Cultural/Customs and Traditional Belief Systems That Impact Participation of Females in Sports/Games and Physical Activities. The Case of Colleges of Education in Northern Region-Ghana

Culture and sport are frequently seen as having societal consequences. The participation of women in sports and physical activities is influenced in a variety of ways. Female participation in Sports/games and physical activities could have a significant positive impact on an individual’s physical, cultural, traditional/customs mental, and social well-being. The purpose of this research is to look at some of the Cultural/Customs and Traditional belief systems that influence women’s engagement in physical activities and games in Northern region colleges of education. The researchers employed a survey research approach to study about the cultural/customs and traditional belief systems that influence female engagement in sports/games and physical activities. Female students from the four colleges of education in the Northern region (Bagabaga College, E.P College – Bimbilla, Tamale College, and St’ Vincent College-Yendi) were the target population. The study identified some key findings of Cultural/Customs and Traditional belief practice which include, women’s access to information is limited by strict customs observation, myths, place of the woman is in the kitchen, curses and taboos based on effects on their reproductive organs, and women lose their femininity through active participation in sports, female genital mutilation, and women cleansing are some of the belief systems that contribute to women’s low participation in sports/games and physical activity. The study also identified other factors such as, Religious Beliefs/Norms, gender limitations, sociological and physiological variables that influence female engagement in sports/games and physical activities. It is recommended that the use of cultural enlightenment educational programmes that will demystify all traditional/customs and cultural belief systems and biases against female participation in sporting, games and physical activities in our communities. Use of Legislation to promote Cultural/Customs and Traditional physical activities in schools.