Their hair, their clothes, their reputation, says Claire. Mostly all they want to do is impress the boys, says Claire.
Experts say girls who sweat it out on the court have a big advantage over their preening peers.
It does give them another way to look at themselves, says Dr. Laura Mee, a child psychologist. Athletic girls see their bodies as a powerful force and not just sort of ornamental. Studies conducted by the Women s Sports Foundation show that girls involved in sports are less likely to become pregnant, have fewer sexual partners and are more likely to use birth control than their non-athletic classmates. Mee says the strength it takes to be a girl in traditionally male sports may give girls the strength to say no when they are getting the full court press from a boyfriend. Dr. Mee encourages parents to get their daughters involved in sports.