Gender disparities and Participation in swimming
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Date
2008
Authors
Mwihaki, G. M.
Simiyu, Njororai W. W.
Wanderi, P. M
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Makerere University
Abstract
Participation in sports and engagement in physical activities has been encouraged to all,
for its immense physiological, psychological and social benefits. Despite this,
epidemiological studies have consistently established decline in participation among
adolescents in general and gender disparities in participation in sports. This study sets out
to investigate whether there exists gender disparities in swimming participation among
adolescents in Nairobi secondary schools. Further, it set to establish some of the psychosocial
factors influencing participation in swimming across gender. The study targeted a
population of Form Three and Two students. Purposive stratified and random sampling
was used to select the sample, consisting of 24 secondary schools. Six hundred students
responded to the questionnaires. The variables considered included; facilities, funding,
significant others, religion, gender, academic load and interests in swimming, vis-a-vis
interests in other club activities. These variables were analysed interpreted and presented.
This paper highlights a section of these results which were presented in an MSc. thesis by
one of the three co-authors, supervised by the other two co-authors. From the findings,
the following recommendations were proposed: Kenya Secondary Schools Sports
Association in liaison with Kenya Swimming Federation, should organize a swimming
league in secondary schools and improve their Marketing strategies, so as to increase
sponsorship during swimming galas as this will reduce costs on schools or parents and
increase awards at stake, providing more tangible rewards that would attract and increase
participation for both boys and girls. Mixed schools should make concerted effort to
increase female participation by allocating different\!imes for girls and boys during
swimming lessons. This would increase participation as they would not be shy. Teachers
should playa more vital role in assisting girls to strike a balance between their academics
and participating in physical activities, which are both very vital in their development.
Description
Presented at the 5th all African University games Kampala 2008 pre-games conference 3rd -5th July 2008
Keywords
gender disparities, participation