LEE WARREN
POLICY
Project Manager Women in Sport
Building male allies for women’s sport
T
The formative years of your life, and the experiences you have, help to build attitudes, perceptions and behaviours that will live with
The DADs programme breaks down gender norms
you for a lifetime. Parents are significant influences in young people’s lives, and it’s vital they understand their role in creating positive lifelong experiences and memories through sport and exercise for their children. Girls don’t grow up hating sport, it’s the wider influences across society that often tells girls that sport isn’t for them. The continual reinforcement that they aren’t good enough, sport is for boys or the constant messaging that girls should be valued on their appearance. Why do we let this be the norm? Why can’t girls be defined by how they use their body rather
“IT’S THE WIDER INFLUENCES ACROSS SOCIETY THAT OFTEN TELL GIRLS THAT SPORT ISN’T FOR THEM”
than how it looks? Why can’t girls be valued for being strong and determined? These
The Daughters and Dads Active and
unhealthy and constraining values that
Empowered (DADs) programme at Women
have been placed on girls drive negative
in Sport breaks down these outdated gender
beliefs and perceptions about possibilities.
norms and expectations. Through educating and empowering the influencers in girls’ lives as well as inspiring girls themselves, we can
About Women in Sport The charity Women in
The charity has a track
create a society of opportunity, in which all girls can fulfil their ambitions and potential. We need a collective and collaborative
Sport was founded in 1984
record of success in
approach to break down the entrenched
and its vision is that no-
securing change, based on
barriers young girls face to living healthy,
one is excluded from the
its deep understanding of
happy and active lives. Gender stereotypes
joy, fulfilment and lifelong
the needs and aspirations
aren’t a problem girls and women can
benefits of sport and
of women and girls at
solve alone – men and boys need to
exercise. Recognising that
each life stage and its
stand up and be allies for change.
gender stereotypes and
determination to break
institutional bias are holding
down gender inequalities
girls, call out limiting language and behaviour
women back in life and in
through its work within the
and provide an inclusive environment. This
sport, the charity’s purpose is
sports sector and beyond.
starts with education; understanding what
to give every woman and girl
Find out more about
life looks like through a gendered lens by
the opportunity to take part
Women in Sport here:
listening to women and girls. Together we
and inspire them to do so.
www.womeninsport.org
can create an equal and equitable society. ●
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SPORTSNATION.ORG.UK MAY/JUN 2022
We need to create space for women and
