Barriers to Participation Flashcards
Badminton is a popular physical activity amongst women.
Suggest reasons why female participation rates are relatively high in this activity.
Environmental conditions, eg dry, warm, comfortable, indoors
Individual / don’t rely on a team
Can be played casually / recreationally / socially / competitively / own pace
(About when and how played)
Can maintain health and fitness
Increased provision in schools / leisure centres/clubs
(Do not accept more facilities / opportunities)
Lifetime activity / suitable for all ages;
Non-contact / not as aggressive / non-strenuous;
(Is about the physicality of the activity)
Socially acceptable / women traditionally played badminton / positive role models, eg Gail
Emms
The Active People Survey 5 showed that the proportion of males participating in physical
activity was 20.5%, whereas participation among females was 12.4%.
What social and economic barriers may account for the lower participation rate of women in
physical activity?
General point about sexual discrimination;
(Do not accept lack of transport)
Effects of lack of media coverage / role models / female coaches;
Accepted gender role / stereotyping/traditional role / child care / family commitments
(Accept examples of traditional roles)
Inappropriate activity / physiological myths / poor body image;
Sport as a male preserve / keep women out;
(Idea that sport is for men)
Lower (disposable) income / expense;
(Financial limitations)
Less time available;
(Time constraints)
Less resources / lower funding / prize money / sponsorship opportunities / fewer facilities /
reduced access / fewer female clubs / opportunities;
(Lower extrinsic rewards)
The Active People Survey (2010–2011), conducted by Sport England, found that less than 10
per cent of disabled people regularly took part in physical activity.
Discuss the suggestion that disabled participants have equal opportunities to take part in sport.
Yes
(Key term is specialised / equiv, eg specialist coaches / facilities, etc)
Improve access to facilities / disabled sessions
(Relates to transport)
More competition / clubs / teams / activities / adapted sports
Increase numbers of specialised coaches / trained staff
Improve numbers of / better specialist facilities / access ramps / technology
(Relates to within the facility – Not ‘more facilities’)
Publicity / campaigns / increase media coverage / role models / Paralympics / funding /
sponsorship
Increased awareness of needs / integrated into PE programmes / inclusiveness
(Sub max 4)
No
Insufficient clubs / teams / competitions
Access still a problem to / within sports facilities / special times / sessions for disabled
Lack of qualified coaches / provision of specialist coaching
Need greater use of campaigns / promotion / paralympians / Special Olympians to inspire /
role models / media coverage / lack of funding / sponsorship
Lack of awareness of needs / abilities in specialised training / courses / PE Programmes
(Sub max 4)
There is a lower rate of participation in certain sporting activities by ethnic minority groups in
the UK.
Discuss the suggestion that solutions to overcome discrimination in sport in order to increase
participation have been effective.
Discrimination – to make distinction and treat people unfairly.
(Must indicate whether effective or not.)
Yes – effective
Increased range of activities among minorities eg Asian Cricket, Afro-Caribbean football,
women’s rugby, Paralympics.
More role models in UK sport.
Campaigns / sport equity targets by NGBs / Kick Racism Out.
Use of the law by individuals / bans for ‘racist’ actions / ‘Suarez’ / ‘Terry’ etc.
Awareness education / effects of discrimination for teachers / coaches in schools / youth clubs.
Sports Development Officers promote increased minority participation.
PE programmes cater for minority preferences / Muslim women only classes / eg relaxed kit /
showering rules.
Sport England / eq programmes / YST programmes / Top Sportsability / Sporting Equals
promote equality.
(Sub max 4 marks)
No – not effective
(Solutions to discrimination suggests not effective.)
Minorities from lower socio-economic groups / lack of time / money.
Participants may be subject to racist / sexist comments / abuse / stereotypical expectations /
discrimination.
Membership by invitation / vetting may exclude minorities.
Sport has a lower social status within certain communities cultural / religious requirements may
discourage sport participation.
Lack of administrators / coaches / role models for minorities.
(Sub max 4 marks)
How could public sector provision encourage increased participation for those in lower socioeconomic
groups?
Advertising / publicity / role models. Reduced costs / entry fees / equipment / hire fees. Taster / sampling sessions / fun days. More inner city facilities. Session run at suitable times / crèches School extra-curricular sessions.
National governing bodies’ (NGBs) try to provide ‘equal opportunity’ through advertising
campaigns and by improving access to facilities.
Suggest other solutions that NGBs could use to overcome discrimination and to increase
participation in physical activity.
Develop specific policies to target minority groups / community projects / sport equity
targets.
(Do not accept campaigns; is in the question.)
(Minority groups are ethnic, women, low socio-economic and people)
with disabilities.
Target funding at grass roots for minority groups.
(Do not credit funding unless qualified.)
More minority sport development officers (SDOs) / employment opportunities;
More minority coaches;
Concentrate resources in inner city / socially disadvantaged areas;
Make activities more available / attractive / classes for specific groups;
Charge / lower admission / membership cost / taster days;
Change attitudes / raise awareness / use of role models.
