NEW BROCHURE ON THE PHYSIOLOGY OF WOMEN’S SPORT

ÉGALE ACTION AND INS QUÉBEC JOIN FORCES TO IMPROVE SUPPORT FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SPORT

Égale Action, in partnership with the Institut national du sport du Québec (INS Québec), are proud to announce the publication of a brochure on the physiology of sport for women, which aims to fill a crucial gap in relevant information on the specific needs of sportswomen, both in Québec and elsewhere in the world.

Faced with persistent taboos and prejudices, female athletes often find themselves without answers when it comes to the specifics of their physiology. The brochure addresses an important gap in the sporting world, covering topics such as puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, contraception and the particularities of transgender sportswomen. This new tool not only explores the physiological distinctions between sportswomen and sportsmen, but the information gathered on these many relevant topics is sure to spark more open and honest discussions around supporting women and girls in sport.

“As an athlete, I’ve been lucky enough to be coached by gender-sensitive coaches throughout my sporting career. Their instinctive sensitivity to the differences inherent in women has enabled us to recognize our specific strengths and bring them to the fore in sport, and to minimize our points of weakness in order to protect ourselves from injury and optimize our performance. But not all athletes have been so lucky, and that’s why this new tool is so important. In this respect, I salute Égale Action’s initiative and the rigorous work of INS Québec,” emphasizes Maxime Dufour-Lapointe on the importance of this new tool.

“Today, in my new role as a physician, it is with great pleasure that I read this brochure, carefully designed through an exhaustive literature review of the most recent evidence. It clearly explains the conditions specific to women, which will enrich our understanding of the athlete as an individual. It’s a wonderful tool that will also help coaches and others to understand and adapt their approach to achieving the full potential of each female athlete as a whole, above and beyond sporting performance”, she adds.

“In my discussions with female athletes, I’m still very often struck by their lack of knowledge of their own physiology and certain preconceived ideas. But I can’t blame them, as scientific and popular information is still scarce and not easily accessible. Fortunately, over the last few years, the entire sports community has been mobilizing to produce new knowledge, particularly scientific knowledge, and to disseminate it as widely as possible. This brochure is another step towards better care for the individual and, I’m sure, will open the door to other positive initiatives for women”, comments François Bieuzen, Director of Sport Sciences at INS Québec and one of the brochure’s editors.

“The arrival of professional sports leagues in Canada and the overall increase in the number of female participants in various disciplines send a clear message that we need to focus our attention on the female athlete without the filter of the male/female comparison. Our hope is that this brochure will be the starting point for the development of a wide range of themes to be addressed and dissected by the entire team surrounding sportswomen: coaches, therapists, parents, etc.,” adds Sylvie Béliveau, Director of Gender Equity at Égale Action.

It’s a concrete way of fostering a more enlightened and respectful sporting environment. Égale Action and INS Québec are convinced that it will be an indispensable document for all those involved in one way or another in the world of sport, contributing to the success of girls and women from all backgrounds.

To download the free brochure or for more information, click on this link (French only).