The invisible women in sport

Jane Gandee, Headmistress of St Swithun’s School in Winchester, has a letter published in today’s Times in which she agrees with the suggestion that the media should take responsibility for raising the profile of women’s sport (The panel’s list reflects a much wider problem, November 30). She writes of the benefits to girls of playing sport, and of how a “balanced sporting media” can help to provide more female sporting role models to reinforce these benefits.

Female sporting role models can help teach girls that a body which is decoratively thin is a lost opportunity

Sir, Gabby Logan is right that the media should take responsibility for raising the profile of women’s sport.

As a headmistress of a girls’ school, I am determined that girls will see sport as a fundamental part of their lives. Studies have shown that girls who play sport have a better body image than those who do not and sport teaches young people how to understand and use their bodies properly. I hope it also teaches them that a body which is decoratively thin is a lost opportunity.

More female sporting role models would help to reinforce these messages, and a balanced sporting media can provide them.

Jane Gandee
Headmistress St Swithun’s School, Winchester

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