History of Feminism
Related: About this forumWomen's athletics a battle for respect
Experts agree that watching women play in a professional arena is inspiring for girls. And it helps convince them to play sports themselves -- a huge benefit for their development. "It's really stunning," says Nancy Hogshead-Makar, senior director of advocacy for the Women's Sports Foundation. "The changes are profound for the rest of [a girl's] life."
Hogshead-Makar, who won three gold medals as an Olympic swimmer, says playing sports teaches girls about winning and losing, belonging to a team, and postponing short-term gratification for long-term rewards. She says that those skills "translate directly into tangible educational gains, and economic gains." Sports can also help teenagers during an awkward time in their development. Lisa Leslie credits basketball with shaping her character, as well as her career.
She started playing for a simple reason, she says: "I wanted to be popular." But impressing her classmates was hardly the only benefit. "I found playing basketball really became the most important aspect of who I am today," Leslie says. "When you play sports, you're more likely not to do drugs, you're more likely not to have early pregnancy."
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By building awareness, women's sports fans hope to create more support for women on the court. One of the most famous female athletes in the country, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, credits Title IX, a 1972 law barring discrimination in school sports, for creating equal opportunities for girls. "With Title IX, the opportunity for girls in sports is such a blessing," says Joyner-Kersee. "I can never imagine the women who came before me, who didn't have the same opportunities that I had."
http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/06/living/women-in-sports/index.html?hpt=hp_bn11
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just another shout out to women in sports. if i had a daughter,... lol.
Rabid_Rabbit
(131 posts)I can't tell you how much sports has helped my extremely shy daughter come out of her shell. Each new skill in soccer or gymnastics that she learns is a victory that fills her with pride and excitement and gives her more courage. As a 6 year old she was incapable of looking in to an adults eyes, constantly shying away and hiding. Now at 8 she has so much more confidence and I attribute that mostly to her sports activities.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)i dont know mama or dad.
i have my oldest son that was the odd kid and didnt fit in. he was well like, but, different. he too focused on a sport and it has given him so much. cross coutnry and track. just the time spent with practice has given him a confidence and focus and determination, hard work. being a part of, in his innate isolationism.
he started looking at universities and his perspective was schools paying him for his talent. i liked that mentality. he paid off, lol....
so, if sports are done right, it is extremely good for boys also.
but, there is something a girl gets that she does not get with the rest of society.
i was raised in 70's with competition sport. i gives all that.
and welcome to du.