SPORTS PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN INDIA WOMENS IN SPORTS During the early years of ancient Olympics, women were not allowed to be a partici...
SPORTS PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN INDIA
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| WOMENS IN SPORTS |
During the early years of ancient Olympics, women were not allowed to be a participant or to even be a spectator of sports and games. Later on, many competitions were organised exclusively for women. In the modern Olympic Games, no restrictions have been put an their participation in sports competitions. Due to the anatomical and physiological differences between males and females, nowadays women athletes can participate in all the sports and games.
In 1952 Summer Olympics held in Helsinki (Finland), 60 men and 4 women participated. Mary DSouza was the first Indian women participant in 1952 Olympics.
While females have successfully competed in athletics for many years, the athletic arena has traditionally been the domain of the males. During the early 1970s, female athletics underwent a dramatic revolution. Demands were made for equality in budget, facilities, equipment, coaching and competitive opportunities which were earlier limited to only male athletes. The demand for equality of opportunities was met, but of course with reluctance. Only 14 women participated for the first time in the 1900 Olympics in Paris in two events. However, the Sydney Olympics in the year 2000, that celebrated the 100 years of women’s participation in the Olympic games, saw participation by over 4,000 women.
The centuries old belief that women should restrain themselves to domestic sphere and perform domestic activities still affects the participation of Indian women in sports.
Indian women participated in the Olympics for the first time in the year 1952. Today, we see many women athletes dominating the world of sports. Indian women olympic medallists include P.V. Sindhu (badminton) world champion 2019, Sakshi Malik (wrestling), Mary Kom (boxing), Saina Nehwal (badminton) and Kamam Maileswari (weight lifting). Karnam Malleswari is the first Indian women to win a bronze medal in weight lifting at the Olympics. Some other prominent women players who have also made India proud are P.T Usha, Mithali Raj, Anju Bobby Geogre (athletics), Sania Mirza (tennis), Tanya Sachdev (chees) and Koneru Humpi (chess), Jawala Gutta (badminton), Jhhulan Goswami (cricket), Anjali Bhagwat (shooting), Tejaswani Sawant (Archery). Their success stories play a very crucial role M motivating and inspiring thousands of upcoming sportswomen in India. These women have successfully defeated the traditional beliefs through their talent and hard work.
However, women in India are usually trapped in the domestic environment. are often stereotyped as housewives responsible for cooking, cleaning, raising children's etc. The thought of them being the weaker sex still persists in many segments of Society. The participation of women at par with men in physical activities and Violating traditions still makes people uncomfortable.
The reasons for less participation of women in sports may be as follows:
1. Lack of education: Lack of education among women is one of the major faces that influences their participation in sports. In India, the education of box receives much more importance than girls. Due to lack of education, girls are indifferent about their health and do not realise the benefits of sports for the: health and wellness.
2. Traditional outlook and views: According to traditional Indian beliefs ax dogma, women should not participate in sports because:
(i) They are physically weaker than men.
(ii) Their physical composition is not suitable for participation in sports.
(iii) Their physical and psychological qualities change when they participate in sports and they become more masculine.
(iv) They face difficulties at the time of child birth.
These stringent notions of masculinity and femininity that define the role and women are against the participation of women in sports.
3.Male dominated sports: Beginning with ancient olympics, the field of sports has been dominated by males, They receive greater fame and financial rewards than the female counterparts. Moreover, males are perceived to be better athletes
Even today certain sports events are meant exclusively for men for example 1500 m freestyle and four-man bobsleigh
4. Government policies: Lack of government policies which are focussed at improving participation of women in sports has been one of the main reasons for fewer women in sports. Lack of funds and facilities, poor coaching and education, inadequate sponsorships, etc. are some of the issues faced by women in the field of sports. The Indian government's sports policy of 2001 has been a major step towards promoting the participation of women in sports. Some of the measures taken by the government include developing play fields for girls in both rural and urban areas, providing sports equipments to female athletes, promoting sports for girls in school, etc. However, there is still a long way to go.
5.Lack of female coaches: Many sportswomen feel shy in front of male coaches and hesitate in sharing their problems. Since male coaches dominate many sports, women athletes avoid taking part in such sports. Increase in the number of female coaches is required to not only increase the participation of women in sports but also to enhance their performance.
