Girls failing fitness or fitness failing girls: How do girls interpret the efforts of education to provide equity in sports and athletics

It is now well documented that the level and rate of participation in physical activities among Canadian children, particularly female students, is alarmingly low.;This study was conducted in a small town school which is almost exclusively white and predominately middle class. The primary strategy for data collection was individual interviews with thirteen selected girls, nine of whom were participants on the Junior Girls Volleyball Team. These girls were 10 or 11 years old and represented a culturally homogeneous group. In addition, participant observations were made on the behaviours and interactions of these girls in their regular physical education classes and supportive data was gathered from a small group discussion with their teachers.;The data gathered in this study suggest that sexism still exists in the sports environment. Specifically, although girls were willing to be active participants in the majority of athletic activities offered, they were discouraged by the attitudes and behaviours of their male counterparts.;The girls identified contrasting behaviours of boys and girls during physical activity and found the male practice of dominating and outperforming others was more readily accepted in the field of athletics. These girls preferred to work in a "connection-seeking" manner which emphasized collaboration and minimized differences between people. Consequently the girls were also discouraged by the more subtle forms of male domination.;By restructuring existing programmes and, more importantly, fostering strategies which expose the sexism that perpetuates the oppression of our female students, educators can help create transformative possibilities within the sports culture. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...