Mick Hartley

From the Times today – ‘Deep-rooted stereotypes’ put teenage girls off sport:

More than a million girls who describe themselves as “sporty” lose interest in exercise after they leave primary school, according to a report.

A lack of self-belief and body-image concerns were among the reasons given for the decline. Before International Women’s Day tomorrow, the charity Women In Sport polled more than 4,000 teenagers about their physical activity.

Stephanie Hilborne, its chief executive, said that teenage girls were being “pushed out of sport as a consequence of deep-rooted gender stereotypes”.

They're also being pushed out by the increasing number of men-claiming-to-be-women now competing in women's sport. What's the point in playing sports – an essentially competitive activity – if you know you're never going to win against biological males? Record-breaking Penn University swimmer Lia Thomas is just the tip of the iceberg.

More than three quarters (78 per cent) of previously sporty girls said that they avoided games when on their period. Overall, 70 per cent of girls said that they avoided sport when menstruating, citing pain, tiredness, self-consciousness or fearing leaks as a reason for avoiding exercise.

The pandemic has increased teenage girls’ worries about their appearance, as well as highlighting mental health issues, the report said. Girls were less likely than boys to take part in team sports. “Worryingly, girls lose their love of sport and exercise during teenage years,” it said. “This presents a psychological barrier throughout life.”

The survey found that all girls struggled with self-belief and body image concerns. This was especially true for girls who stopped taking part in sport and physical activity as they grew older.

Of previously sporty girls, 73 per cent said that their dislike of others watching them play was an obstacle.

It's hardly helped by, for instance, sports like beach volleyball, where in the Olympics women have to wear skimpy bikinis, while men dress in baggy shorts & singlets. 

But exercise is more than just sport. I see at least as many women joggers now as men – more, if anything. And though I have no figures to prove it, I'd be willing to bet that more women go to yoga classes than men.