There are even more ways to maintain critical thinking. Another way to improve stereotypes is for all of us to challenge it whenever possible. When teachers choose games and lead activities, a female teacher might play football, a male teacher might jump rope. Physical educators, exercise leaders and coaches should develop and implement new models of sport and physical activity. For example, professionals can emphasize learning new skills, having fun, co-operating and making friends. Although competitive skills and attitudes may be a valuable preparation for today s working world, competition should not be allowed to displace other sports values and experiences. One last step to success is that parents, coaches and physical activity leaders should avoid the use of gender-typed language. For instance, do not refer to athletes as he or use generic male or mean both males and females. It may be helpful to tell children stories that allow them to imagine situations where traditional gender roles are reversed. At a young age, children may seem resistant to change, but adults can provide them with non-sexist information that they will rely on as they mature. If everyone maintains this critical stance, women s sports, although on the way to equality, could eventually become equal to their male counterparts, or possibly surpass them. Women in the future will probably receive more funds to operate and expand competitive sport programs, there will be more competitive sports teams, and for example the Women s National Basketball Association is a new competitive sports league. As well, women will receive more power, coaching opportunities and jobs in sports, which in the past were usually reserved for males. These are just a few examples of how women in sports are starting to rise, due to the social change and are starting to grow further. If everyone continues to follow this critical framework, than women, will be not taken-for-granted in the sense that they can t do sports because they are weak and fragile, but they are just as capable to their male counterparts.
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