If we do Parkrun as a family, my husband shoots off into the distance as soon as the whistle sounds, leaving me to coax the children round. While my exercise is limited to blocks of 20 or 30 minutes, snatched between work and childcare, he exercises instead of doing childcare.
I’m one of the lucky ones: there are many women living in the UK whose husbands, or cultures, stop them from exercising altogether. I also know he’d swap if I asked – he just doesn’t think of it first. This is very important because, according to the team behind I Will if You Will – the Bury Council-led initiative aimed at women – I’m not alone in this. In fact, this is one of the common barriers to many women being active: mothers are conditioned to put their children first. If childcare options or family activities aren’t available, they therefore don’t exercise.
There was a general consensus among the women on this panel that there needs to be a cultural shift whereby husbands and partners are supportive of women exercising.
But equally, the industry can also do its bit to make it easier for women. Allowing mums to bring babies in car seats into studio classes or poolside would be helpful, as would running sessions all the family can join; offering childcare; or putting on an adult class or swimming session that coincides with a kids’ swimming lesson or activity.
There’s a refreshing level of energy around the bid to get women active. Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign looks set to be a gamechanger, opening up conversations with all sorts of women’s brands from outside the industry. I Will if You Will – a project that encouraged women to support each other to become more active, and that inspired This Girl Can – had great success in its first phase, getting 7,500 women active. As it moves into phase two, it wants to take this further, working with more clubs.
So, is your club welcoming to women? What images are you using in publicity?
Is your timetable convenient, your receptionist welcoming? Do you offer hair straighteners? What else could you do?
How can we get more women, more active? Email us: [email protected]
