Photo: Simone Longpré - Vietnam

Reducing Barriers to Participation in Sport and Physical Activity for Girls & Women

Gender Mainstreaming & Sport Development

Workshop Content What are the health risks of inactivity? How does sport and physical activity contribute

to the health of girls and women? How does increasing opportunities for sport

and physical activity play a role in gender mainstreaming?

What is the culture of physical activity for girls and women in Vietnam?

What role can the GCD play in reducing barriers to physical activity for girls and women at TVU and in the community?

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Social inequality, poverty and inequitable access to resources, including health care, result in a high burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among women worldwide. Although women generally tend to live longer with NCDs than men, they are often in poor health.

World Health Organization

Physical Activity and Women

Benefits of Physical Activity for Women

Regular physical activity can improve womens' health and help prevent many of the diseases and conditions that are major causes of death and disability for women around the world. Many women suffer from disease processes that are associated with inadequate participation in physical activity:

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• Cardiovascular diseases account for one-third of deaths among women around the world and half of all deaths in women over 50 years old in developing countries.

• Diabetes affects more than 70 million women in the world and its prevalence is projected to double by 2025.

• Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break and is most prevalent in post-menopausal women.

• Breast cancer is the mostly commonly diagnosed cancer in women.

World Health Organization

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Health issues in Vietnam

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Vietnam’s Capacity to Address & Respond to NCDs

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Behavioural Risk Factors

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Physical Activity has also been associated with improved psychological health by reducing levels of stress, anxiety and depression. This is particularly important for women who demonstrate an incidence of depression that is reported to be almost double that of men in both developed and developing countries. It has also been suggested that physical activity can contribute to building self-esteem and confidence and can provide a vehicle for social integration and equality for women in society.

World Health Organization

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REASONS FOR PHYSICAL INACTIVITY IN WOMEN

Despite this, physical inactivity is generally more prevalent among girls and women than their male counterparts. Many factors hinder the participation of women in physical activity and their access to health care:

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• The income of women is often lower than that of men and therefore the costs of access to physical activity facilities may be a barrier.

• Agreement may be required from senior members of the household who control household resources before a woman can engage in physical activity.

• Women often have a workload in the home and care-giving roles for other family members which may limit the time available for them to engage in physical activity.

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• Women who have limited mobility may be unable to travel to health centres or physical activity facilities.

• Cultural expectations may restrict the participation of women in certain forms of physical activity.

World Health Organization

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In groups of 3-4:

On the left side of the page, list physical activities, sports and exercise that Vietnamese men do

On the right side of the page, list physical activities, sports and exercise that Vietnamese women do

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Gender Analysis

• How do the lists differ?

• How are they the same?

• What factors affect the choices and decisions men and women have and make for participating in physical activity and sport?

• Are there some barriers for Vietnamese girls and women to participate in sport and physical activity?

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If there are barriers, what role could the GCD play to reduce them and increase opportunities for girls and women in sport and physical activity?

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In your groups, brainstorm 2-4 initiatives the GCD could develop to reduce the barriers to

physical activity and sport for girls and women.

Remember to apply the concept of Gender Equity as you brainstorm your list!

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Applying Gender Equity to Sport and Physical Activity

• It does not necessarily mean making the same programs and facilities available to both males and females.

• Gender equity requires that girls and women be provided with a full range of activity and program choices that meet their needs, interests and experiences. Therefore, some activities may be the same as those offered to boys and men, some may be altered, and some may be altogether different.

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APPROPRIATE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR WOMEN

Although in principle women should be encouraged to increase their participation in physical activity, it is important not to overlook the fact that often in rural and in low income urban areas women may be already physically exhausted by other forms of day-long “occupational” physical activities. Women in these areas may need a better balanced set of support actions such as adequate nutrition, income generation initiatives, advice on physical activities most relevant to their specific conditions and adapted leisure pursuits.

World Health Organization

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