Learn
At Sport in Society, we use sport to tackle a lot of really pressing social issues. Here are some facts about a few of the issues that we face, how we use sport to address them, and how you can play a part in that work.
Men's Violence Against Women
*Battering is the single leading cause of injury to women in the United States; more than rape, auto accidents, and muggings combined.(National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)
*Girls and young women from various socioeconomic and racial backgrounds experience sexual harassment on a daily basis. (Stein, Nan. Sexual Harassment in School: The Public Performance of Gendered Violence)
*One in six college women reported being the victim of rape or attempted rape in the preceding year. (National Victim Center)
Diversity-Related Conflict and Violence
*Homicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24 overall. In this age group, it is the leading cause of death for African-Americans, the second leading cause of death for Hispanics, and the third leading cause of death for American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Asian Pacific Islanders (Anderson and Smith 2003).
*Among students nationwide, 33% reported being in a physical fight one or more times in the 12 months preceding the survey (Grunbaum et al. 2004).
*Nationwide, 9% of students reported being hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend in the 12 months prior to being surveyed (Grunbaum et al. 2004).
*57% of high school students have seen or heard about racial confrontations with overtones of violence (Harris)
*8 African Americans are victims of hate crimes per day in the United States, making them the most victimized racial group in the U.S. (U.S. Department of Justice)
*33.7% of high school students reported being in a physical fight in the past 12 months and 4% of students were injured in a physical fight seriously enough to require treatment by a doctor or nurse.
*Students, who described themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, when compared to peers, were over four times more likely to attempt suicide.
Youth Physical Activity
*Urban youth have 1/3 the opportunity to participate in physical activity as their suburban counterparts.
*Urban girls have only 1/2 of that opportunity.
*1 in 4 children does not attend any school Physical Education and fewer than 1 in 4 get at least 20 minutes of physical activity each day.
*Youth involved in physical activity have heightened brain function, increased self esteem, an increased level of important social skills, reduced risk of obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases, and are more likely to see a doctor on a regular basis.
*Obesity in the U.S. has increased by over 100% since the 1980s.
*This is the first generation of American children with a shorter life expectancy than their parents.
