FEELING ‘DISGUSTING’ IN PE: YOUNG AMBASSADORS’ PERCEPTIONS OF ADOLECENT FEMALES NON-PARTICIPATION IN PE.

View/ open
Author
Rae, Natasha
Date
2015Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This study explored the perceptions of individuals that have worked within the YA
programme in Wales, about the reasons surrounding adolescent females’ nonparticipation
in PE and identifies several techniques that have been used to
overcome this issue. Sport Wales’ (SW) (2013) school sport survey has recently
outlined that the number of adolescent girls participating in Physical Education (PE)
when compared with boys is very low. Critically, without appropriate interventions,
this low level participation is likely to either remain or drop even further. It has been
suggested that Young Ambassadors (YA) in Wales, can help improve the
participation rates of adolescent females in particular schools (SW, 2013). Despite
this, the YA perceptions on the issue of low female participation in PE and their
experiences of attempting to improve the situation have not yet been academically
examined. Following a sampling procedure, four YA and one scheme coordinator
were selected to participate in semi-structured qualitative interviews in order to
assess their perceptions about the causes for the large number of adolescent girls
not participating in PE. The interviews also aimed to identify methods and
interventions they have used to tackle the problem. The interviews identified that
body image, gender norms, social issues, physical competence and teaching of PE
were all contributory factors that influenced low level participation of adolescent
females in PE. However, specific issues around body image, such as body issues,
ideal image and the media, together with the possible solutions to these issues,
emerged as the most prominent in the interviews conducted. Therefore together with
solutions to these main issues, these were selected to be analysed in greater depth.
The study found that the interventions implemented by YA had impacted on
participation. These countered some of the issues mentioned in the themes above.
However it was found that the bigger issue of societal gender norms needs to be
addressed and tackled at a macro level for a more widespread and long-lasting
improvement in girls’ participation.
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, subject and abstract.
-
What managerial approaches do Tennis clubs use to prevent drop out amongst adolescent female Tennis players
Hull, Alexandra (Cardiff Metropolitan University, 2016-03-06)This paper explored managerial approaches within tennis clubs and aimed to gather an understanding of how these approaches were used within clubs to retain adolescent female tennis players. The study looked at current club ... -
A study of secondary school female practitioners’ perceptions of the barriers affecting adolescent female participation and interest in Physical Activity in England, and how effective current initiatives are in increasing female participation in physical activity
Curson, Ellen Rose (Cardiff Metropolitan University, 2016-03-23)The importance of promoting physical activity throughout childhood and adolescence has dramatically increased in recent years, as a result of research suggesting that incorporating a healthy lifestyle from a young age can ... -
Concentrations of salivary testosterone, cortisol and immunoglobulin A following supra-maximal exercise in female adolescents
Thomas, Non E.; Leyshon, Anna; Hughes, Michael G.; Davies, Bruce; Graham, Michael R.; Bulloch, J.M.; Baker, Julien S. (Taylor & Francis, 2010)The aim of this study was to examine the effect of supra-maximal exercise on circulating concentrations of salivary testosterone, salivary cortisol, and salivary immunoglobulin A in female adolescents. Nineteen apparently ...