Opinions

Allie

Is physical fitness important for girls? Why? And if yes, then what’s so great about being active or playing sports?

Physical fitness is important for everyone. Sometimes we seem to forget that women should be in shape as well as men because men are typically portrayed in the media as these big, buffed up, muscular figures while women are portrayed as smaller, more petite, and fragile. Working out and being fit brings on a feeling of happiness (endorphins at work, I guess), self-confidence, and accomplishment.

Do you think our American society accepts boys as athletes more than girls? Why, and does anything need to be done about this?

American society tends to encourage male athletes more than female athletes, and I think we need to work to encourage young girls to see athletics as an option that is open to them as well as their male peers.

Where athletes have been working-out and getting tone and muscular for years, in the last 5 – 10 years, more celebrities have personal trainers and are getting that ripped “6-pack” look. What do you think about girls lifting weights? Is it good? Bad? Why?

It is just as important for women to lift weights and work out as it is for men. Just because women may not be able to achieve the bulky muscles that men can doesn’t mean that they can’t work out and improve their strength.