WOMENS AND

SPORTS
Women's sports includes amateur as well as women's
professional sports, in virtually all varieties of sports.
Female participation in sports rose dramatically in the
twentieth century, especially in the last quarter, reflecting
changes in modern societies that emphasized gender
parity. Although the level of participation and
performance still varies greatly by country and
by sport, women's sports have broad acceptance
throughout the world in the 2010s. In a few instances,
such as figure skating, women athletes rival or exceed
their male counterparts in popularity. An important aspect
about women's sports is that women usually do not
compete on equal terms against men.

HISTORY
Ancient
civilizations

Roman women engaged in sports. Mosaic at the Villa Romana del

Casalenear Piazza Armerina in Sicily

Before each ancient Olympic Games there was a separate

women's athletic event, the Heraean Games, dedicated
to the goddess Hera and held at the same stadium at
Olympia. Myth held that the Heraea was founded
by Hippodameia the wife of the king who founded the
Olympics.[2]
Although married women were excluded from the
Olympics even as spectators, Cynisca won an Olympic
game as owner of a chariot (champions of chariot races
were owners not riders), as
did Euryleonis, Belistiche, Zeuxo, Encrateia and
Hermione, Timareta, Theodota and Cassia.
After the classical period, there was some participation by
women in men's athletic festivals.[2]

Early modern
During the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties, women played in
professional Cuju teams.[3][4]

Chinese ladies playing cuju, by the Ming Dynasty painter Du Jin

The first Olympic games in the modern era, which were in

1896 were not open to women, but since then the
number of women who have participated in the Olympic
games have increased dramatically

19th and early 20th centuries

The educational committees of the French
Revolution (1789) included intellectual, moral, and
physical education for girls and boys alike. With the
victory of Napoleon less than twenty years later, physical
education was reduced to military preparedness for boys
and men. In Germany, the physical education
of GutsMuths (1793) included girl's education. This
included the measurement of performances of girls. This
led to women's sport being more actively pursued in
Germany than in most other countries.[6] When
the Fdration Sportive Fminine Internationale was
formed as an all women's international organization it
had a German male vice-president, and German
international success in elite sports.
Women's sports in the late 1800s focused on correct
posture, facial and bodily beauty, muscles, and health.
[citation needed]
In 1916 the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) held
its first national championship for women.[citation needed]

Few women competed in sports in Europe and North

America until the late nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries, as social changes favored increased female
participation in society as equals with men. Although
women were technically permitted to participate in many
sports, relatively few did. There was often disapproval of
those who did.
"Bicycling has done more to emancipate women than
anything else in the world." Susan B. Anthony said "I
stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride on a
wheel. It gives women a feeling of freedom and selfreliance."
The modern Olympics had female competitors from 1900
onward, though women at first participated in
considerably fewer events than men. Women first made
their appearance in the Olympic Games in Paris in 1900.
That year, 22 women competed in tennis, sailing,
croquet, equestrian, and golf.[7] As of the IOC-Congress in
Paris 1914 a woman's medal had formally the same
weight as a man's in the official medal table. This left the
decisions about women's participation to the individual
international sports federations.[8] Concern over the
physical strength and stamina of women led to the
discouragement of female participation in more physically
intensive sports, and in some cases led to less physically
demanding female versions of male sports.
Thus netball was developed out
of basketball and softball out of baseball.
In response to the lack of support for women's
international sport the Fdration Sportive Fminine
Internationale was founded in France. This organization
initiated the Women's World Games, which attracted
participation of nearly 20 countries and was held four

times between 1922 and 1934.[9] The International

Olympic Committee began to incorporate greater
participation of women at the Olympics in response. The
number of Olympic women athletes increased over fivefold in the period, going from 65 at the 1920 Summer
Olympics to 331 at the 1936 Summer Olympics.[10][11]
Most early women's professional sports leagues
foundered. This is often attributed to a lack of spectator
support. Amateur competitions became the primary
venue for women's sports. Throughout the mid-twentieth
century, Communist countries dominated many Olympic
sports, including women's sports, due to state-sponsored
athletic programs that were technically regarded as
amateur. The legacy of these programs endured, as
former Communist countries continue to produce many of
the top female athletes. Germany and Scandinavia also
developed strong women's athletic programs in this
period.

REASONS FOR LESS PARTICIPATION

OF WOMEN IN SPORTS
Barrier: lack of time & lack of childcare Women tend
to have less leisure time than men as they take on the
greater burden of responsibility for housework, childcare
and care of elderly or infirm relatives. Some women
therefore tend to be reluctant to sign up for anything over
an extended period of time, believing it would be selfish
to do so.

