Play equipment is a feminist issue

Hi Grasspigeons I think this is something schools do need to address. There’s no good reason for basketball to be a boys sport or netball girls. Unfortunately there is a lack of funding and support for girls team sports.

It's not just the younger lads dominating the space that's off-putting, but also the pervy older blokes. I remember trying to go jogging with a friend when I was about 14 around the playing fields and getting rude comments from a random bloke calling out at us, I don't think we did it again. As soon as a girl or group of girls are engaged in any kind of physical activity it becomes pornified in the minds of male observers who see it as their place to display dominance and comment on your activity. So dispiriting.

A space for a permanent Roller Derby track with a couple of boards up giving clear explanations of the rules - that would also have the effect of enticing existing Derby Squads to go there, and two full squads of fit and active women wearing protective gear plus zebras and benches of supporters/people not playing today should be enough to persuade girls that they'd be safe/it's their space too and dissuade boys from being misogynistic little shites. Perhaps a team would be prepared to offer free/cheap baby derby sessions in exchange for free or reduced rental?

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Outdoor gyms are great, I don't know if girls would use them or not, but the ones I've seen have been used by all ages. Great for anyone who can't afford a gym pass:
www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/deals-hunter/2017/06/free-outdoor-gyms-save-100s-year-gym-membership/]

Hi - you asked why i considered basketball boys and netballs girls. I dont. Its just all the local schools girls play netball and boys dont. So its a sport they have more exposure to. Girls can do all of these sports but they arent so just providing the stuff thats already there isnt working. It might be the netball cort get dominated by the boys too. Who knows

I have only seen them in France at service stations.

They are pretty common. There isn't one in our village, but it's a pretty small village (we just got a skate park though).
I see them around very often.

I think you're right although my town doesn't have any play equipment for children over 6 which is also a problem. I would also like to see more equipment for adults too to do exercises. I have only seen them in France at service stations.

In the park across from our old house, there were tennis courts with no nets but chalk marks and fenced. They were used by both sexes for a range of ball games ie tennis, football, dodgeball. There was a small cycle track which was used by both sexes but mainly girls. An adventure park and a small sand park - used by both sexes.

Near our new house, there is a play park - used fairly equally. Outdoor gym equipment - tends to be used by adults rather than DCs and I've seen men and women using it.

Beside DM's, there is a skate park - mainly boys. Tennis courts - both sexes. Play park and benches - mainly girls.

Their could be netball hoops in parks as well as basketball areas. But we all know what will happen, the netball hoops will get damaged cos they are lower down. Damaged by the older boys

Please explain why basketball is relevant to boys and netball to girls

My DS plays both at school and his basketball club has girls and boys teams. The girls reached the U16 playoffs this year

Basketball England do promote the male and female pathways

True, Upfield.
But that's the same for anyone starting out isn't it? The boys endure jeers when they fall off.
So what is it about boys that makes them able to endure the jeers, and girls not.
Socialisation, I guess. There are some girls who skate, are they the ones who brush off the jeering? And why?

I don't think the girls are intimidated, or they wouldn't be there at all.
There's a world of difference between sitting around and being an audience for the lads, and how girls might feel if they tried to join in themselves. Presumably, if they don't normally practice they'd be at a much lower level of ability which would encourage patronising and possibly humiliating comments from the more expert boys. It sets up a vicious cycle, with the girls put in their place as the ones cheering on the boys from the sidelines.

Thinking about it the places I have seen teenage girls most involved in using equipment type outdoor activities have been private estates with large scale assault/adventure type courses. Culzean Castle has a good example of the type, but I imagine these are very expensive to set up and that they would be difficult to police in terms of vandalism if they were council run free activities.

Girls round here seem to spend ages coming up with dance routines, sometimes involving pretty impressive gymnastics. Facilities to support those would be good.

Football at our school is heavily controlled precicely because it has such a detrimental effect.

At all the skate parks I've ever seen, the boys do the skating and the girls hang about sitting on benches.
I don't think the girls are intimidated, or they wouldn't be there at all.
I can't think of a similar physical activity which girls do, which would require equipment (no, not netball, who plays netball in their free time?).
Quite a few parks have those outdoor gyms now, and I have seen kids of both sexes messing about on those.

We have ball courts,cricket pitches and skate parks. 80% boys. Its actually quite a lot of investment in keeping boys occupied isnt it. I hadnt noticed before. The ball courts are set up for 5 aside football and with basketball height/type goals and markings.
I dont have teen girls but the boys friends seem to do a lot of dance routines so id say dance space with mirrors. And perhaps some ball courts set up with markings for netball...
Id also suggest more female led skate workshops. There are a few each holiday at they are male led. The graffit worksops are let by a man and woman and they have a more mixed attendance.

When my DD was at primary school, the boys would sometimes take up the whole playground with a game of football, while the girls would huddle in the corners, chatting, so they could avoid being hit by a football or a charging boy.
This is an issue in every playground. (Many) Boys (and some girls) want to play football, which is absolutely fair enough ... but it does take up lots of space. This need to be considered when making play spaces - there should always be smaller areas where other activities can take place, divided up by benches, small walls, trees and bushes, play equipment, etc.

Please don't remove the skateparks, though, I love seeing kids skating, and an increasing number of girls are joining in these days. According to my teenage niece boys are generally welcoming and encouraging.

This is a really interesting set of issues.
As is the 'city designed by women' - someone's started another thread which includes link to bbc item mentioned upthread. They're obviously related subjects but worthy of separate discussion I think.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3736656-A-city-designed-by-women

There used to be a park ranger in our local park and relatively good loos.

Toilets could be an issue. Young boys know can pee behind a tree.

My memory from the book is that is it also about access points and not having a "gauntlet" effect that teenage girls find intimidating.

This is so very true. When boys take up a space, it becomes very scary for girls to enter it. When my DD was at primary school, the boys would sometimes take up the whole playground with a game of football, while the girls would huddle in the corners, chatting, so they could avoid being hit by a football or a charging boy.