The extreme gender disparities between males and females in the developing world is perhaps most pronounced during adolescence, a time when the world expands for boys and contracts for girls. In many settings, girls’ movements are restricted and participation in public life is limited. Without changing the structure of opportunity for girls it is unlikely that conventional reproductive health programs will be successful in addressing the broad health and developmental needs of adolescent girls. Without skills and collective learning experiences, adolescent girls’ roles in community life will likely remain circumscribed by restrictive male attitudes towards females.
Efforts to transform the ways girls think about themselves and the ways in which their communities perceive them is critical in building the foundation for their healthy futures. With the dual objective of bringing girls into public spaces in a socially acceptable way, and giving them a proud new sense of themselves – beginning with their physical selves – experimental sports program have been launched in several African settings. Concepts of reproductive health and rights were introduced, and skill-building and leadership training activities were program components. Both qualitative and quantitative data approaches were used to gather information on girls’ mobility and safety, time use and domestic burden, and sense of self-efficacy.
Case studies of three experimental girls sports programs in Kenya, Mali, and Egypt will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: Participants will learn what efforts have been put into place in three African settings to transform the ways girls think about themselves and the ways in which their communities perceive them so that foundation is built for more healthy futures for them and their family.
Keywords: Adolescents, International, Adolescent Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.