Girls and Sports

While females were allowed to compete for the first time in the Olympics in 1900, today, girls make up less than fifty percent of high school athletes. If we're truly equal, why not fifty percent? That eight percent may seem like a small margin, but it represents thousands of girls who aren't benefitting from athletics, for whatever reasons. This collection of essays looks at some important controversies relating to girls in sports. Essays examine both sides of issues, from how gender influences participation to how participation affects girls' health. Readers will evaluate whether schools support girl's sports programs. They will analyze what the cultural implications are of girls being involved in sports. By reading more than one viewpoint on several issues, readers will be able to form intelligent opinions for themselves.