We asked VP Sports, Steff Milne, a few questions as to why This (BUCS) Girl Can Campaign is important and the challenges women face being active at Royal Holloway.
Here at the SU, we want to make sure you're living the healthiest life you can. The #HealthyU campaign promotes just that- healthy living. We all know how important both mental, and physical health are, as we'll be putting on a series of events and workshops to provide you with a few extra opportunities to look after yourself.
This term's #HealthyU is focusing on women in male-dominated sports and the challenges that they may face being active at Royal Holloway.
We asked VP Sports, Steff Milne, a few questions as to why the This Girl Can Campaign is important and advice she would like to share to women who are thinking of starting a new activity.
Why do you think This (BUCS) Girl Can and female participation is important?
As someone who has always been very active and enjoyed my sport, I know just how important participation is. Sport has always kept me motivated and healthy, helped me get through the stresses of University life and has been where I have made some of my closest friends.
These are just a few aspects that being involved in sport or exercise can help. All women should have the confidence to experience the positive effects that participation can bring.
What do you think are some of the challenges for women being active at Royal Holloway?
Women can often feel intimidated when it comes to physical activity. Being confident enough to try out for a sports club, go to a recreational session as a complete beginner in a sport or even having the confidence to step into the weights area in the gym.
There’s also body confidence and the expectations around body image that are particularly prominent for women. This can often act as a barrier to exercise or make women exercise for all the wrong reasons. University is a new environment with new people and often the expectation for people to reinvent themselves.
Stereotypes around different sports or activities are often formed as a result. This can shape ideas around what is considered feminine, butch or “cool” and guide women into the types of activity they feel they can get involved in.
This campaign is all about making women feel empowered to take part in whatever activity they enjoy, giving women the confidence to try new things and encourage women to love their bodies and embrace all the positive things that come with being active at university!
What are you excited for during TBGC week?
This year our This Bucs Girl Can Campaign is focused around female participation in typically male sports. I can’t wait to celebrate our amazing students taking on these roles within sport and smashing down stereotypes associated with male based sports.
I am also looking forward to linking the campaign up with our own campaign HealthyU; which is a campaign designed to show students the importance of a healthy lifestyle. The Body Image strand of the campaign will be running alongside TBGC, so I am also really exciting to promote body confidence and positivity as well!
How are you encouraging and advocating students to be involved in physical activity and sport?
At Royal Holloway we will be running a range of events as well as an online campaign and coordinating the campaign with other campaigns being run by our own clubs and societies. We will be offering This Girl Can Lift classes in our gym, encouraging both members and non-members of the gym to come and learn correct technique and break down the barriers for women going into the weights section of the gym.
We will be focusing on women participating in male dominated sports by opening up training sessions for girls to get involved in. Our Women’s football club are also running a ditch the stereotype campaign alongside this to raise awareness for female stereotyping in sport.
We will also be releasing some profiles from female students involved in traditionally male sports and encouraging people to post their experiences on social media using the hashtag.
Do you have any advice for women who are thinking of starting a new activity?
Never be afraid to try something new, never be afraid of being judged or looked at. The world of sport and exercise can be a daunting one but once you take that first step and find the activity that suits you, you will never look back.
