The Feminist Movement within the Profession of Physical Education

Walter Ho

University of Macau

Abstract

Undergoing physical education in school is the fundamental right of every student. The quality of these programs depend on several factors, such as the availability of facilities, opportunities in learning, curriculum arrangement, and the availability of teachers. One major concern has always been the issue around the number of female teachers in the profession of physical education. Khan et al. (2012) conducted a study on the mindset of female physical education teachers towards their profession in Pakistan. The majority of participants from this research were not aware of the goals set for the physical education curriculum within their respective colleges. They entered this field by chance as it allowed them to get a job easily, thereby not entering it via a more conscious decision. This indicates the need for the inclusion of the feminist movement in the physical education profession. There are several restrictions present herein, for which vital changes are required to enable both girls and women internationally to have equal opportunities and autonomy in this profession. This research makes use of the data from a recent investigation on Quality Physical Education (QPE) to discuss the gender differences in this profession. This study invited professionals from the field of physical education to answer a questionnaire on QPE development. A total of 5,680 responses were collected, comprised of 2,431 responses from female and 3,249 from male physical education professionals. The responses were mainly from Asia, Central and South America, and the Middle East. Limited responses were also collected from both Europe and Africa. We found that both genders generally share the same attitude toward the development of different dimensions in physical education. However, on closer examination based on different cities and regions, some differences were found that indicate the need for more careful consideration of the effectiveness of the feminist movement in physical education. Through this presentation, we intend to share the current state of the professional development of female teachers in the field of physical education, their perceptions about the different dimensions outlined in a QPE study, various difficulties encountered, the possible reasons behind these constraints, and future development for this field of study.