(Do not accept increased media coverage.)
How can schools encourage more females to take part in physical activity?
Make PE interesting / fun / enjoyable / rewards;
Single sex / female only groups;
Offer a wider range of activities / noncontact / non-competitive sports.
(accept examples of possible activities)
Other roles and leadership / coaching opportunities;
Suited to modern / fashion / cultural / image needs / relaxed dress code;
Offer clubs / extra curricular activities.
(Different from C – outside of P.E. lessons.)
Advertise / posters;
Inspirational teachers;
Improve links with local clubs / associations;
Emphasise importance of a healthy lifestyle;
Sports Ambassadors / role models.
Some groups in society are less involved in sport and physical activity than other groups.
Give three reasons for the lower participation rates among some ethnic minority groups.
Racial) discrimination / prejudice;
Not encouraged / actively discouraged by parents / peers.
(Fear of discrimination.)
(Accept preference for academic work.)
Low status / priority given to sport;
Links to lower socio-economic status / finance / transport;
Conflict with religious customs / observance / dress code;
Lack of role models / lack of media coverage / fewer coaches;
Stereotyping / channelling.
(Misconception that certain ethnic groups suit certain activities.)
The Sport England Active People Survey of 2006 showed that approximately 9% of people
with a disability participate regularly in sport compared with 23% of the rest of the population.
(i) Suggest reasons for this lower participation rate for people with a disability.
Safety concerns / medically considered dangerous;
Stereotype / lower expectations by society;
Self perception / low self esteem / feel inferior / less confident;
Lack of specialised coaches / trained staff;
Lack of specialist / adapted / suitable or equivalent facilities / access ramps
/ equipment;
Discrimination;
Lack of competition / clubs / teams;
Lack of: mobility / transport / disposable income;
Lack of information / poor media coverage / lack of role models.
(ii) Opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in ‘competitive sport’ have increased
in recent years. Give reasons for this increased opportunity.
Equal opportunities / less discrimination / Disability Discrimination Act;
Adapted activities / modified activities / own sports / technological advancements;
Increased expectations of disabled people / raising standards of performance eg
Paralympics;
More knowledge of coaches / trained staff;
Organisations such as Disability Sport England / Sport England / English
Federation of Disability Sport / specialised governing bodies;
Growth in clubs / mainstream school – PE lessons;
Media / increase in role models.
The figure below shows the increase in the number of women participating in sport and
physical activity in the United Kingdom (UK) over the past 100 years.
The participation of women in physical activities often depends on whether the opportunities are
available to them.
(i) Explain the term ‘discrimination’.
Treating people differently / unfairly;
Prejudice;
Based on stereotyping / egs such as race / ethnicity / etc.
(ii) Discuss whether current opportunities for women to take part in sport and physical activity
are the same as for men.
Yes:
Women have more leisure time / less tied to home / housework;
Women have greater disposable income / greater mobility / accessibility to transport;
Women encouraged to participate on the grounds of health / fitness / weight loss;
Fits in with stereotypical ideals of women’s physique / body image;
Promoted by the media / fashionable activity / role model;
Improvement in levels of provision for some activities / more clubs;
Improvement in child care facilities / crèches;
School PE programmes promote healthy lifestyle / provide opportunities for aerobics /
conditioning activities;
Positive discrimination by local leisure centres to encourage women’s participation;
/ women only sessions;
Sport England / WSF – policy to promote sport / physical activity among under
represented groups such as women / equal opportunities.
No:
Lack of equal opportunities / male dominated sports;
Limited membership rights of clubs / membership restrictions / men only section /
fewer leagues / clubs;
Rules / regulations / preventing women / girls playing with / against men;
Sexual harassment / verbal abuse discourages participation;
Sexual stereotyping channelling girls / women into female appropriate sports;
Overlooked for top sport jobs / coaching / management / administration;
School-based PE programmes limited activities available for girls;
Less tournament earnings / sponsorship eg Wimbledon / lack of media coverage /
denigration by media / more male professionals.
Over the last 20 years, women’s participation in activities such as aerobics, resistance training
and yoga has grown. Suggest reasons for this growth.
Health / fitness / maintaining body / weight (fat) loss.
Stereotypical ideals of women’s physique / body image promoted by the media / fashionable
activity / role model / socially acceptable.
Increased leisure time.
More independence / have become less tied to home / housework / equal opportunities.
Greater disposable income.
Greater mobility / accessibility to transport.
Improvement in levels of provision / more opportunities, including at home / clubs / sessions.
Improvement in child care facilities / crèches / nurseries.
School PE programmes promote healthy lifestyle / lifelong learning / provide opportunities for
such activities.
Positive discrimination to encourage women’s participation / women only sessions / social
activity.
Sport England promotes physical activity among under-represented groups such as women
Indoor / non-competitive / non-contact.
