EFFECTS OF WOMEN DISCRIMINATION ON TALENT DEVELOPMENT IN ATHLETICS TRAINING CAMPS

Abstract

This study covered the effects of discrimination on talent development in athletics training camps within Nakuru County, Kenya. It used the case study method to make an in depth investigation of athletics training camps in Nakuru County, Kenya. The research specifically looked into to three aspects of women discrimination including; prevalent stereotypes against women, sexual harassment and camp facilities and routines and their effects on talent development in athletics training camps. The target population was 1300 athletes and coaches in ten training camps in Nakuru County. The study used stratified sampling method to get a sample of 130 athletes and coaches. The study used observation, questionnaire, focus group discussion and interview methods to collect data. Data was analyzed by the help of statistical package for the social sciences version twenty SPSS. The data analysis compared how individually each independent variable affected the dependent variable and how all the independent variables affected talent development. The researcher found that there were more males than females in the training camps, both for athletics trainees and coaches. Ninety percent of the coaches had a permanent reliable source of income while 90% of the female athletics trainees were still school girls and therefore had no source of income. Ninety percent of the female athletics trainees were affected by prevalent female stereotypes mostly pushed to them by their peers, making many of them depressed, others missing training sessions, delaying to join training camps and even contemplating dropping out. Ninety one percent of the female athletics trainees had been subjected to sexual harassment in one form or the other and a majority was adversely affected by the use of facilities and routines meant for men and having to share some facilities with men. In general the study findings led the researcher to conclude that women discrimination was prevalent in athletics training camps in Nakuru county Kenya and that it negatively affected female athletics trainees in their quest to develop their talents. Based on the findings the researcher recommended the following among other things: Stereotypes should be counteracted through the guidance and counseling of the athletes, advocacy and public education through the mass media and other types of media. Sexual harassment should be addressed by instituting a code of conduct for coaches and other personnel in athletics training camps as well as setting up an inspectorate in Athletics Kenya so as to ensure that moral standards are kept and the young female athletes protected from sex pests. The issue of facilities should be addressed by allocating a bigger and gendered budget to the purchase of gym equipment and upgrading of stadiums.