University of Nigeria Virtual Library

Serial No ISSN: 0795-2120

Author 1 NJI G.C.

Author 2

Author 3

Title

Perception of Female Participation in Sports Among Mbutu Ngwa People of Abia State, Nigeria

Keywords

Description Journal of Health Education and Sport science (JOHESS)

Category

Education

Publisher .

Publication Date

2002

Signature

I

L OF HEALTH EDUCATION W R T SCIENCE (JOHESS) ISSN: 0795-21 20

INTOF PHYSICAL A N D WEALTH EDUCATION,

ilTY O F MAIDUGURI, NlGERlA 9

PERCEPTION OF FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS AMONG MBUTU NOWA PEOPLE OF ABlA STATE, NIGERIA

BY NJI, G.C.

Depattrnent of Health arid Physical Education, U~riversity of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Abstrac l The study was- desigtled to itives ligate people's percep lion o f letnale sports participatiol, ~ I I Mbulu Ngwa of Abia Stale, Nigeri8. The srrrvcy rcsmrch method was rrlilized, 77trbh rexr)fclf questiotrs guided the study. The sample consisled of t111ee Autrdred and twenty adult n ~ l t ~ s and Ie,nales d r h n Irotn the sixteen villages it? flie cotnn~w~ir y. The itrstrutner~ f fur dals col/eclion was a sell corrs xrr~cxed Like1 l lorn~at qcscsriotlt~nit e. Pocetltages 8trd nrocies were used for &la analysis and it was lowid that parficipalior? i t ] soorts was dotrrit~oleb by tmles; /arm work, trekkittg, and ~raditiotid dances cotlsfirutcd the major physical activities fetimtes participated it?. Eflecls DIP vi lgk~il y, exposure lo pron~iscuil y, i t~terfere~ce wit lr ttrerrs twal periods, des lrvction of ferni/?inil y, effects on chi/dbirflr and d e v e l q ~ t ~ w ~ ~ t of Ou l~ i r~g muscles were ~cporicd as perceived problet~cz ~ssaciaied wifh Ienlale sports participaliorr. Five ways of in l luet~c i~~g be/raviour change toward fetnale sport participation were aka reported.

In troductian In many traditional Nigerian societies, the female folk ere still

regarded as weaker sex. Gender is seen as s mere attribute which God has used in creation for Ihe primary purpose of procreation. Ta such communities, if not, for certain physiologi;ca! difference between male and female sexes, rtmy should be well matched in every human endeavour including sports. Where such is not the case, wornen and girls are deprived of the right o f freedom of psrticipstion in oxercise and sports. Adecleji (1978) starec! that pnrlicipntio+i in sports leads to

' development of the spirit of sharing, coopelation, self discipline and respect for the rules o f the game. Sports help ilie i ~~d iv idua l to forget

the strains and &her rigours of everyday activities. It also aids self- 'reliance, sense of belonging and character modification. There are speculations that people are denied such opportunities and benefits in some societies.

Omoruan, (1996) identified some factors that militate against female participation in sports to- include cultural beliefs and practices as well as misconceptions and stereotypes. A t puberty, girls are expected t o retain their virginity which is highly revered in marriage. They need to maintain their beauty for marriage, hence the belief that participation in sports makes them look masculine (Wanekl and Berger, 1991). Besides these factors, Evans and I-lawortli (1991) and Apeh (19931 revealed that lack of interest in sports, fear o f the effects on menstrual period and on child-birth are other set backs of female participation in sports. Marriage in many communities is purely for the purpose of procrealion. Therefore, they prohibit wornen from participating in sports and other strenuous activities.

Howevcr, in thc: p~mt, lhere have bemi positive changes in the level of women participation in sports. Anyanwu (1980) acknowledged that this understanding level of women participation and performance i s gratifying. Omoruan (1 996) attributed this change to increase in their level of education, ~nobilisation, encouragement and motivation by government, individuals alld groups. The benefits therein are derived by only the fortunate few who live in cities and receive the much needed encouragement and exposure t o sports. Despite the global advances of man and women in participation and performance it1 sports, many communities still relegate sports to the background.

