Developing sport for culturally and linguistically diverse women and girls

Sport has increasingly been posited as a vehicle for confronting racism and sexism in traditional patriarchal cultures. This chapter investigates the processes, practices and policies of sport for development globally in relation to gender equity and cultural diversity. The intersecting challenges of sexism and racism are examined in the context of experiences and barriers to participation of women and girls from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The chapter provides an overview of the motivations for these women to participate in sporting activities, along with an exploration of the barriers these women often face. An examination is made of contemporary initiatives which seek to provide appropriate sporting experiences for these women. Exemplar sporting programs are described, and contemporary strategies currently employed by government, non-profit, health and sporting organizations are detailed. The chapter concludes with recommendations for improving access and inclusion for these girls and women and proposes areas of further research.