Prejudices & Misconceptions
Many cultures consider sport to be a male domain. Societies assume that the physical and psychological qualities associated with athleticism, such as strength and competitiveness, are “masculine.” When femininity in a culture is associated with being petite or soft, girls are often reluctant to build muscle mass. When girls are condemned for being promiscuous for merely showing their skin in athletic clothing or raising their leg to kick a ball, they are hesitant to participate. These gendered prejudices and misconceptions extend to the role a girl should or should not play in society — and are imposed upon adolescent girls and, over time, adopted by them as well. You can read more about two common misconceptions below:
Menstruation Prohibiting Participation
Girls and society often have misunderstandings about the safety of participating in sport while menstruating. In addition, the cost of sanitary pads and tampons can be prohibitive and not a financial priority for many families, especially in traditional cultures or among economically disadvantaged families. When girls begin to menstruate, they are often confined to their homes and temporarily or totally stop practising sport.
Fear of Loss of Virginity
There are also misunderstandings when it comes to sport and its impact on girls’ sexual and reproductive health. Some fear that playing sports will cause loss of virginity. A common myth in some cultures is that the physical exertion of sport, such as running, kicking or jumping, will cause the hymen to tear. An intact hymen is erroneously seen as a physical indicator of virginity. In societies where a girl’s virginity before marriage is sacred, the threat of sport causing a tear can be a very serious concern.
In the infographic below you can see some of our general recommendations for dealing with these barriers. You can adopt these to suit your context. You can also download the infographic to use offline.
