Active, Healthy Living: Gender Equity Policy

Why Is The Nova Scotia Office of Health Promotion, Sport and Recreation committed To Gender Equity?

A commitment to gender equity works to increase the participation of girls and women in sport, recreation and active living.

Fact

In Nova Scotia:

• 36 per cent of females in the 18-24 age group pursue no physical activity
• 42 per cent are involved in light sport activity
• only 22 per cent are involved in strenuous sport activity sufficient to derive cardiovascular health benefits
• 66 per cent of women over age 65 are physically inactive (49 per cent of men over 65 are physically inactive)
  - N.S. Department of Health, 1995 N.S. Health Survey

• 34 per cent of executive committee volunteers on provincial sport and recreation boards are women
• only 21 per cent of presidents of provincial sport and recreation organizations are women
  - GE Working Committee, 1996

• 32 per cent of certified coaches are female (compared to 45 per cent in Canada)
  - Canadian Coaching Association, 1997

What is the SRC's action plan?

SRC plans to:

• Increase the number of women in leadership roles in sport and recreation
• Increase participation and involvement of females in sport and recreation
• Increase awareness in females of the benefits of sport and recreation activities
• Increase recognition of achievements of girls and women
• Increase awareness of gender equity issues within Government

What is the SRC's vision on gender equity?

• The SRC, and partners, will create a provincial environment in which: all girls and women see themselves, and are recognised by others, as participants, athletes, players, coaches, officials, managers, decision-makers and leaders in sport, recreation and active living; resources and opportunities are equitably distributed and meet the needs of girls and women; and all girls and women have reasonable access to a full range of opportunities in safe and welcoming environments.

Who Benefits?

• Girls, Women
• Families
• Communities
• Societies
• Governments
• Everyone

What are some of the benefits of sport, recreation and active living for girls, women, and families?

Promoting gender equity helps to:

• Encourage participation
• in group activities
• Develop self-esteem
• Develop skills
• Improve social, emotional
• and physical health
• Enhance mental acuity
• Encourage involvement
• in community
• Develop leadership

What are the benefits of increasing access for women?

• Improves community relations
• Reduces health care costs
• Promotes new skills
• Promotes talent

What actions are being taken by SRC?

Advocacy and Change

The SRC will ensure equitable distribution of resources and opportunities to girls and women when developing, delivering and evaluating programs. The NSSRC will lead the sport and recreation community and government institutions to work to this end.

Participation

SRC, and its partners, will work towards increasing the participation and involvement of girls and women in sport, recreation and active living.

Education and Awareness

SRC and its partners will promote and educate women and girls about the benefits of:
• participating in sport and recreation activities;
• reducing negative attitudes and myths about female abilities and social roles; and,
• recognizing the achievements of girls and women in sport and recreation.

Support Services

SRC and its partners will work toward identifying and eliminating barriers that limit the participation of girls and women in sport and recreation.

Leadership

In partnership with the sport and recreation community, SRC's provincial sport and recreation policies and programs will aim at increasing the number of girls and women in leadership roles in sport and recreation.

Resource Allocation

SRC will encourage its partners to work towards equitable distribution of iscal, physical, and human resources within the sport, recreation and active living community.

Safe and Welcoming Environments

SRC, in cooperation with its partners, will work towards creating welcoming, safe and harassment-free environments for all girls and women involved in sport, recreation and active living.

For further information, please contact:

Nova Scotia Office of Health Promotion, Sport and Recreation
P.O. Box 864
5516 Spring Garden Road
2nd Floor
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 1G6
Tel: (902) 424-7512
Fax: (902) 424-0520
e-mail: hlfxgnrl.spor.strickcl@gov.ns.ca