Sport for Women in Later Life

Historically, older women have faced constraints to participation in organized sport due, in part, to age and gender stereotypes, and a social discourse that later life is characterized by decline and frailty. Recent years have seen a small but growing increase in sport participation and interest among older women, which provides opportunities to foster health and well-being for this group. This chapter provides historical context for understanding women’s sport in the USA and synthesizes the literature related to older women’s participation in sport to include benefits, motivations, and societal implications. It discusses relevant theories and models that can aid scholars in understanding and studying women’s sport in later life. Finally, it discusses implications for practice including the importance of facilitating sport participation for older women (in terms of public health and social justice), as well as recommendations for professionals who are seeking to facilitate effective and efficient programmes.