast Adoption.
3. Poise and confidence
3. Image conscious
5. Less aggressive
6. Psychological stronger.
Q2.
Briefly discuss the methods to increase women's participation in sports.
Ans. The following steps should
be taken to increase women's participation in sports.
(a)
Coaching programmes:
During coaching, women should be motivated and provided appropriate opportunity
to undertake leadership positions within an organisation.
(b)
Safety: This
is another factor that promotes girls participation in sports. Exercising in
groups can make physical activity safer for women and girls.
(c)
Facilities: keeping
in mind the hygienic needs of women and girls separate change facilities should
be arranged for them. Childcare should be provided so that women can bring
their children to the training or competition venues without hesitation.
(d)
Affordability: Most
of the women depend upon the male members of the family. Their earning capacity
is usually negligible. So some concessions should be given to them. Participation
fee should be abolished, travelling and boarding should be provided cheap etc.
Q3.
What are the reasons of low participation of women in sports in India?
Ans. Here are some new facts
regarding women’s non-participation in games and sports. The results may go a
long way in removing some of these prejudices. Some hidden talents of women
will be helpful in improving the level of participation and achievement at the
national and international level of Indian Women.
1. No
parental encouragement: There has been lack of encouragement from the parents and
family members.
2. Traditional
Society: The
traditional way of living was a big hurdle for women taking part in games and
sports.
3. Less
Knowledge:
There was lack of sports orientation of the people living in the society.
Taking part in games and sports for women has not become a common phenomenon.
4. Less
motivation and inspiration: There has not been good leadership among physical education
personnel and a proper motivating system.
5. Women
constraining other women: It has been clearly found that govt. college women had
expressed more constraints compared to private college women.
The reason for this low participation could be:
1. Less % of literacy.
2. Male dominant culture.
3. Family and social level abstraction.
4. Less availability of women coach
5. No independent games facilities for women
6. Child marriage
7. Low health consciousness
8. More emphasis on study.
9. Cut through competition in education.
10. More emphasis on tuition classes.
11. Less importance to sports at society level
12. Lack of govt. plans for sports person
13. Lack of incentive marks
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