/Research Reveals Gender Stereotypes Persist in Youth Sport Attitudes
– Youth Sport Trust survey indicates increasing belief that certain sports are designated for boys or girls.
– Less than half of girls feel they have equal access to sports in school, compared to boys.
– High-profile female athletes emphasize the need for positive experiences and role models in sports.
– Social pressures and gender stereotypes negatively affect girls’ participation in physical activities.
– The Youth Sport Trust aims to address these issues through initiatives like the Equal Sport Project.
New findings from the Youth Sport Trust’s latest Girls Active survey have unveiled worrying trends regarding gendered attitudes towards sport among young pupils. The survey indicates that a growing number of children are adopting the belief that some sports are exclusively for boys, while others are meant for girls.
The survey, which examines young people’s experiences and perceptions related to physical education and sports across the UK, noted a marked increase in the number of boys who agree with the notion that “some sports are for boys and some sports are for girls.” This figure rose from 35% in the 2023/24 school year to 41% in 2025/26. Among girls, this view has also grown, from 20% to 25%. The divide is most pronounced among children aged 7 to 9, with nearly half of boys in this age group adhering to the belief that some sports are exclusively male.
These results underscore how experiences, attitudes, and external influences shape children’s perceptions, highlighting the crucial role schools play in challenging these stereotypes. Cultivating positive experiences across a diverse range of sports from an early age can help mitigate limiting gender expectations.
The research also points to the reinforcement of gender stereotypes by girls’ experiences of unequal access to sports and physical activities at school. Key findings include:
– Only around half of girls report having the same access to sports equipment and facilities outside of physical education classes as their male peers.
– Similarly, only about half feel they have equal opportunities to engage in desired sports and activities outside of PE.
– Less than half of girls believe they have the same range of sports and activities available to them as boys during PE.
Despite the recent surge in visibility and success of elite women’s sports, this data suggests that such progress has not translated into young people’s everyday experiences and perceptions of sports. Rather than moving towards equality, the trend appears to be regressing.
Olympic medallist and middle-distance runner Georgia Hunter Bell remarked, “Having visible role models to look up to is a big factor in inspiring young girls and showing them they belong in sport. But we also need to turn that inspiration into positive experiences of sport at a young age.”
Reflecting on her own journey, Team GB weightlifter Sarah Davies stated, “When I started weightlifting in 2011, it was still a very male-dominated sport. Seeing women succeeding in a sport like weightlifting should make a huge difference to whether a young girl now thinks, ‘that could be me’. No child should feel a sport is off limits because of their gender.”
The research highlights broader social pressures that affect girls’ participation in sports, with many reporting feelings of judgment and intimidation. Approximately 47% of less active girls attributed their reluctance to negative gender-stereotyped comments from boys, while 59% voiced that negative remarks from other girls focused on their appearance.
Ali Oliver MBE, Chief Executive of Youth Sport Trust, expressed concern over the data: “It’s really concerning our latest Girls Active Survey results reveal a growing trend for girls and boys to see some sports belonging to a single gender. This can result in young people internalising harmful stereotypes from a young age limiting their aspirations, ambitions, and experiences.”
In response to these findings, the Youth Sport Trust is preparing to launch the Equal Sport Project, a UK-wide initiative aimed at promoting equality in women and girls’ sports. To aid schools in combatting gender stereotypes, Women in Sport offers resources for educators on how to foster inclusive environments.