Recommendation: Provide crche facilities or classes for

toddlers and children, so that the adults can bring their
children along when they go to exercise. Be as flexible as
possible when considering length of sign-up periods.

Barrier: lack of money Women tend to earn less than men;

women working full time earn on average 559 less per
month than men do.

Recommendations: Consider different payment options

and be as flexible as possible. Monthly direct debits

rather than annual subscriptions, or pay as you play
rather than long contracts. Free introductions are useful
as women are unlikely to sign up for a long period of time
if they arent confident about an activity or sport.
Subsidies or other help (for instance free equipment hire)
can also make them more affordable.

Barrier: lack of transport This is a particular problem for

women with young children, elderly women, women and
girls with disabilities, and women and girls living in rural
areas.

Recommendations: Explore partnerships with transport

providers. Provide information about public transport.

Develop a system so participants can organise share-aride systems. Promote physical activity, which doesnt
require transport, such as walking and running. Walking
groups such as jogscotli and ii and running groups such
as Running Sistersiii can support women to take part in
easily accessible physical activity in a friendly, supportive
group.

Barrier: personal safety Personal safety on the streets, on

public transport, and in and around sports and
community venues is a particular problem for women.
Some groups are particularly vulnerable e.g. BME girls

and women can become the focus of racist behaviour.

People with disabilities are often the targets of bullying
and abuse. Travelling to and from venues for sports or
physical activity can present particular barriers for these
groups.

Recommendations: Do a safety assessment of the venue

to take into account the safety of the area, street lighting,

transport links etc. Ask participants about their
experiences and views of personal safety in those areas.
Signpost selfdefence lessons and personal alarms. Ensure
activities are offered in locations or facilities that are safe
and appropriate for women and girls. Also exercising in
groups can make physical activity safer for women and
girls.

Barrier: funding At most levels, womens sport attracts

less funding than mens. Women make up 41% of all

athletes funded through Womens Sport and Fitness
Foundation Barriers to participation Issue 1 August 2008
Review due February2009 various programmes. At
community sport level, girls teams tend to attract less
sponsorship from local businesses because they do not
have large supporter bases. These inequalities in funding
result in poorer facilities, equipment and kit, as well as
less sponsorship for female athletes.

Recommendations: Review existing practice and

allocation and take action to address inequality. Ensure
that where possible equal funds, prize money and
sponsorship are available to male and female athletes.

Barrier: access to facilities Women and girls cant play

sport if they cant get access to facilities at suitable

times. Too often, sports halls prioritise male sport so that
men get facilities at their preferred times, while women
have to make do with less convenient times. Access to

sporting facilities can particularly limited for women and

girls with disabilities. Access can be limited by physical
barriers such as inaccessible entrances, reception areas,
changing rooms and sports facilities, lack of accessible
transport and parking, etc. Lack of information in
accessible formats for visually impaired and/or hearing
impaired people can also create barriers.

Recommendations: Review the allocation of facilities and

pitch time, and ensure equitable access during peak

times for womens sports. Provide information in a variety
of formats so that all groups have equal access. Ensure
staff undergo regular equality training.

Menopause
Data suggest that women with epilepsy reach
menopause approximately 3 years earlier than women
without epilepsy.37 Higher seizure frequency may be
associated with earlier onset of menopause. While the
exact cause of the early cessation of the normal
reproductive cycle is unknown, it is hypothesized that it
occurs because women with epilepsy often have
abnormal secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Inadequate
concentrations of LH and FSH can cause anovulation and
amenorrhea. Just as hormonal issues associated with
menarche and pregnancy can affect epilepsy, the onset

of menopause can also affect epilepsy. One study

reported that women with catamenial seizure
exacerbations during their reproductive years had
significant changes at perimenopause and menopause:
during perimenopause this subset of women experienced
an increase in seizures; however, after menopause, they
had a reduction in seizure frequency

Menarche
Menarche is the first menstrual cycle, or
first menstrual bleeding, in female humans. From both
social and medical perspectives, it is often considered the
central event of female puberty, as it signals the
possibility of fertility.
Girls experience menarche at different ages. The timing
of menarche is influenced by female biology, as well
as genetic and environmental factors,
especially nutritionalfactors. The average age of
menarche has declined over the last century, but the
magnitude of the decline and the factors responsible
remain subjects of contention. The worldwide average
age of menarche is very difficult to estimate accurately,
and it varies significantly by geographical region, race,
ethnicity and other characteristics. Various estimates
have placed it at 13.[1] Some estimates suggest that
the median age of menarche worldwide is 14, and that
there is a later age of onset in Asianpopulations

compared to the West.[2] The average age of menarche is

about 12.5 years in the United States,[3] 12.72 in Canada,
[4]
12.9 in the UK[5] and 13.06 0.10 years in Iceland.[6] A
study of girls in Istanbul, Turkey, found the median age at
menarche to be 12.74 years.

