29: Daughters and Dads: Empowering Change

Gender stereotypes start at birth. For girls, this can lead to a decline in self-belief from as young as 7 years old. Dads/father figures can play a key role in helping their daughters develop confidence and resilience, but many dads, often unconsciously, place more emphasis on their son's sporting activities. Our research shows that 31% of girls feel supported by their dad, compared to 50% of boys. 

The Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered is a free physical activity and education programme for young girls (5-11) and their fathers/father figures who want to be more active together.

Women in Sport delivered the programme in partnership with the EFL Trust, Fatherhood Institute and University of Newcastle (Australia) through funding from Sport England and the National Lottery Fund. 

Over the last 3 years we've helped more than 400 girls, dads/father figures to be more active. The programme also saw girls grow in confidence and self-belief. 

In this episode we talk to: 

• Professor Philip Morgan – founder of Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered at the University of Newcastle in Australia 
• Lee Warren – Daughter and Dads project lead at Women in Sport
• Lucy Ridgway – Girls and Women's Officer at Stoke City Community Trust 
• Jodie Foxhall-Brown  – Stoke City Women's footballer 

We discuss why rough and tumble play is just as important for girls as it is for boys, how dads can play a key part in helping their daughters develop vital movement skills and how the programme helps dads become allies for change.

For more information about Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered click here

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