Gaining Insight into Youth Programming and the Inclusivity of Girls

Boys dominate youth recreational programs in ways that control the conversation and the physical space, which impedes the ability for girls to participate. This is distressing, given that youth recreational and social programs, for example, those focusing on personal development or on health and well-being, improve girls’ physical and mental health and serve as a protective buffer against negative health outcomes. We conducted a qualitative community-based Participatory Action Research (PAR) project in which we interviewed programmers responsible for social and recreational programs that cater to youth between the ages of 12 and 18 in a region of Southwestern Ontario, Canada. We examined factors influencing girls’ participation through the lens of a modified Bronfenbrenner Ecological Model. The findings were unpacked with a view toward gender equity, particularly focusing on girls’ health and well-being. Based on the findings, we created a knowledge mobilization gender-based toolkit, which, upon implementing, would make the benefits of recreational programming more accessible to girls