The roles of men and women have been around and adhered to for many centuries. In the Bible, there are many instances of women being kept in a role that is not equal to the man's. Even in today's world of technology and information, there are many men who still believe in the traditional roles that had been instilled upon them during their lifetime. One of the first reasons women seem less interested in sports is because they are not involved with it at an early age. One of the first places that gender differences are introduced is at home.
Parents promote certain activities for males while discouraging it for females, and vice versa.
Boys are often times involved in activities that promote more aggressive behavior, such as wrestling with each other and playing sports, while girls are encouraged to engage activities that do not involve physical activity or aggression, such as playing house or with dolls. Another reason that women are discouraged from playing sports is because sports were thought to have been harmful to the well-being of women. Although men could partake in sports, they were thought to have been dangerous to women. This was essentially an excuse to keep women on the sidelines cheering for their men because they were not able to handle the physical requirements demanded in sports. Perhaps one of the greatest myths surrounding women's athletics has been the question of their sexuality.