A presentation by the Fiji Women Rights Movement's Communication's Officer - Faranisese Ratu on GENDER AND EQUALITY IN SPORTS

1. National Youth and Sports
Conference 2014
GENDER AND EQUALITY IN SPORTS
By Faranisese Ratu
Communications Support Officer

2. • Understand the difference between gender
and sex
• How gender roles affect/limit the
participation of women in sports
Objectives

3. Definition
•Sex:
The biological and physical characteristics that define men and
women
• Gender:
•Usually refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours,
activities, and attributes that a given society considers
appropriate for men and women.
(definition from the World Health Organization)

4. Gender and
Sports in Fiji
Rugby
• Gender norm-A man’s
sports
• Flying Fijians, 7s, 15s,
Netball
• Gender norm-A woman’s
sports
• Netball Fiji, Fiji Pearls

5. Women playing Rugby
• Society deems this as a
men’s sports and so
when women play it there
is a lot of discrimination
with these girls.
• There are a lot of
negative labels such as
tomboys, lesbians,
‘panikeke’
Men playing Netball
• Men playing netball also
face discrimination of all
sorts.
• Labels such as “qauri”,
“qito o ratou na fairy”, etc
Gender Inequalities in Sports

6. GIRLS
PROGRAMME
• FWRM is an NGO
that runs a program
called “Girls” under
the Young Women’s
Intergenerational
Leadership
Programme- 10-12
year olds.

7. Central Chiefs
FWRM Sponsored their Jerseys and their sports equipments

8. • For young women to
express more confidence
and have agency over
their bodies
• To see young women
taking in informal or
formal leadership roles on
youth groups, religious
groups, etc
• Parents, guardians and
friends to see the
importance of young
women’s empowerment.
• To engage girls to
participate and gave
equal opportunity and
gain respect in sports
where they are not
discriminated against.
• To teach and develop
skills in touch rugby
• Develop girls commitment
and participation in a
public outdoor activity.
REASONS FOR GIRLS PROGRAM

9. • Society’s perspective
needs to change
• Change in schools’
curriculums-
• Media needs to give
enough exposure to
all sports regardless
of who is playing.
Recommendations