Research Report

Kvinder og mænd i idrættens rum

Alternative title Women and men in sports spaces

Details

Citation

Roessler K & Overbye M (2006) Kvinder og mænd i idrættens rum [Women and men in sports spaces]. University of Southern Denmark. University of Southern Denmark. http://www.sdu.dk/~/media/A7A1A945019B4A609F6F5D1D3902756A.ashx

Abstract
Introduction (translated via Google): Women in sport, and men in sport. They play ball, dance and strength coach. Women and men use sports facilities. They go to gyms, they use halls, and they run in the woods. But do they use the sports facilities in the same way? Do they see and sense the physical environment in the same way? And do they make the same demands on the facilities? These questions are the starting point for the study "Women and men in the sport space”. The study deals with facility design and psychological impact on motivation, barriers and needs. The survey results may be helpful to the design and the location of future sports facilities. To deal with sports facilities from women's response pattern is a new field in politics and research. There is research on gender and sports, and also about sex and architecture. There is available research on the human impact of architecture and better spaces for sports and movement. But women's experience of sport facilities - ie coupling between facilities, sports, women and psychology - can be described as a relatively unexplored area. Therefore, in the phase field the study developed four scenarios, which forms the basis for the survey questionnaire. The hypotheses formulated by an expert group, consisting of architect Mette Mogensen, Culture and SportsAnlægsfonden, architect Dorthe Mandrup, fitness instructor Bettina Borg and psychologist Kaya Roessler, University of Southern Denmark. The first hypothesis deals with modesty. It is the assumption that women's modesty limits are different than men, and the layout of the facilities must take this into account if women need to feel good. The second hypothesis deals with security. Women's sense of insecurity - for example in dark, deserted areas - affect their choice of sports place and sports activity. Insecurity will arise when they move alone, especially during the dark hours. The third hypothesis concerns the device. For that women must want to stay on at the sports facility (or come back), it is crucial that all spaces are maintained and supports their sport pattern and preferences. A particular point is the cleanliness, which is particularly regarded as an important factor for women's well-being in physical space. The fourth and final hypothesis concerns multifunctionality. Women - especially women with fewer children - are expected to be more active, the sport instead can satisfy several needs simultaneously, eg childcare, own activity and opportunity for social contacts. Taking the time for their own activity can give conscience problems for other tasks. Therefore, the impact on the choice of sports activity and recreational place that it is possible to connect various chores. To elucidate the four hypotheses about women's response to sport facilities, Culture and SportsAnlægsfonden asked Southern University to conduct this study. The survey was conducted between January and August 2006. The results are based on a survey, which includes 758 women and 258 men. The study says the angle of incidence "sex" is in the centre, and the emphasis is on women's experiences. However, it is important comparing women's and men's reactions to check whether there are some specific female needs and expectations.

StatusPublished
Publication date31/08/2006
PublisherUniversity of Southern Denmark
Publisher URLhttp://www.sdu.dk/…D1D3902756A.ashx