Fears of Rising Credit Costs in Japan Prompt JIA to Seek Rating
Japan Investment Adviser Co., the first unrated company in the nation to sell publicly offered bonds, is preparing
2023-10-12 12:22
FTX Latest: ‘Intercompany Stuff’ Tracked Loans to FTX Executives
Alameda Research co-Chief Executive Officer Caroline Ellison took the stand for a second day on Wednesday in the
2023-10-12 03:15
Birkenstock stumbles on Wall Street as traders find sandal maker's shares too pricey
Birkenstock shares are tumbling as the stock makes its debut on the New York Stock Exchange as Wall Street trades in its wingtips for sandals for a day
2023-10-12 02:19
Biden Is Going After ‘Junk Fees.’ Here’s What That Means
President Joe Biden is expanding his crackdown on so-called “junk fees,” or charges that raise the prices of
2023-10-12 01:17
The power dynamic in labor has shifted and pickets are seemingly everywhere. But for how long?
From auto production lines to Hollywood, the power of labor unions is back in the national spotlight
2023-10-11 23:29
Scientists pry a secret from the `Mona Lisa' about how Leonardo painted the masterpiece
The “Mona Lisa” has given up a secret
2023-10-11 22:53
Birkenstock set for its stock market debut as Wall Street trades in its wingtips for sandals
Birkenstock is making its debut on the stock market as Wall Street trades in its wingtips for sandals for a day
2023-10-11 21:21
PE ‘enjoyment gap’ widens for girls: Why it matters and how we can help
The number of girls who say they enjoy school PE lessons has dropped over the last six years, new figures suggest. Less than two in three (64%) female pupils said they liked taking part in PE, compared with 86% of boys, according to the survey by the Youth Sport Trust charity – a drop from 74% of girls in 2016/17. The PE ‘enjoyment gap’ was even bigger for secondary school students – just 59% of girls in this age range said they enjoy PE. Nearly 25,000 pupils in England aged seven to 18 were polled by the charity. And 64% of the female respondents said they want to be more active at school but there are barriers getting in their way – including not feeling confident, having their period, being watched by others and worrying about how they look. Ali Oliver, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: “We must be absolutely committed to understanding the experiences of young women and girls, how these are constantly changing in a complicated world, and be better at working with them to address the barriers they face. “At a time of unprecedented low levels of social and emotional wellbeing, we know getting things right for girls in PE can be life-changing.” Listening to girls’ concerns It’s a topic that strikes a chord with many experts from this field. “It is so important to listen to girls’ concerns when it comes to the barriers they are experiencing, because we know these barriers are something that can stay with them throughout adolescence and into adulthood,” Vicky Fitzgerald, health improvement lead at health and wellbeing charity Nuffield Health, told the PA news agency. “Research has suggested that women in particular face more barriers to fitness than men, citing impacts such as a lack of time, motivation and knowledge, as well as caregiving responsibilities. By addressing these concerns from a young age, we are then able to support where needed, identify solutions, or provide alternatives to reignite engagement.” Wider benefits As the Youth Sport Trust highlights, the benefits of sports and PE are far-reaching. Charlotte Fray, rugby player with Leicester Tigers Women and a sports coach at Leicester Grammar School, agreed: “Sport is massive for confidence and forming lasting friendships. For young girls especially, if they enjoy what they’re doing they are going to have more confidence. “It’s a great way to remove any stressors from their life and have time to switch off, whilst discovering a love for sports.” Alex Caird, school games organiser at charitable trust, SASP (the Somerset Activity & Sport Partnership), added: “School sport is an incredibly valuable tool to teach life skills that are transferable from classroom to sporting environments and back again, and it is fundamental that these opportunities are tailored to the young people we aim to impact.” Shifting mindsets Caird believes making accessibility part of the culture of PE and sports lessons plays an important part. “At SASP, we not only empower more students to get involved and feel confident, but also school staff to see the difference physical activity makes to their own teaching confidence, to try new things and seek out further opportunities for their students to flourish and grow,” Caird explained. “We’re determined to use sport as a vehicle to drive this healthier lifestyle change, as well as build physical activity into a healthy school culture that sees the benefits of holistic experiences for all young people in any activity, not just the ‘traditional’ sporting calendar setup.” Education around women’s health also needs to be a priority... Fitzgerald meanwhile added: “Education around women’s health also needs to be a priority. An understanding of menstrual cycles and how they impact young girls, confidence/self-esteem concerns, questions around skills or ability – having an understanding of how all of these impacts can affect an individual removes the pressure or fear of them having to explain it.” The power of role models Dr Jackie Day-Garner, associate dean of the School of Health, Social Work and Sport at University of Central Lancashire, believes setting positive examples is key. “An active mother, parent, or teacher in the early years can help to influence positive behaviours around physical activity. And role models such as social media influencers or female athletes could help teenage girls to engage more in sport,” she said. “We’ve already seen the increase in the visibility of female sport on television, with England netballers contesting a World Cup final and the Lionesses winning the Euros and becoming finalists in the World Cup. We’ve also seen prolific sports women wanting to empower girls to play sport. For example, Leah Williamson speaking at the UN assembly about the topic.” While Fray believes having “different kinds of role models” helps inspire girls to find activities they’ll enjoy. “Rugby is great for this, as there is so many different shapes and sizes within the game, that everyone can find a role model. Girls can realise they don’t have to fit a certain category to play sport. There are so many different sports out there,” she added. Widening the options Fitzgerald believes we also need to show girls from a young age that there are lots of different ways to be active. “If PE isn’t enjoyable, try to find an alternative which introduces exercise in a less-pressured environment. Programmes such as Nuffield Health’s Move Together is an example,” she said. “These free classes are specifically designed as a solution for the barriers that young girls have cited. “They are available in local communities and offer a multitude of classes, from Zumba to HIIT, strength training, cardio classes and more, to inspire young girls to find a type of movement they enjoy.” The choice of activities available in high schools is also important, added Day-Garner. “There has been too much emphasis on organised sport. It might be more appropriate to look at what activities girls are likely to engage with when they leave school, as women often a re-engage with exercise in their early 30s.They might join a gym or leisure centre, or participate in classes such as Zumba.” Read More The psychology of Big Brother: How to survive in the house How to support someone coming out in their 30s and beyond Israel-Hamas conflict: How to talk to teenagers about distressing news stories Autumn décor ideas for a seasonal refresh Why you shouldn’t tidy your garden too much in autumn World Mental Health Day: 5 ways to beat anxiety and change your life
2023-10-11 21:18
How to complain about your upcoming student loan bill
On the bumpy road to repayment this fall, student loan borrowers have some qualms
2023-10-11 20:58
A $245 Billion Selloff Signals Less Sparkly Future for Luxury Stocks
The wealthy shoppers who fueled LVMH’s rise to Europe’s most valuable company and made its founder the world’s
2023-10-11 20:27
The days of rising interest rates could soon be over
Policymakers at the Federal Reserve are feeling optimistic that a rise in long-term Treasury yields could finally put an end to the past 19 months of historic interest rate hikes meant to tamp down inflation.
2023-10-11 19:57
Disneyland Lifts Prices Up to 9%; Florida Annual Passes Rise Too
Walt Disney Co. is raising ticket prices at its Disneyland resort by up to 9% and lifting annual
2023-10-11 19:53