Menstrual Dysfunction
Definition
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) is defined as
abnormal bleeding in the absence of intracavitary or
uterine pathology.
Most menstrual cycles occur every 22 to 35 days. Normal
menstrual flow lasts 3 to 7 days, with most blood loss
occurring within the first 3 days. The menstrual flow
amounts to 35 mL and consists of effluent debris and
blood. Patients with menorrhagia lose more than 80 mL of
blood with each menstrual cycle and often develop
anemia. In general, most normal menstruating women
use five or six pads or tampons per day. Although
approximately 16 mg of iron are lost with each menstrual
cycle, this rarely results in anemia in women with
adequate intake of dietary iron.
More than 50% of women who complain of menorrhagia
might not actually have heavy menses. Some patients
change their sanitary products more often for hygienic

reasons or because of personal preference or concern for

toxic shock syndrome than because of heavy flow. Social
obligations, sexual activity, hobbies, work, and travel are
not interrupted with normal menstrual function.

Effects of
menstrual cycle
on sports
performance.
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of
menstrual cycle on female athletes' performance. Fortyeight teak-wondo athletes, 76 judoka, 81 volleyball, and
36 basketball players (total 241) elite athletes
participated in the study. A questionnaire constituted
from 21 questions about menstrual cycle applied. A oneway analysis of variance and scheffe tests were
performed to assess differences between sport branches
about physical and physiological characteristics. Chi
square was used to evaluate the regularity of menstrual
cycle, performance, and drug taking. The mean age of
teak-wondo athletes, judokas, volleyball and basketball
players were 20.71 +/- 0.41, 16.91 +/- 0.27, 21.22 +/0.26, and 21.03 +/- 0.63 years, respectively. The
menarche ages of the athletes were 13.92, 13.22, 13.75,

13.86 years, respectively. 27.8% participated in regional

competitions, 46.1% participated in just the national
competitions, and 26.1% participated in the international
competitions. Whereas the menstrual disorder was seen
in 14.5% of the athletes in normal time, during the
intensive exercise this ratio was increased to 20.7%. It
was determined that during the competition 11.6% of the
athletes used drug, 36.9% had a painful menstruation,
17.4% did not have a painful menstruation, 45.6%
sometimes had a painful menstruation, and 63.1% of the
athletes said that their pain decreased during the
competition. First 14 days after the menstruation began,
71% of the athletes said that they felt themselves well.
71% of the athletes felt worst just before the
menstruation period, 62.2% of the athletes said that their
performance was same during the menstruation, and
21.2% said that their performance got worse. Both in
general and during the training the menstruation period
of the athletes was found to be regular (p < .01). Most of
the athletes said that they have a painful menstruation
period, and during the competition their pain decreased.
As a result of the questionnaire, during the training and
competition the number of athletes that did not use drugs
were higher than the athletes that used drug (p < .01).
The number of athletes that felt good before and during
the menstruation were significantly higher (p < .05, p < .
01). Between the menstruation periods the athletes said
that they felt better in the first 14 days than the second
14 days (p < .01). When the non-menses period and
menses period were compared the athletes said that their
performance did not change (p < .01). It has been
concluded that the menarche age was high in the
athletes. It has found that the physical performance was

not affected by the menstrual period and the pain

decreased during the training and competition.

Pregnancy and Sport

Participation
Although the benefits of exercising during pregnancy are
well known, there is controversy over whether
competitive athletes should continue to compete in their
sport during pregnancy.
A number of pregnant athletes have continued to
compete while pregnant including Olympic beach gold
medalist volleyball player Kerry Walsh, WNBA
athlete Candace Parker, and LPGA player Catriona
Matthew who won the Brazil Cup when she was five
months pregnant. However, the issue becomes more
complicated when the athlete is under 18 and is
competing in high school.
As the pregnancy progresses, the natural weight gain of
the fetus coupled with the body weight and adaptations
of the athlete will deter an athlete from competing. But
should an athlete continue to compete during the first
trimester when the body weight changes have not yet
occurred?

