UK Women's Sports in a Sorry State

Where are the women in the BBC Sports Personality of the year 2011 shortlist?

"The top 10 contenders for BBC sports personality of the Year are all male. It's hardly surprising, given the sorry state of women's sports coverage in the UK."

In an article written by Jane Martinson for the Guardian, a British news publication, an editorial is made about the lack of presence women have in sports coverage in the United Kingdom. Though, I'm glad this is not an issue occurring in only the United States, it is an equally disappointing discovery to find that women's sports are relegated to side notes in history. 

According to her editorial, women in English sports make up only 5% of sports media coverage. What's worse, is professional sports aside, in England only 1 in 10 girls aged 14 do enough exercise to maintain their health compared to 1 in 5 boys. In the United States it seems that girls are actively taking an interest in exercise and sport, but in the UK it seems the opposite.

Could there be a correlation between women's sport coverage in the media and how interested girls are in playing sports and being active? If we increased the amount of coverage of women's sports and activities, would more girls become engaged in athletics? Its an interesting idea to think about -- maybe when I have kids, instead of taking my daughters to girly movies or tea parties, she'll be going to hockey games and softball games instead.

PS - Did you know England as a professional female Rugby league? RFUW! How awesome is that?!