Factors contributing to gender inequities in physical activity and campus recreation facility use

Abstract

Objective: Examine college women’s perceptions of factors contributing to gender inequities in physical activity and campus recreational facility use. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with female undergraduate students at a large university located in the Northeast of the United States. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analyses using the socio-ecological model as a conceptual framework. Results: Women (N = 18; 6 non-Hispanic White, 5 Black, 7 Asian American; 20.6 ± 1.2 years old) cited intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors impacting their physical activity and campus recreation facility use due to their gender. Built environmental factors included facility proximity, facility layout and equipment, and crowdedness. Male peers impacted women by making them feel uncomfortable/intimidated and harassed. Intrapersonal factors included a perceived lack of skills/competence/knowledge, lack of confidence, and self-consciousness. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate the need for institutions to implement and enforce policies that achieve a cultural shift in the social environment to provide equitable physical activity participation opportunities.