National Youth and Sports Conference 2014

GENDER AND EQUALITY IN SPORTSBy Faranisese Ratu

Communications Support Officer

• Understand the difference between gender and sex

• How gender roles affect/limit the participation of women in sports

Objectives

Definition

• Sex:

The biological and physical characteristics that define men and women

• Gender:

• Usually refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women.

(definition from the World Health Organization)

Gender and Sports in Fiji

Rugby• Gender norm-A man’s

sports• Flying Fijians, 7s, 15s,

Netball• Gender norm-A woman’s

sports• Netball Fiji, Fiji Pearls

Women playing Rugby• Society deems this as a

men’s sports and so when women play it there is a lot of discrimination with these girls.

• There are a lot of negative labels such as tomboys, lesbians, ‘panikeke’

Men playing Netball• Men playing netball also

face discrimination of all sorts.

• Labels such as “qauri”, “qito o ratou na fairy”, etc

Gender Inequalities in Sports

GIRLS PROGRAMME

• FWRM is an NGO that runs a program called “Girls” under the Young Women’s Intergenerational Leadership Programme- 10-12 year olds.

Central ChiefsFWRM Sponsored their Jerseys and their sports equipments

• For young women to express more confidence and have agency over their bodies

• To see young women taking in informal or formal leadership roles on youth groups, religious groups, etc

• Parents, guardians and friends to see the importance of young women’s empowerment.

• To engage girls to participate and gave equal opportunity and gain respect in sports where they are not discriminated against.

• To teach and develop skills in touch rugby

• Develop girls commitment and participation in a public outdoor activity.

REASONS FOR GIRLS PROGRAM

• Society’s perspective needs to change

• Change in schools’ curriculums-

• Media needs to give enough exposure to all sports regardless of who is playing.

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