My daughter is now 3 and is into absolutely everything. Whilst she has been growing up, I have always been very conscious of being as neutral as possible when it comes to toys and games. She is a big fan of all things pink, princesses and ponies – toys that you would traditionally classify as ‘girls toys’, but at the same time, loves cars, paw patrol, trains and dinosaurs, toys that many would label as aimed at boys. I will always let her decide what she wants to play with, as for me toys should not be gender specific.
She recently started gymnastics classes after becoming besotted during the Olympics, but I am also considering a football class at weekends, as she loves a kick around with her Dad – and has a remarkably good first touch for someone so petite! 🙂
When I read about the FA’s recent initiative to get more girls interested in football, I nearly spat out my cereal. I understand the challenge. The FA has a target and are committed to double female participation in football by 2020. With the olympics being so popular, the U.K. has seen increase popularity in sports such as swimming and cycling – yet football numbers are remaining relatively static.
So what were there ideas to encourage girls to play?
– colourful bibs – which should be ‘clean and smell nice’
– stamps and prizes including pocket mirrors and pink wristbands
– mobile phone and social media breaks during training
No, I am not joking. These were actual suggestions from the FA and according to their ‘experts’ are based on case studies and research into girls who do not currently play.
I would love to know how many girls were actually surveyed as I find it hard to believe that a girl would be motivated to play in return for a chance to look at her reflection in a pocket mirror!!!
Contrary to being a positive initiative for girls in sport I personally find this incredibly insulting – stepping back in time in terms of gender equality and sexism.
Well here’s a newsflash to the FA – not all girls like pink. Guess what? Some boys like pink too! My daughter would much rather receive a football or work towards winning an inflatable goal to take home than a piece of plastic pink tat that would get thrown in the bin within the week. How about offering sport related prizes that reward children for getting fully encapsulated by the sport? Prizes for the best headers, best dribbling, best defence?? How about you encourage a passion in sport over and above a passion in social media!? Quite frankly absurd!!
What are your thoughts on this initiative? Do you have girls? Do they like football? What would motivate your girls to play?
