As anyone who works with children will tell you, in the playground the games many boys play generally take up more space than the girls’ activities.
The playground often has areas where boys play football or another sport, and those where girls skip, dance, sing, chat or play smaller games. Of course some boys will not want to play ball games, and some girls will. But in general, the scenario is that the boys take up more room. And it’s not just at school…
Public parks don’t appeal to girls
Take public parks. Research has found that girls are less likely than boys even to go there, and this difference increases with age. While 63% of teenage boys regularly visit public parks, only 31% of teenage girls do. Why?
Much of the space in recreation grounds is designated for football, BMX and skate tracks, adventure playgrounds and fenced pitches for sport. Research has found that 84% of skatepark users are teenage boys and young men.
The charity ‘Make Space for Girls’ (MSFG) researched these issues and interviewed girls, who said there is not much at the park to attract them. Fourteen-year-old Lily commented: “Why would I go to the park? There’s nothing there for me.”
Others said that boys can be intimidating if girls enter ‘their’ space. One girl said, “I often feel unsafe and judged in public places.”
At a crucial age when girls should be increasing their independence, getting exercise, playing and relaxing, they report that they don’t feel comfortable in public parks.
Change must happen
The Equality Act 2010 mandates public bodies to proactively advance equality, meaning this imbalance cannot be ignored. MSFG’s goal is for “parks and public spaces across the UK to be designed with teenage girls in mind”. They highlighted that “Most councils have spent more time and money on facilities for dog waste than they have for teenage girls.”
Recent examples of good practice show how public spaces can be designed more inclusively, by improving aspects like lighting and toilet facilities and planning activities more creatively.
Yorkshire Sport asked hundreds of teenagers what would encourage them to be more active in a park. The girls prioritised age-appropriate adventure equipment and swings, trampolines, nature trails/ woods, and music/ dance spaces.
In contrast the boys were more likely to want a playing field, outdoor gym equipment, multi-use games areas, a BMX/ cycle track and skate park.
So what can be done?
Imogen Clark, co-founder of ‘Make Space for Girls’, says the charity’s aim is to ensure that everyone can benefit from public recreation spaces. In Chelmsford, MSFG and the company Social Place worked with students and staff at Boswells School, Essex Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner, Chelmsford City Council and Active Essex to create a new social area in Central Park for those who don’t want to play competitive sports.
The students initially visited Central Park to identify what they did and didn’t like about it, before considering what they would prefer to see.
What the girls wanted was an area designed for socialising, rather than for sport or similar activities. An open social seating area with colourful flowers and lighting, was their request. The Central Park development is now completed, and recently opened. It is named ‘Our Place’.
More to come
Central Park was chosen as the first location in Chelmsford for this project, but more ‘Our Places’ will be coming to public spaces across Chelmsford district. Experience has shown that if young people have been involved in designing amenities, they are more likely to use them.
Students from Chelmer Valley High School have already finished their designs for Angel Meadow in Broomfield. These have been adopted by the City Council and Broomfield Parish Council who are working together to deliver them. Meanwhile, students from William de Ferrers School in South Woodham Ferrers will begin to design their own bespoke Our Place in Compass Gardens.
Not just for girls
Our Place – the area designed by girls in Central Park – is for everyone, and has been carefully designed to be a welcoming area to anyone who may have previously felt unwelcome or unsafe in a public park.
Councillor Donna Eley, Cabinet Member for a Safer Chelmsford said at the opening in May of Our Place in Central Park:
“When we think about gender equality, the provision of green spaces isn’t necessarily where our minds go. But, as Make Space for Girls has found, such areas have been designed for boys for generations now. It’s great to see something that can appeal to everyone and particularly to teenage girls and gender diverse young people, like the wonderful students who designed Our Place. This is a fantastic project; the engagement from the young people involved has been inspiring.”
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