6. Lack of proper facilities and funding: The absence of appropriate facilities such as gymnasiums, pools, fields, stadiums, equipment, etc. result in less participation of women in sports. Moreover, there are no adequate provisions for financial aid to promote sports in women’s schools and colleges. The sports budget also allocates less resources to women’s educational institutions as compared to men’s educational institutions.
7. Absence of media coverage: There is a definite lack of interest in women’s sports among a majority of spectators. The games played by men are given more media coverage than the games played by women, thereby providing no motivation to female players. Since women’s sports are not popular on television or in newspapers, very few spectators follow them. Hence, women are not motivated to participate in sports.
8. Lack of security and personal safety: One of the major issues related to women’s sports is their security and safety. The lack of security and safety while travelling on public transport, during training and in matches leads to discouragement from families. Consequently, there is poor participation of women in sports.
9. Absence of awareness about general well-being: There is lack of awareness about health and general well-being among women in india. Women are considered to be the primary caregivers for their families, but they generally ignore their own health and fitness. They are unaware of the importance of healthy habits and well-being and how participating in sports and games increases their fitness levels. Hence, there is lack of female participation in sports in India.
10. Lack of role models: Very few female Athletes get due media overage Hence lack of motivation and role models may lead girls to drop out of sports.
However the present scenario is changing and gives us hope that by going against all odds and adversities of society, Indian women will participate more in sports in the years to come.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION (MENARCHE AND MENSTRUAL DYSFUNCTION)
1. Menarche
The word ‘menarche’ refers to the first menstrual cycle or the first menstrual
in girls. From a social and medical perspective, it is considered to be the central ever of female puberty as it signals the possibility of fertility. Girls experience menarche » different ages. The average age of menarche is 12-13 years. It may also take place early at the age of 11 years or late at the age of 16 years.
2. Menstrual Dysfunction
Menstrual dysfunction means the irregularity and uncertainty in the menstrual cycle a women. It constitutes various types of disorders which are explained below:
(i) Primary amenorrhoea: This disorder takes place when menses do not occur (absence of menses) by the time of the expected menarche. In this disorder, the menstrual cycle does not start by the expected time (i.e. 16 years). This can happen due to malnutrition, stress, anxiety, hard work, etc.
(ii) Secondary amenorrhoea: It refers to the absence of menses in a women of reproductive age. Normally, this condition is observed in females during pregnancy, mothers who breastfeed their child, or after menopause. It is the absence of menses for three or more consecutive cycles. It may happen due to lack of hormones or malnutriton.
(iii) Polymenorrhea: This disorder occurs when the menstrual cycles are of 21 days or even less than that.
(iii) Metrorrhagia: It means irregular menses that occur before the period of the expected menses. Repeatedly irregular menses leads to anaemia. It is also known as break through bleeding (spotting) between periods. Some females experience stomach ache or cramps due to irregular menses.
(v) Oligomenorrhea: It refers to the infrequent and scanty menstruation at an interval of 35 days or more. This is not considered as a normal condition. Although some females this disorder may be genetic.
(vi) Dysmenorrhea: It refers to painful menses. In this disorder, the periods or menses are accompanied by sharp intermittent pain or dull aching pain mainly in lower abdomen. This is due to the contraction of muscles in the lower abdomen.
Usually, at the time of menstrual cycle, the muscles contract leading to contraction of blood vessels. But some times a chemical named, prostaglandin is produced which causes stomach ache or cramps.
Effects of Menstruation on Sports Participation
In the past it was believed that participation of women in sports during menstruation (periodic loss of blood) could harm them physiologically. But over the period of time, it has been established that rigorous athletic training and exercise neither affects thy menarche (appearance of the first menses) nor the menstruation period.
There is no evidence to relate dysmenorrhoea (painful menstruation) to physical training.
There are following effects of menstruation on sports participation:
1, However, studies show that if a female athlete has delayed menarche, low total body weight and reduced levels of fat, then heavy and intensive training programs may result in amenorrhoea (stoppage of menstruation).
2. There is evidence indicating that exercise is beneficial in relieving pain as well in improving dysmenorrhoea.
3. Reports also prove that physical performances seem to be better in the immediate post-menstrual period.
4. International and Olympic records have been set by women athletes during all phases of the menstrual cycle.
However majority of physicians agree that women should avoid vigorous athletic training during the first two days of the menstrual period because during this time their bodies undergo hormonal adjustments and they experience fatigue, depression, water retention, etc.
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