THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS FOR YOUNG GIRLS

In the world of sports, it is no secret that professional female athletes are undervalued and underpaid compared to their male counterparts. For the younger generation of female athletes, it is clear that they are not getting the same amount of money and effort given to boy athletes. According to the Women’s Sport Foundation, by the age of the age of 14 young girls are twice as likely to drop sports compared to young boys. This is mainly due to several factors: social stigmas/gender stereotypes, lack of access, safety and transportation issues, and lack of positive role models. Today, there are still large gender equality gaps in high school sports throughout schools in the United States even with Title IX. A few years ago, the National Women’s Law Center analyzed federal data from over 16,000 high schools in the US and found that nearly 30% of those schools still have large gender equality gaps in sports and that not one state in the country has achieved gender equality in sports. Also, the National federation of State High School Association states that annually boys get 1.13 million more sports opportunities than young girls.

Those statistics need to be taken seriously and need to be resolved because it is proven that sports have many beneficial effects on young girls. Studies have consistently shown that when girls participate in sports there is a positive effect on their academics, as well as other parts of their lives. Compared to female non-athletes, young girls who play sports are more likely to have higher grades, graduate college, and even score higher on standardized tests. Studies have also found that there are increased career opportunities for females that were involved in sports. One study by the Women’s Sport Foundation concluded that females who played high school sports have 14% higher annual wages. Similarly, ESPNW (ESPN Women) and EY Women Athletes Business Network conducted a survey of 400 executive business women which found that 94% of them played organized sports growing up and 74% agreed that their athlete participation prepared them for the business world and can “help accelerate a woman’s leadership and career potential.”

There are also many health benefits for young girls who participate in athletics, especially psychological benefits. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, females who regularly participate in sports have lower rates of the depressive effect, lower levels of self-derogation, and higher self-esteem compared to students who participate in other extracurricular activities. There are many other studies that clearly show the positive correlation between sport participation and the positive physical and mental health of athletes, which will set the stage for healthier development. This makes it extremely clear that supporting and giving young female athletes the same opportunities as young boys is more important than many individuals realize and seem to care.