University Name: Social Barriers to Physical Activity Report

This report delves into the social barriers that impede physical activity and public health, focusing on the impact of societal norms and the role of campaigns such as 'This Girl Can.' The report highlights the misconception that sports are a masculine activity, which, along with concerns about body image, deters individuals from engaging in physical activities. It emphasizes the need for initiatives that promote awareness and encourage healthy habits like jogging, swimming, yoga, and cycling. Furthermore, the report suggests leveraging social media platforms to counter misconceptions and foster a more active society. By addressing these social constraints, the report advocates for improved public health on a global scale, emphasizing the importance of overcoming these barriers to create a healthier community.

Running head: SOCIAL BARRIERS TO AN ACTIVE SOCIETY
SOCIAL BARRIERS TO AN ACTIVE SOCIETY
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Topic: Social barriers to an active society, a study on ‘This Girl Can’.
This Girl Can was a campaign launched by Sport England, once in 2015 and the next
time in 2017. This campaign aimed at encouraging the women to participate in physical
activity and respond to the growing health concerns in the world. The campaign features
realistic women with imperfect body shapes rather than displaying toned physiques of sports-
persons. A recent announcement stated that the campaign would soon be launched in
Australia through a partnership with the Australian health organization, VicHealth
(Abc.net.au 2019).
Although women are encouraged to be more active through this campaign, there are
many social obstacles that hinder the society from becoming active. The major social barrier
to the improvement of public health is that, sports is often wrongly considered a masculine
activity. This conception entails that women do not need to be active or gave muscular
physiques. Societal norms and constraints often restrict women to step out and participate in
physical activities on the grounds of inferior stamina and strength, as compared to men.
Another social barrier to physical activity is the misconception regarding involvement in
sports as unacceptable or unproductive. Consciousness about body shape also causes people
to abstain from community physical activities (Awadallah et al. 2014).
Public health is a matter of concern in the modern age that is stricken with ailments
and diseases. Physical activity should be promoted to ensure a healthy lifestyle in the society.
The social barriers pertaining to this issue can be overcome by spreading awareness about the
need for an active society, through campaigns like This Girl Can. Simple activities like
jogging, swimming, yoga and cycling can be practiced by men and women alike, thereby
inculcating healthy habits. Social media platforms can also contribute in spreading awareness
among the youth of the society so that misconceptions and social constraints do not delude

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them. The social barriers to an active society should be broken, as public health concerns the
global community at large.

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References:
Abc.net.au (2019). 'I jiggle therefore I am': Viral UK sports campaign for women comes to
Australia. [online] ABC News. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-25/this-
girl-can-sports-campaign-for-women-comes-to-australia/8740124 [Accessed 31 Jul. 2019].
Awadalla, N.J., Aboelyazed, A.E., Hassanein, M.A., Khalil, S.N., Aftab, R., Gaballa, I.I. and
Mahfouz, A.A., 2014. Assessment of physical inactivity and perceived barriers to physical
activity among health college students, south-western Saudi Arabia. Eastern Mediterranean
Health Journal, 20(10).

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