Active Girls = Endangered Species

I never participated in sports at school, but I was fairly active. I rode my bike everywhere up until I got my first car at 16. And I did a lot of working out in my room. Let's not forget, the 80s were the days of the aerobics fitness boom. Remember The 20 Minute Workout, Mamas?

Honestly, today this show might be considered a form of soft porn. But back then ... it was groundbreaking! I would spend hours in my room coming up with my own workout routines, dressed in full aerobic regalia. I'm talking leg warmers, an off-the-shoulder T-shirt, and little white sneakers. No butt-floss leotard though. I opted for shorts.

Wow. I've never told anyone that, before. Consider yourself enlightened, Mamas!

So today, a new report from the University of Minnesota was brought to my attention. It reveals that girls are participating in organized sports in record numbers, which is great! But it also points out that outside of organized sports, girls are less active, even sedentary.

In other words, if girls aren't involved in sports through school, community youth programs or other outlets, chances are they aren't getting any physical activity at all. Which is not so great, especially when childhood obesity is such a huge issue. Girls in lower income neighborhoods are even less likely to participate in sports simply because the programs may not be available to them.

But the availability of sports programs for girls is not the only issue. As a rule, all kids tend to experience a drop in confidence in their 'tween/early teen years. This is around the same time that girls begin to feed into the stereotypes of what girls should and should not do (i.e: girls should shop, look good, and impress boys; not kick butt and take names on the soccer field or basketball court).

And let's face it, the whole sexual aspect of the female body is impossible to escape for even the most skilled athletes. Seriously, how many times have we heard comments about Serena Williams' butt, or how "smokin' hot" race car driver Danica Patrick is. That type of mentality trivializes women's participation in sports to a huge degree.

So it's great to hear that more girls are playing sports. But as always, Mama's ... we've got a ways to go.