A Woman’s Right:  Physical Activity

Have you ever looked through the sports section of the newspaper, counted the sports items on TVNZ news for the percentage coverage of women’s sport?  It is an interesting exercise.  Sports coverage disproportionately portrays male sport and physicality.   Women’s involvement in physical activity and sport is mainly ‘invisible’.

Unfortunately, many of our social institutions, not just the media, reinforce notions of women’s passivity – girls’ schools/colleges traditionally have less outdoor facilities and grounds.  Many girls’ school uniforms do not encourage active play.  Some families tend to send girls to primary school in inappropriate dress for climbing, tumbling and racing around.  Numerous work environments and training institutions lack adequate changing and showering facilities to facilitate active lifestyles as part of daily routines.  Our physical landscapes are often ‘not safe’ for girls cycling, walking to and from school due to poor lighting, pollution and predators (animal & human).  The home has become the ‘entertainment centre’ where ‘couch potato’ status rules.  As women, have we allowed these circumstances to prescribe the way we live?

Our society is suffering.  Health issues such as obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol are reaching epidemic levels.  The solution is simple: watch what we eat (and how we cook it) and increase daily exercise and physical activity. Physical activity needs to become the norm – not the exception.  Stop making excuses – “it’s not safe, it’s too cold/dark, I don’t have the time, the kids need…”. 

Think about this issue.  Are we, as women, going to allow situations, society and others to determine our health and wellbeing? Take a leadership role, challenge and change society’s expectations.  It’s your human right to be physically active.  Women, get active – go walking, play tennis, kick a ball, dance, cycle and swim – on your own and with family, friends, and colleagues. Break the cycle.  Oh, by the way – it can be fun and so rewarding!

Lisa Hayes, YWCA World Executive Member, Pacific Region