I live on BMCC road, an area which has a
huge ground overlooking the college. Whenever I pass by or go for a quick run in the
early mornings or even in the evenings, I always see groups of boys playing football or cricket. That area exudes this macho energy, similar
to a male den. The adrenaline rush pumping and the group dynamics are exhilarating
to watch, especially when they are playing football in the rains. For these
men, the outside world ceases to exist as they get down and dirty with the
football, enjoying every minute of it. This is the only time, even if a hot
chick passes by they won’t even give her a second look.
However, there is something that really
irked me. When it comes to outdoor sports, I have never seen too many women on
the ground. Even if you compare the ratio between men and women joining outdoor
sports, the disparity is disturbing. Women in India and cities especially prefer
enclosed areas like gymnasiums, aerobics or even dancing where the male ratio
is smaller. They rarely prefer to play out in the open.
If you dig deeper, I think it has lots to
do with the mentality of Indian parents where they encourage their sons to play
sports outdoors while women are encouraged to take up something indoor or more feminine
like dancing or singing. Even when I was younger and wanted to try my hand at
basketball, my parents thought Bharatnatyam which I was already learning was a
far more viable option to me as a girl. And my parents are nowhere close to
being the quintessential traditional ones. Imagine?
It really depresses me to see that I always
see fathers playing with their sons, teaching them football or cricket in the
same ground. But I have never seen them teaching it to their daughters or even
mothers teaching a sport to their sons. That’s why the new Bournvita advertisement
about how a mother races her son in the woods, instilling the winning streak in
him is like a breath of fresh air. Another great example that I can think of is
the beautiful father and daughter relationship shared in the classic movie, ‘Father
of the Bride’. The bond that Steve Martin shares with his onscreen daughter Annie
while playing basketball with her is endearing and I wish I could see more of
it in this country.
I understand academics are important and
women are already proving their mettle topping most of the merit lists.
However, I wish more parents ingrain the importance of outdoor sports in their
daughters as well. It is important that their perspective towards sports is changed.
Sports should not be looked at as only a hobby but as a medium to prepare girls
for life’s challenges. Physically, socially and emotionally, it is a great way
of empowering women, directing them towards a healthy, active and fit lifestyle.
It has several advantages like it improves your motor co-ordination, team
spirit and helps strength and character building. It is a great way to tackle
obesity and even handle depression, two problems increasing in the modern womankind.
The benefits are endless.
So go ahead and inculcate the habit of
indulging in outdoor sports in your daughter. You are training her for a better
life, for herself and future generations to come. And girls, take the initiative
and return to sports today. Words of advice though, go for one that you feel
close to and have a complete blast at it. After all, why should boys have all
the fun, right?
Photo courtesy-www.hellogiggles.com
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