The real reason teen girls won’t play sport
THERE’S a mystical, magical change that occurs to girls during the summer before high school. Almost overnight, they go from being a kid who loves to run around, getting sweaty and dirty – to a teen who prefers the sidelines.
When it comes to sport, it seems adolescent girls would rather post a bad selfie than be caught dead on the playing field.
It’s hard to believe that this might happen to my child. Aged nine, she’s only just discovering how powerful her body can be.
At our school athletics carnival this week, I watched in disbelief as she blitzed every running race. There was no fear, no embarrassment, just a desire to run as fast as her little legs could carry her.
Her girlfriends screamed support and embraced her in hugs at the finish line.
A fellow mother told me the scene was chalk and cheese compared to the senior carnival, where many of the girls opt out of every race they can, while those who try are belittled.
“It’s hard for them. They’re at an age where their bodies have changed so much they don’t feel comfortable running around with people watching them,” she said.
“It’s also a time where you just don’t want to stand out. One of the girls who wins everything cops it for thinking ‘she’s so good’. The end result is they stop having fun because they’re too selfconscious.”
This is not a new problem. Studies show that young women are twice as likely as boys to be inactive and that they experience more barriers preventing them from being as physically active.
In fact, the situation is so dire the Federal Government has funded a campaign called Girls Make Your Move to “inspire, energise and empower young women to be more active, regardless of ethnicity, size or ability”.
Inspired by Sport England’s This Girl Can initiative, which successfully encouraged millions of women to be more active, it’s unfortunately already hit a hurdle.
Just this weekend, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt ordered an immediate review into his own department’s use of Instagram influencers as part of the #girlsmakeyourmove social media campaign.
Using more than $600,000 in taxpayer funds, a number of Instagrammers were paid for posts encouraging their followers to get involved in activities like kickboxing, yoga, surfing, roller derby and rock climbing.
The problem is that many of those involved in the campaign have had their level of “influence” questioned, along with previous posts which endorsed drinking – often in partnership with alcohol brands – and one influencer has been forced to apologise for using racist language and homophobic slurs in the past.
But that’s not even the real problem.
One look at the high school sports field is proof the message is not getting through.
And this time, it is the messenger’s fault.
If we’re trying to get gawky, pubescent, pimply, often pudgy teens to stop feeling self-conscious and get out there and play sport, is a perfectly primped, posed and filtered fit body the best model to use?
That’s not aspirational, that’s unachievable. And all the more reason to sit this one out.
I don’t want my daughter being influenced by a so-called influencer. All part of the reason I’m keeping her away from social media accounts as long as I can. Yes, I’m willing to be hated.
The beauty of the English campaign was the use of real bodies – with slogans like “I jiggle therefore I am”. The original 2015 video attracted more than 16 million views on YouTube and Facebook and featured women of all ages and sizes jogging, jumping, sweating and playing sport.
Not looking beautiful, just doing it.
What our girls need to see and hear is the message that trying not only matters, but is fun.
It’s a tough concept for anyone, but especially teen girls. Aside from the fear of failure, there is also the fear of success. Because at that age, anyone who sticks out from the pack – whether above or below – is in danger of being shot down. God forbid you’re labelled a try-hard.
So for those of us parents out on the field, let’s make sure it is fun. Let’s take away the pressure – and the excuses. I will not permit my children to skip sports because they’re scared. My plan is to band together with like-minded mums and encourage our girls to get out there and do it together. Old-fashioned peer pressure is always a winner.
Because whether in sport or in life, nobody should ever want to be on the sidelines.
Read Ann Wason Moore every Tuesday and Saturday in the