How Can Physical Inactivity in Girls Be Explained? A Socioecological Study in Public, Subsidized, and Private Schools.

In the last few years, the World Health Organization has highlighted that physical inactivity is a global issue affecting women to a greater extent than men. Faced with this, different nation states have developed public policies to reduce physical inactivity at school; however, the biomedical and individualistic models used have generated widespread criticism, as figures remain the same. In the context of failed interventions on increasing levels of physical activity, this study utilizes a socioecological model to analyze and understand how physical inactivity is reproduced in girls in the Chilean education system. A qualitative study was implemented, as it allows a focus on the entailed meanings, context, and processes. Active semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 groups comprising headmasters, teachers, non-teachers, students, and families. The results show that physical inactivity is linked to factors that go beyond the individualistic model; that is, consideration must include intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community, and public policy dimensions. Furthermore, gender stereotypes gain relevance in physical education classes, in addition to friendships and family, teaching, and administrative work, access to safe play areas, use of spaces, and widespread cultural factors associated with men and women. This study concludes that the assessed gender differences should be approached from a pedagogical perspective beyond common sense, further reporting that the individualized explanation for physical inactivity is irrelevant to answer why women are more inactive than men.

Obstáculos para ser deportista de alto rendimiento en Chile / Obstáculos para ser esportista de alto rendimento no Chile / Obstacles to be a high-performance athlete in Chile

La masificación de los deportes ha hecho visible la interacción de varias dimensiones del rendimiento que favorecen o dificultan el desarrollo de un deportista de alto rendimiento. Algunas de estas dimensiones son el contexto social/cultural en el que viven los deportistas, la influencia de las políticas públicas en el desarrollo a largo plazo de las carreras deportivas, el entorno familiar, de amigos y entrenadores, así como también aspectos nutricionales y psicológicos. Este estudio de tipo cualitativo busca comprender desde la voz de los y las deportistas cuáles son los aspectos considerados como obstaculizadores para el alto rendimiento en Chile. Los resultados demuestran que son obstaculizadores la falta de apoyo, la carrera dual, implementación para entrenar y discriminación de género. Se concluye proponiendo nuevos horizontes para las políticas públicas en el marco del apoyo a deportistas que se hagan cargo de resolver estos obstaculizadores. (AU)

A massificação do esporte tornou visível a interação de várias dimensões do desempenho que favorecem ou dificultam o desenvolvimento de um atleta de alto rendimento. Algumas delas são o contexto sociocultural em que os atletas vivem, a influência das políticas públicas no desenvolvimento a longo prazo da carreira esportiva, o ambiente familiar, amigos, treinadores, além de aspectos nutricionais e psicológicos. Este estudo qualitativo busca compreender a partir da voz dos atletas quais são os aspectos considerados como obstáculos ao alto rendimento no Chile. Os resultados mostram que os obstáculos são a falta de apoio, dupla carreira, implementação de formação e discriminação de gênero. Conclui propondo novos horizontes para as políticas públicas no âmbito do apoio aos atletas que se encarregam de resolver esses obstáculos. (AU)

The massification of sports has made visible the interaction of various dimensions of performance that favor or hinder the development of high-performance athletes. Some of these are the social and cultural context in which athletes live, the influence of public policies on the long-term development of sports careers, the family environment, friends, coaches, as well as nutritional and psychological aspects. This qualitative study seeks to understand from the voice of athletes what are the aspects considered as obstacles to high performance in Chile. The results show that the obstacles are the lack of support, dual career, implementation to train and gender discrimination. It concludes by proposing new horizons for public policies in the framework of supporting athletes who take charge of solving these obstacles. (AU)

Sports identity in Chile: a sociocultural and material process influenced by the state and neoliberalism / Identidade esportiva no Chile: um processo sociocultural e material marcado pelo estado e pelo neoliberalismo / Identidad deportiva en Chile: un proceso sociocultural y material marcado por el estado y el neoliberalismo

Abstract: Construction of sports identity is an interesting topic in the field of sociocultural studies of sport. This study analysed identity construction in Chilean athletes in order to gain a deeper understanding on the topic and its associated issues. Our qualitative study involved 17 semi-structured interviews with high-performance and recreational athletes who practise conventional and adaptive sports. The results reveal that there are two categories of conditions involved in the construction of Chilean sports identity - sociocultural conditions and material conditions - and that these are influenced by neoliberal logics and values. We conclude that gender is one dimension that can potentially generate alternatives to individualism and competition discourses present in current Chilean sports identity.

Resumo: A construção da identidade dos atletas é um tema de interesse no campo dos estudos socioculturais do esporte. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a identidade esportiva do atleta chileno para compreender melhor este tópico. O tipo de estudo foi qualitativo, por meio de 17 entrevistas semiestruturadas com atletas de alto desempenho e recreativos nas modalidades convencional e adaptada. Os resultados mostram que existem duas categorias para construir a identidade esportiva chilena: condições socioculturais e condições materiais, marcadas por construir histórias alternativas para contestar o individualismo e a competição como valores presentes no esporte chileno.

Resumen: La construcción de la identidad de los y las deportistas es un tema de interés en el campo de estudios socioculturales del deporte. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la construcción de la identidad deportiva en Chile para comprender mejor este tema. El tipo de estudio realizado fue de carácter cualitativo, a través de 17 entrevistas semiestructuradas a deportistas recreativos y de alto rendimiento de modalidad convencional y adaptado. Los resultados demuestran que existen dos categorías para construir la identidad deportiva chilena: condiciones socioculturales y las condiciones materiales, las cuales están marcadas por lógicas y valores neoliberales. Se concluye expresando que el género es una dimensión que genera relatos alternativos para disputar el individualismo y la competencia en tanto valores presentes en la identidad deportiva chilena.