Gender and Sports After School

Too frequently, girls gravitate to one fitness activity and boys to another. Researchers found that when children are given choices between activities that seen as “for boys” or “for girls,” most will choose what’s “expected” of their gender.

But kids who always focus on the same activities limit their ability to develop new skills in partnership with members of the opposite sex. Here’s what you can do to level the gender playing field.

Neutralize the draw of single-sex activities.

Instead of giving students activity options that may polarize kids along gender lines, present options that are more gender neutral (like parachute games or capture the flag). Alternatively, to ensure everyone tries new things, introduce the whole group to activities like hopscotch and jump-roping some days and to kickball and flag football other days.

Give a primer on the basics.

Like many of us, kids go with what they know, and to enjoy something new they need to be good at it. Start by teaching kids to catch, throw, or bat -- before you try the full-scale baseball game. Introduce kids to the “grapevine” and the “knee lift” before you ask them to make their own aerobic videos.

Present new perspectives.

Kids like to see role models of their own gender succeeding at activities, so go attend a women’s basketball game or have male hip hop dancers visit your program.

Let kids explore a variety of leadership roles themselves when game time starts. Everyone should try out the roles of pitcher, goalie, baton twirler, and coach. 

Source: Achieving Gender Equity in the Gym and on the Playing Field (WFD Consulting, 2002).