ABSTRACT
Engagement in physical activity is patterned by gender, social class and ethnicity (Sport England, 2003). During the course of a person's life there are many broad influences upon physical activity behaviour which include intra-personal, social and environmental factors (Sallis and Owen, 1999). However much of the major influences and choices can be traced back to our experiences during the primary years of schooling. This may seem less obvious on face value but the fact remains that the curriculum is not taught to pupils or taught by teachers who live in a vacuum and thus examining issues concerning gender, social class and ethnicity provides valuable lenses with which to examine and explain the decisions that we make. To fully understand some of these complex issues this chapter will provide relevant historical background details.
