Prevalence of Mainstream Gender-Related Issues in Sports: Female Student Athletes’ Perceptions

Abstract

This study aims to examine female student athletes’ perceptions on gender-related issues in sports through a quantitative survey. Three hundred and forty-two (N=342) female student athletes studying physical education in under graduate courses were selected from different colleges of Sikkim. Gender-related issues were assessed by using questionnaire based on Likert scale developed by Jafrey (1995). Out of forty-three items in the scale, ten items were selected as relevant for assessing perceptions of female student athletes regarding gender issues in sports. Percentage analysis of responses to each statement was calculated. Result showed that the perception of the female student athletes about the gender-related issue (see table-1) in sports is mostly positive; it means that the gender-related problems do exists in sports. Female student athletes opined that the gender-related problems restrict women’s participation in sports. The study also revealed that female student athletes disagreed with the notion that vigorous participation in games and sports leads to loss of femininity among women. This finding suggests that it is necessary to make improvements in support system for female student athletes of colleges for their participation in sports.

Keywords

• Female students,athletes,gender,sports

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