Let them play. Break down gender myths on the field
The spectacular achievements of women in Indian sport against considerable odds are now firmly established. This raises the issue of whether there is any association between the sport chosen by children or adolescents and their gender role orientation.
Despite the rise of women sportspersons, it is still a male-dominated field. A majority of families still don’t consider sport as a career for a girl, but things are changing, thanks to the many role models we have and the active involvement of progressive non-governmental organisations.
Take Koppal, one of the most backward pockets in Karnataka. Traditionally discriminatory gender norms and low value for the girl child restricted her aspirations, and consistently robbed her of her freedom to choose, decide and participate in spaces that are of intrinsic interest to her. The Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT)’s Sphoorthi project, a life skillsbased empowerment programme in six districts, has identified an interesting way of breaking gender stereotypes.
It used sport to bring girls together, build their grit, and challenge gender norms. This initiative chose games such as kabaddi and volleyball, once considered “inappropriate” for girls. Kabaddi is a contact sport with greater chances of injury, which is why it was considered unsuitable for girls. The initial presentation of the idea of a kabaddi tournament at the village level was met with mixed reactions. Girls shied away, parents refused, and the villagers mocked the whole thing. But they pressed on regardless. With perspectivebuilding and sharing of successes, attitudes soon changed and the adolescent girls started practising in the public village ground wearing shorts and T-shirts.
Many of the girls described the experience as liberating. Maitreyi Ravikumar, strategic lead for adolescent health at KHPT, says, “Play and sport are integral components of holistic development. For rural adolescent girls, these opportunities hardly exist due to sociocultural and gender norms that restrict their mobility. We have seen how the kabaddi and volleyball tournaments have significantly changed community perceptions about them.”
Kaveri, an adolescent from Wadagnal, says, “I was introduced to kabaddi by Sphoorthi and we secured second prize out of the 51 participating villages. I knew I had to continue sports, but my parents were against me. I wanted to play so I persisted and now have won in various districts. I want more girls like me to understand why it is important to stand up for ourselves.”
Studies show that girls who participate in sport are more likely to experience academic success and have more faith in their own competencies and abilities ( The Girls Index, Impact Report). In Koppal, the sports initiative has become a voice for the girls not just as individuals but as a collective which gained newfound courage to question discrimination, and restrictions on mobility and social associations.
Shivamma from Lebageri village, Koppal block, says, “I am very happy that district-level sports meets are organised in my village. To go outside and play is not something that only boys can do, we girls went outside and played, we showed that girls are no less than boys.”
Beyond the rural context, a survey by Ernst and Young and ESPNW found that 94% of female corporate executives covered under it played sport in their formative years. As Julie Foudy, Olympic gold medallist, said, “Progress may not be a straight line — but we do know, with tremendous clarity, that sports turns girls into women who lead. Provide them with sports experience, and watch female leaders rise.”