This Girl Can VIC week (22-28 March) – empowering women of all ages to get active

This Girl Can VIC week (22-28 March) – empowering women of all ages to get active

Now in its fourth year, VicHealth’s This Girl Can is an empowering campaign designed to inspire women to get more physically active – however, wherever and whenever they choose, without being judged. Women’s relationships and attitudes towards their bodies is often heavily influenced by experiences they’ve had in their younger years.

According to recent research, as girls grow older they report lower levels of enjoyment, confidence, competence and understanding of their bodies, particularly during the teenage years.

Over 90% of girls surveyed reported insufficient levels of physical activity, with a marked decrease in sport participation by girls during the 12–14 years of age and from 17+ years.

It has been acknowledged that girls face many barriers in their physical activity journey, the majority of which are an emotive response to their personal lived experience. These barriers can be:

• Body image – one in four girls are unhappy with their body image at 11–14 years of age, and this increases to one in three girls by the time they reach 14–16 years.
• Low confidence – girls who participate in physical activity at school identified low confidence and a dislike of being watched as significant barriers, particularly at 14–16 years as they enter puberty.
• Gender constraints – gender constraints and expectations can negatively influence adolescent girls’ involvement in sport.
• Feeling uncomfortable – girls from culturally diverse backgrounds are less likely than their peers to be physically active primarily based on feeling uncomfortable.

Schools have a vital role to play in supporting young women to develop physical literacy which in turn, can lead to them becoming more physically active with healthier attitudes towards their body. At times the role of the school is undervalued. A whole-school approach underpinned by quality HPE and which embraces daily play, sport and physical activity can support enhanced physical literacy outcomes for girls.

Take a look at our infographic developed in collaboration with Victoria University and the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation (Change Our Game), to better understand what the barriers to participation are, why they exist, and how we can work together as communities to help change young women’s attitudes for the better.

So, with This Girl Can VIC week coming up from 22-28 March, schools, physical activity providers, clubs, gyms, facilities and organisations are encouraged to offer fun, beginner-friendly and come-and-try events for women in their area.

Want to get involved? Learn how you can inspire more women to get more active via the This Girl Can VIC website, register as a Campaign Supporter to access the This Girl Can – Victoria Campaign Supporter Toolkit  and visit the Getting More Women Active supporter hub.

Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or get in touch at this girlcan@vichealth.vic.gov.au.