The two bar graphs compare the proportions of 5 to 14-year-old participants of both genders in cultural activities and sports in Australia in 2003. Overall, while significantly more males than females took part in sports, most cultural activities were more popular among girls than boys except playing musical instruments.
In this year, it can be seen that sports was common with the majority of boys (70%), while just over a half of the girls enjoyed playing sports. In respect of cultural activities, a very small number of girls engaged in singing and drama activities, each accounting for 5%, yet that number of boys were even approximately lower than 2%. The percentage of girls playing musical instruments was threefold higher than the former, and the figures for males joining in this activity was three out of two compared with the female rate. Dancing was considered as the most preferable activity participated by girls at a quarter. In contrast, this proportion of boys was a tiny minority with only about 2%.
The data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) supports these findings, indicating that in 2003, more males participated in sports such as golf, fishing, cricket, and soccer than females. Additionally, the ABS reports that in 2012, 60% of children aged 5 to 14 years participated in at least one organised sport outside of school hours, with more males (949,000) participating than females (727,000).
A study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) also found that the peak rate of sport participation for both males and females in Australia occurs at around 11 to 13 years. This study highlights the importance of understanding participation and withdrawal trends in sports programs to better understand the socio-ecological factors influencing children’s participation, transition, and withdrawal from modified sports programs.
In conclusion, the bar graphs illustrate a clear difference in the participation rates of males and females in sports and cultural activities among 5 to 14-year-olds in Australia in 2003. While sports were more popular among boys, cultural activities such as dancing and playing musical instruments were more popular among girls.