Evaluation of a proposal for training in gender in physical education among students of physical activity and sport science studies

Abstract

The incorporation of the gender perspective into the PE teacher training continues being very limited in the initial training of the Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (PASS) Degree. Within this context, this study evaluates a training course focused on Gender in PE held for students of PASS in a Spanish University. A total of 53 students attended the two editions of the course that was evaluated using a mixed method approach, through written materials and a final course evaluation questionnaire. The results show that most of the students agreed that they signed up for the training due to the possibility of obtaining low-cost credits and not because they were truly interested in the topic. In contrast, at the end of the training most of them considered that the content received was “quite” or “very” relevant for their education (78,4%) and also “quite” or “very” useful for their future professional careers (89,2%), even recommending that it should be compulsory. The training seminar was successful in raising students’ awareness of gender issues in PE, even stimulating their personal commitment, but there was a limited impact related to the ability to develop and to apply intervention strategies. Consequently, the need to promote this type of training as a mandatory and basic aspect within the curricula of PASS is justified.