Among the Mbutu Ngwa comhunity of Abia State, Nigeria participalioh in sports is still dominated by men. The community is sceptical about the inclusion of women in sports participation. This may be primarily due t o the question o f rnorafily where social mobilCty of csl~ecially tha lcn& atliletcs is mistaken for "loose life". The traditional speculation that female participation In sports makes (hem ' barren and lo look masculine thereby loosing their beauty may still exist among the peol~le. This speculation has motivated this investigation into perception of female participation in sports among

Mbcltu Ngwa people o l Abia State, Nigeria. The study intends lo identify the people's choice of female participation in physical activity, t l ~ e i r ~ ~ c e i v ~ d . p r o b l e r n s associated w i th female participation in sports

encing betiaviour change towards female sports IYIW peciple.' .

' I ' Methods - ,

Subjects:. i~ J The sample for the study consisted of 1 6 0 rriale and 160 female

literate adults who were randomly selectd from the 16 villages in Mbutu Ngwa community of Abia Stale, Nigeria. 2 0 ( 1 0 ar l~t l t males '

and 10 adult females) were selected from each u f ti le 1 6 villa yes in the community.

Instrument: . The instrument for data collection in this study was a self

designed Likert ,Format Queslionnaire. I t was used to elicit information f rom the respondents, The questionnaire was divided into sections: A and 8. Section A deal w i th bio-data while sect focused on perceptions aboul female sports participation. A lhree point scale or Often 101 T) and Never (NE) was used.

The questionnaire was walloareu rhrough the assislance of three professior Zion, The instrument was pretested 0 subjects who did not participate in the maw1 study. The rclrab~llty coefficient resulting from the pre-test was .78 which was considered high enough for use in the study.

lals 'in health and physical educa wi th a sample consisring of 3 . . . -. .. - .-.

two ion 8 . .

Data col lect io~i and analysis: The questionnaire copies were distributed to the 3 2 0 subjects.

All the' distributed copies of the but sotne - o f them were inadequalely fille decl. Onty

31S(98.4%) of the 3 2 0 copies were llnarly usea In m e anal-ic Research assistants helped in the distribution and collection of tl copies ~f the questionnaire. Percontaycs were used in analysiny -..,

questionnaire were returned, cl out, onti such were discnr .. I. I . _.

).-,a.

hese t ha

data generated tu answer the research questions as indicated in fable 1-3.

Results Table 1: People's Choice of Female Participation in Physical

Activitv tN = 31 5 ) Type of physicel activity for fenulle ' Choice

participatio~v &ten -' s&eti&s Never Farm work 292192.7) 23(7.31 0 (01 *Jagging 851271 228172.4) 2(.G} Traditional dances 1'65t52.31 1 16130.8) 34110.91 Trecking 251 (79.7) 61i19.4) 3(.9) t-lousehotd chores 5511 7.5) 2 1 O(66.71 50(15.81 ~ r g i m i s ~ i l sporl cor~ilmlilitm - 1Ol5.81 80(25.41 21 7160.8) Average total and pwcentaye 144f45.71 126(38.1) 5111 6.21

3151100%) Note: figrtres in parentheses arc percmtages

Data in Table 1 reveal that an average of 144445.7%) respondents attested to fcrnale participation in &ysical activities in Mbuh Ngwa communi ty -irrespective of the type of act iv i ty 'they carried out. A very high proportion (92.7%) of the respondents subscribed t o farm work ss a veritable physical exercise for fernales and 79.7 per cent for trecking, 52.3 per cent of them preferred trediti'onal dances. A minimal percentage (27%), (17.5%) and 15.8961 of the respondents preferred jogging, household chores and organised sl>orl i:t)rq)olilions ~csl~cc:tivcty as form of physicnl activit ies for lemalcs. Table 2: Perceived Problems Assoclated With Fentale Sport

