13 - Equal opportunities

Question 1

Why has participation for women been low?

Answer 1

• Don’t have the same physical strength and endurance as men in the same activities
• Some aggressive sports can be seen as not feminine
• Role seen as care, home manager, mother - not compatible with competitive sports.
• Less media coverage of elite women performers
• Sport is a male dominated activity

Question 2

Why has participation in sport been low for different ethnic backgrounds?

Answer 2

• Many people suffer from prejudice and discrimination which can make it harder to access opportunities of they will avoid areas that could have this as a risk.
• Higher than average % of ethnic minority people are economically deprived
• Devoting time to become an elite performer may be discouraged.
• Women may find it hard due to dress code or being discouraged by the men.

Question 3

Why has participation in sport been low for those with a disability?

Answer 3

• Severe disabilities that means they cannot partake in any physical activity.
• Sports facilities not easily used by disabled.
• Stereotyping the disabled - not giving equal opportunities
• Ignored or less high profile
• Lack of status and public recognition to elite disabled performers

Question 4

Why has participation been low for those from disadvantaged socio-economic groups?

Answer 4

• Most sports cost money to do - lower s-e means less disposable income
• Some activities are associated with specific social class eg yachting being upper/middle class activity that other classes feel they dont belong to this activity
• Lower S-E groups have less time to spend on physical recreation

Question 5

What are the 4 main groups that suffer from the barriers to participation?

Answer 5

Women
Those from different ethnic backgrounds
Those with a disability
Those from disadvantaged socio-economic groups

Question 6

Why have participation rates increased in women?

Answer 6

• WOMEN’S SPORT FOUNDATION
• influencing governments and organisations to introduce strategies and policies to provide equality in women’s opportunities
• women’s success in sport published more in the media
• giving advice on sport and recreation to women.
  finding sources of funding to improve women’s level of participation

Question 7

Why have participation rates increased in ethnic minorities?

Answer 7

• SPORT EQUALS
• raise awareness + understanding to change attitudes in sport
• -> Using Active People Survey to monitor participation rates of all sections of society
• -> Sport equals funded by sport england initiative to promote racial equality in sport.

Question 8

Why have participation rates increased in disability?

Answer 8

Sport england setting up organisations

• English federation of disability sport- develops sport for the disabled
• National Disability Sports Organizations
• DIsability Sport England - coordinates and delivers national events in range of sports for the disabled
• -> Adapted sports so that they can play
• -> More disabled access to sports facilities

Question 9

Why have participation rates increased in socio-economic groups?

Answer 9

Sport Action Zones - designed to bring benefits of sports into deprived areas
Lottery funding of clubs and projects
Sport England - initiatives to help reduce social inequalities
Community Club Development Programme - helps develop local community sports clubs - aimed to support those in areas of greatest social deprivation
Respect Athlete Mentoring Programme - aim to improve lives of disadvantaged and disaffected young people through the use of inspirational elite sports people to help them gain self-esteem, confidence, raise aspirations + give them experiences to help motivate them.