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What Happens When [Terai] Girls Play? Understanding the Relationship between Restrictive Gender Norms, Girls' Experiences of Playing Sport in South-Eastern Nepal, and the Factors That Influence Their Participation

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Title: What Happens When [Terai] Girls Play? Understanding the Relationship between Restrictive Gender Norms, Girls' Experiences of Playing Sport in South-Eastern Nepal, and the Factors That Influence Their Participation
Language: English
Authors: Sara Begg (ORCID 0000-0001-9384-9801), Nisha Shah, Mukesh Poudel (ORCID 0009-0009-2944-6747), Justin Pulford (ORCID 0000-0003-4756-8480), Sara Parker (ORCID 0000-0001-9041-2305), Cricket Changemakers--Nepal
Source: Journal of Adolescence. 2025 97(7):1895-1909.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Females, Gender Bias, Adolescents, Athletics, Change Strategies, Student Attitudes, Experience, Barriers, Cultural Influences, Social Influences, Success, Civil Rights, Team Sports
Geographic Terms: Nepal
DOI: 10.1002/jad.70011
ISSN: 0140-1971
1095-9254
Abstract: Introduction: Restrictive gender norms globally disproportionately constrain girls, limiting their freedom and mobility while increasing their risk of violence. This study adopts a Youth Participatory Action Research approach to explore how adolescents in Nepal experience these norms in sport, and identify pathways for their positive transformation. Methods: Twenty-three adolescent girls from eight government schools in the Terai districts of Morang and Saptari, Nepal, were trained as youth researchers to co-define the research focus and questions related to gender, sport, and adolescence. They conducted 15 play-based focus group discussions with 64 adolescent boys and 84 adolescent girls aged 13-19. Outputs were co-analysed using a framework approach shaped by the youth researchers' lived experiences. Results: Situating our findings relative to Ecological Systems Theory, we found that girls' participation in sports is limited by restrictions on their free time and mobility, and community and peer "backbiting". Parents, teachers, and boys in their microsystem reinforced these norms, while schools and sporting institutions provided limited opportunities and uneven resources. However, girls' sporting success emerged as a catalyst for change, generating pride that shifted perspectives on girls' capabilities, rights, and freedoms. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of addressing gender norms at a societal level by engaging with the interpersonal interactions that sustain them. It identifies "pride" as a transformative force, supporting evidence that positive norms can drive gender equity. Future interventions should build girls' confidence, engage boys as allies, and increase the visibility of girls' sports to expand freedoms in the Terai.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1485438
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: What Happens When [Terai] Girls Play? Understanding the Relationship between Restrictive Gender Norms, Girls' Experiences of Playing Sport in South-Eastern Nepal, and the Factors That Influence Their Participation
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sara+Begg%22">Sara Begg</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9384-9801">0000-0001-9384-9801</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nisha+Shah%22">Nisha Shah</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mukesh+Poudel%22">Mukesh Poudel</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2944-6747">0009-0009-2944-6747</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Justin+Pulford%22">Justin Pulford</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4756-8480">0000-0003-4756-8480</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sara+Parker%22">Sara Parker</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9041-2305">0000-0001-9041-2305</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cricket+Changemakers--Nepal%22">Cricket Changemakers--Nepal</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Adolescence%22"><i>Journal of Adolescence</i></searchLink>. 2025 97(7):1895-1909.
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: 15
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Females%22">Females</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Bias%22">Gender Bias</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adolescents%22">Adolescents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Athletics%22">Athletics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Change+Strategies%22">Change Strategies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experience%22">Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Influences%22">Cultural Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Influences%22">Social Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Success%22">Success</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Civil+Rights%22">Civil Rights</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Team+Sports%22">Team Sports</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nepal%22">Nepal</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1002/jad.70011
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
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  Data: 0140-1971<br />1095-9254
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Introduction: Restrictive gender norms globally disproportionately constrain girls, limiting their freedom and mobility while increasing their risk of violence. This study adopts a Youth Participatory Action Research approach to explore how adolescents in Nepal experience these norms in sport, and identify pathways for their positive transformation. Methods: Twenty-three adolescent girls from eight government schools in the Terai districts of Morang and Saptari, Nepal, were trained as youth researchers to co-define the research focus and questions related to gender, sport, and adolescence. They conducted 15 play-based focus group discussions with 64 adolescent boys and 84 adolescent girls aged 13-19. Outputs were co-analysed using a framework approach shaped by the youth researchers' lived experiences. Results: Situating our findings relative to Ecological Systems Theory, we found that girls' participation in sports is limited by restrictions on their free time and mobility, and community and peer "backbiting". Parents, teachers, and boys in their microsystem reinforced these norms, while schools and sporting institutions provided limited opportunities and uneven resources. However, girls' sporting success emerged as a catalyst for change, generating pride that shifted perspectives on girls' capabilities, rights, and freedoms. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of addressing gender norms at a societal level by engaging with the interpersonal interactions that sustain them. It identifies "pride" as a transformative force, supporting evidence that positive norms can drive gender equity. Future interventions should build girls' confidence, engage boys as allies, and increase the visibility of girls' sports to expand freedoms in the Terai.
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: EJ1485438
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        Value: 10.1002/jad.70011
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      – Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Females
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      – SubjectFull: Gender Bias
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      – SubjectFull: Change Strategies
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      – SubjectFull: Nepal
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      – TitleFull: What Happens When [Terai] Girls Play? Understanding the Relationship between Restrictive Gender Norms, Girls' Experiences of Playing Sport in South-Eastern Nepal, and the Factors That Influence Their Participation
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