Part ic ipat io~i IN = 3 1 5 ) -- Type of problem in female sport Clmice -__- - - - - - -~-___. -_ I -_

participation Of ten Son~otimes Never Developing bulging rnvtxles 1 34155.2) 100t31.7) rtl(13.11 Effect on virginity 221 170.2) 80125.41 1 d(4.4) Destruction of fcmininily 1 9 W O . 31 96(30.5) 2919.2) Distortion of menstrual periods 202184. f l 90(28.6) 2317.31 ETlect on childbirth 187(59.4) 1 lO(34.9) 1815.7) Exposure to promiscuity 215(68.3) 79125.01 2 l(6.7) Averego total end percentage 198162.9) 93(29.5) 24(7.6)

Table 2 shows that an average o f 198(62.9%) of the respondents associated fernale sports participation w i th some problenis that may occur often. 221 (70.2%) of the respondents affirmed that participation of females in sports affects their virginity. Other problems associated w i th fernale sports participaliorr as indicated in t l ~ e table are exposure to proriiiscuity 21 5(68.3%). Interference wi th menstrual periods 202(64,1%), destruction of femininity 190(60.3%), effect on childbirtll 187(59.4%) and development of bulging rriuscles 1 7 4 (55.2%).

Table 3: Ways of lnfluelicirig Bel~aviour Cl ia~ lye Toward Female Sport Part ic ipat io~~ (N = 3'1 5)

------ .---------- -- --------- Type of physical activily for female Responses (Frequency n t d Percentage)

participation . . . -- - - --.- - ----- -- - --- 0 i b n Sornetirnes Never

Atlcq~rntc pu1Aic:il y 2271 72.1) 73(23.2) l s ( 4 . 7 ) Change in cul~urnl values and 204[64.0) 1 OO(31.7) 1 113.61 prac ticos Adequate sport ctlucnlion 21 s(60.3) 94(29.8) G I 1 -9) Change in some religious 1 82i57.0) 9 7(30.0) 36( 1 1 .4 ) dogmatisms High literacy standard 1 00(31.7) 191 (60.7) 24(7.6) Encouragement from government 265(04.1) 40(12.7) 10l3.2) Average . 199163.2) gg(31.4) 1725.41

-- 315E100%) Notc: /igorcs k) pa~erttf~escs arc pcrcenlagcs

In Table 3, an average total of 199(63.2%) of the respo1iden2s were aware of the positive inffuences of behaviour change towards female sports participation. The respondents believed that female sports participatiun will be enhanced or boosted through encouragement froin governrrienl 26518Lt. 1 %I, adequate publicity 227(72.10/0), adequate sport education 2 15[68.2%). clmnye in cultural valucs and proclices 203I64.7?4) and change in some religious dogmatisms 182(57.7%1, High literacy standard 100(31.7%'/0) was considercd a less importatit factor in encouraging positlve behaviour charyc? toward female sport participatio~r.

Discussion One major finding in this study was that parlicipatior~ i t )

organised sports was still not the business of females in Mbutcr Ngwa community of Abia State, Nigeria. The community rather preferred farm work at111 ~re~:kir ig as lrlciltls of fctr)ille participation in physical activity. This result confirms Onyiriuka's (1988) earlier claitrl that sports participation is entirely the business of men. This finding is not s t~rpr is i~ ig because farm cultivation, weeding and harvesting are done by wotncn in rllc cornrrtunity. Woirlcrr ns wcl l trcck lo11y distances l o ocid from tlw fnrrn.

The results (as presented in Table 2) that fernale participation in sparts has deteterious offecl on female virginity and interference will1 menstrttnl pcriods i s in consonance wi th Varren (1 980) who reporled that participation in sport can cause darnage to the ferrlale reproductive orgari. Apeh (1 993) however proclaimed in contradicti( to the present result tlml ftiere is no evidence of destructive effect oxerciscs on fcrnate reprwluctive organ. The community is a rural of where bicycle is the major means of transport including for worrlt and yocrng girls without harm l o their virginity. .Therefore, i t is wror to claim tho1 fcn~alc parl icipntio~i i t1 sports causes damage to thf virginiiy.

