The reasons why some women hesitate to exercise in public spaces aren’t always a lack of time or motivation. For some, it comes down to fear of racism and discrimination. That’s according to early findings from researchers at Duke University School of Medicine.
The study found that these fears, along with harassment, keep many women, especially Latinas, from moving freely in their own communities.
While not unexpected, barriers like these haven’t been well documented, said Katie Holliday, PhD, assistant professor in family medicine and community health.
Holliday leads a research team that interviewed 52 women living in and around Durham, North Carolina. “One of the big things that came up is that women didn't always feel safe going to a park or working out on the street because of those fears,” she said.
The study found that Latinas were more concerned about being harassed by men while exercising in public spaces than white or Black women.
The women in the study also revealed that being physically active was easier when community activities are made available to both them and their children or if childcare is provided — suggesting that support for mothers could go a long way in promoting healthier lifestyles.
The spaces we spend time in — our neighborhoods, workplaces, and parks — play a big role in shaping our health. Simple things like having sidewalks to walk on, a nearby grocery store, or a safe place to exercise can make it easier or harder to stay active.
Holliday is looking closely at how these “built environments” support women’s ability to move their bodies and stay healthy. Her research also explores what gets in the way — especially the physical and social barriers that can make it tough for women to be active in their own communities.
Next, Holliday and the other researchers hope to share this information with organizations offering community physical activity spaces to develop programming for both parents and their children that addresses these barriers.
Running concurrent programs for mothers and children would be beneficial and support the whole family, Holliday said.
According to Holliday, many of the women interviewed in the study had the perception that fitness classes and other activities offered by places like local Parks and Recreation Departments are primarily for young children and older adults and no one in between. She hopes to help change that perception and increase offerings for individuals of all ages.
The researchers also plan to explore ways to set up referrals from the Family Medicine Clinic to community-based physical activity programs.
“Providers would screen women for their physical activity levels,” Holliday said. “And if they're low, they would send them to community physical activity programming directly and let them know this is a resource that exists for them.”