Women in North American Sports: Why Are Young Girls Dropping Out?

Abstract

By the age of fourteen, young girls are dropping out of sports at two times the rate of boys. Society has worked towards changing this statistic by including women in the male dominated institution of organized sports, yet females are still faced with traditional stereotypes, ultimately limiting their physical expression. Women are expected not to demonstrate characteristics deemed as masculine, which often dissuades females from lifting weights, sweating, participating, and competing in sports as a whole. Although these standards have changed over the twentieth century, when the principle of femininity is brought up, women are expected to live up to their specific gender roles and face a significant wage gap. In 2015, the champions of the Women’s World Cup received $2 million while the men’s team pocketed $35 million for winning the previous year, a $33 million difference. Not to mention that the women’s team had more viewership on Fox for the same event. On top of this, society places a pressure upon its citizens to conform with the majority. The stigma in society that women participating in sport promotes homosexuality often associates female athletes as masculine, lesbian, or butch. These ignorant societal beliefs foster an unhealthy lifestyle for young girls throughout North America. While a different factor comes into play for each athlete, more often than not a tipping point is reached. Once the motivation behind these young girls dropping out of sports is universally understood, headway can be made towards ensuring women flourish in North American society.