Since 2010, primary school children in the UK have been taught about relationships, sex and puberty, as part of the educational curriculum know as Personal Social Health and Economic Education (PSHEE). These lessons aim to normalise discussions about their bodies, so that puberty doesn’t come as a shock. Such lessons may cover changing body parts and the menstrual cycle, but what about breasts? The extent to which breasts are talked about in school is the idea that they start developing at puberty, but never about how this might affect young girls, especially when it comes to participating in sport. 

Breast changes in young girls 

What actually happens when breasts develop during puberty? Developing breasts can starts years before the menstruation begins, and it’s considered the first sign of puberty approaching. It may start when the chest stops being completely flat, the areola starts expanding and the tissue underneath feels like a hard bulge is forming that can be sore or itchy. With these experiences, young girls may start feeling self-conscious about the clothes they wear as it can be visible especially through tight tops or school uniforms including physical education (PE). 

How breasts affect girls in sport 

Ask any PE teacher ever – from a certain age, girls stop taking part in PE lessons. Instead of looking at the barriers and removing them, it has become normalised for girls to make up sick notes, fake parent signatures to get out of lessons, and refuse to participate, Numerous studies have found that breasts are a barrier to girls taking part in physical education and sports, with 73% of girls experiencing breast issues, from pain to movement, to embarrassment – these are issues that can be easily solved by proper breast support, yet nobody is talking about it.  

A good sports bra will keep the breasts in place, reduce their physical appearance and eliminate the pain that comes with running, jumping or playing, therefore helping girls feel that they can move freely again. 

The drop-out rate and why it's worrying 

Girls being on the bench during PE lessons and dropping out of sport should be national headlines. A survey by Women in Sport in the UK found that 43% of girls who considered themselves “sporty” in primary school, later said they no longer enjoyed sport in their teenage years. The survey estimated that this equates to about 1.3 million girls across the UK who “lost interest” as they moved into adolescence. What’s more, only 12% of schoolgirls in the UK meet the recommended exercise guidelines – which is horrifying. With childhood obesity rates on the rise, it is more important than ever that young girls are encouraged to be active for their current and future health. 

Exercise is known as a crucial element of healthy living, with benefits for all age groups. Thinking back to the evolution theory, humans relied on exercise for daily activities like hunting, gathering and traveling long distances on foot for survival – our bodies have adapted to constant movement, and it became a basic need for proper cell function.  

In today’s age where most children as well as adult sit at a desk for more than 6-7 hours every single day, we need exercise more than ever, and we need to do everything in our power to break down the barriers that stop people from moving their bodies more – and young girls are no exception.  

That being said, there are many things girls benefit from when doing sports, on top of the health aspect: 

If that wasn’t enough, it’s been proven that women with a background in sports, have more successful careers. A study by EY Women Athletes Business Network and espnW found that 94% of women in executive positions have participated in organised sports, and this could very well be thanks to the factors listed above.  

Overview