The present finding inrlicatiriy that female participation in spor exposes them to promiscuity had previously been attributed to soci cuIZural bcliefs of typical hfrican ' socicly (Dike, 19131 ). I t i mo traditional Nigerian communilies, association of boys arid girls such i in sports nrenn is believed to predispose the girls 40 promiscui~y, 711c is always the clssumption t lml sports allires attract boys to girls.

For o community to move forward in sports, i t must be prcpart lo certain changes in their k l f e l systems. 1 his must account for w l

. the respondents indicated fws shown in Table 3) that r e t n a r l d ~ cllanges will be felt if government encourages female spor garticipation, them i s adequate publ ic i~y, adequate sports cducalio change in cultural values and practices as well as changes in son

*religious dsgmalisms. They considered high literacy lcvel a le influential factor on people's behaviour toward female participation sports. This finding supports Henz's (1 999) proclamation th

ill Spit Is A~nc~rcg M ~ ~ I I ~ I I N g w I'cltplc

., r ~ ~ r n c r o u s socio-cultural,' and prltitical changes

sports arena. need to take place before worvicn would occupy adequate place it1 the

Co twlusion a d Reco~r~~~~er rda t io r l s Participation in sports is slit1 dornittsted by wen in Mbutu Ngwa

community o f , Abia State, Nigericr. Wornen are relegated to the background w i th only arl insignilicant nurnber participarirrg. Many problems have been identified and some factors have also beer1 implicated in female non-parkipat ion in sports. Certain ways of influencing behaviour change toward female participation in sports among Mbutu Ngwe community of Abia State have been identified.

~&x:rl on tllc l i~ l r l i rqs of Llio slutly, ll,a followilly recommendations are ~i iade:

1 . Cormnissioned study should be condcrctcrl on the status 04 fcmnle participation in sports ill rural co~nwrunities irh Nigeria.

2, Sports organisers, nclrnit~istratovs, ~ ~ l t y s i c a l mlucs l io~t syecialists and more importantly the goverrlrnent should device ways and means of tnotivatirig and encouraging female sports participalion.

3. Government SI~OCIICI through the differorit media provicle adequat'e sports inforrnatior~ and educatiori lo discard and extinguish certain misconceptions about female srlorts participation.

neferellces Adedeji, J,A. (1 978). The Akceptance of Nigeria11 Women in Sports.

International Review of Sports Sociology 1 3(Z) . Anyanwu, S.U. (1980), Issues in arid patterns of women participation

in sports in Nigeria. It~terttatiot~nl ' ~ e v i e w of Sports SOCI 15(11.10.

Apeh, K.S. (1 993). Wotmtr, sl)ott.s ntrd l1enltl~ Lagos: I Publ i~ l l i l i [ j C o r ~ i l ~ ~ r i y .

ice, D.O. (1 981 ). Influence o l Signilican t others and opportunily set an chitdhood socialisation into sport of college female athletes and rron-athletes. Unpublisliecl M.Ecl. Project, PHE, Dept. UNN.

Evans, S.T, and HEIWOI~~~I, J.T. (1 991 ). Variatioris i n personal activity ,access to calngori~s 01 CXI)C~~CIICF! and psycholoyical well-being in unemptoyed young RCILII~S. Leisure Studies, 101249-264.

Henz, K.L, 11999). "Effects of culture on women's experience in sports". In Sport and Social Mobility, ed. Fisher, M.R. Iowa: ~ e n c l a l l ~ u n i Publishing Company, 89-1 01 .

Omoruan, J.C. 11996). A handbook on physical education, Sport and Recreation. Zaria: S. Asekorne and Company.

Onyiriuka, M.A. (1 968). Women and sports in Nigeria. Owerri: Omega Publishers.

Wankel, L.M., and Berger, B.G: (1991). The personal and social , benefits of leisure. In Benefits of Leisure, Eds. Driver, B.L.

Brown, P.J, and Peterson, G.L. Venture: State Collegr? P.A.: 121-144.

Warren, M.P. (1980). The effects of exercise on puberty progression and reproductive function in girls. Joi~rual of Sports Medicine (1{2), 28-36.