The safety of both the pregnant woman and the fetus are
the primary concerns. One guideline that was published
in 1985 by Dr. Raul Artal, chairman of obstetrics,
gynecology and womens health at Saint Louis University
in St. Louis, stated that a pregnant athlete should not
have a heart rate of higher than 140 beats per minute to
ensure that the fetus would not be deprived of oxygen.
Although this guideline is still quoted today, Dr. Artal now
states that the 140 beats per minute guideline was
calculated by an estimation and was not based on
evidence (Lavigne, P., November 29, 2009). Although the
original number of 140 beats per minutes was later
tested in a lab setting and proved safe for both the
pregnant athlete and the fetus, the standard still exists in
the literature today.
Ultimately, the decision to continue to compete is up to
the athlete and the athletes personal physician.
However, not all physicians will agree on allowing a
pregnant athlete to compete. With this in mind, a number
of factors need to be taken into consideration including
the age and fitness level of the athlete, competition level
(high school versus collegiate team), physical demands of
the sport, and risk factors of the sport (i.e., contact sport,
sport implements).
Because pregnant athletes under 18 legally are under
their parents care, parents need to be included in making
the decisions for these athletes. Athletes 18 and older

have the legal right to make decisions regarding their

own health and medical care.
It is also well documented that women who regularly
exercise before pregnancy may continue to do so during
pregnancy. Because the body has already adapted to the
physiological demands of the specific activity, the body
will be able to handle the demands of exercising during
pregnancy.
However, athletes who have not been regularly active
prior to pregnancy should not begin a rigorous exercise
program when they become pregnant. This can place
both the fetus and the pregnant athlete at risk for
medical complications.
Competition level is also an important factor to consider
when making the decision on whether to compete or not.
The demands of competing on a high school athletic team
may not be as strenuous as the demands of competing
on a club level or collegiate level team. More competitive
teams tend to have more intense and longer practices. A
less competitive program will require less physical
demands from their athletes.
The physical demands of the sport may be the key factor
in deciding whether to continue to compete during
pregnancy. Sports such as volleyball that require an
athlete to dive on to the floor may place the fetus at risk.
Sports in which body to body contact is a regular
occurrence (i.e., soccer and basketball) may also place

the fetus at risk. However, noncontact sports such as

cross-country running or swimming may be safer because
the risk of injury due to the nature of the sport is
significantly less.
With that being said, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
during strenuous exercise is a potential problem for
pregnant athletes along with overheating and
dehydration. Competitive pregnant athletes need to
consume extra calories and drink plenty of liquids to
ensure that both the athlete and fetus have the nutrients
needed during exercise.
Other risk factors that need to be considered include if
the fetus may be at risk due to the nature of the sport.
For example, a pregnant athlete who pitches on a
fastpitch softball team may be placing her fetus at risk for
injury while pitching due to high-speed projectiles (line
drive up the middle). An athlete who is a catcher may
place the fetus at risk for injury due to collisions likely to
occur with a close play at the plate.
The physiological demands of the sport and the risk
factors inherent in the sport need to be considered when
making a decision whether to continue to compete in
sports while pregnant. If the athlete should choose to
continue to participate, the athlete should:
Stay hydrated
Increase caloric intake
Be careful of her bodys center of gravity

 Compete at a pace that allows the athlete to breathe

easily
Be under the care of a physician.

Female Athlete
Triad
Female athlete triad is a syndrome in which eating
disorders (or low energy availability),
[1]
amenorrhoea/oligomenorrhoea, and decreased bone
mineral density (osteoporosis and osteopenia) are
present.[2] Also known simply as the Triad, this condition is
seen in females participating in sports that emphasize
leanness or low body weight.[3] The triad is a serious
illness with lifelong health consequences and can
potentially be fatal.

CLASSIFICATION
The female athlete triad is a syndrome of three
interrelated conditions. Thus, if an athlete is suffering
from one element of the Triad, it is likely that she is
suffering from the other two components of the triad as
well.[5]With the increase in female participation in sports,
much of it attributable to Title IX legislation in the United

States, the incidence of a triad of disorders particular to

women the female athlete triadhas also increased.
[6]
Due to this increasing prevalence, the female athlete
triad and its relationship with athletics was identified in
the 1980s as the symptoms, risk factors, causes and
treatments were studied in depth and their relatedness
evaluated. The condition is most common in cross
country running, gymnastics, and figure skating.[7] Many
of those who suffer from the triad are involved in some
sort of athletics, in order to promote weight loss and
leanness. The competitive sports that promote this
physical leanness may result in disordered eating, and be
responsible for the origin of the Female Athlete Triad. For
some women, not balancing the needs of their bodies and
their sports can have major consequences.[8] In addition,
for some competitive female athletes, problems such as
low self-esteem, a tendency toward perfectionism, and
family stress place them at risk for disordered eating.

Signs And Symptoms

Clinical symptoms of the Triad may include disordered
eating, fatigue, hair loss, cold hands and feet, dry skin,
noticeable weight loss, increased healing time from
injuries, increased incidence of bone fracture and
cessation of menses. Affected females may also struggle
with low self-esteem and depression.

Upon physical examination, a physician may also note the

following symptoms: elevated carotene in the
blood, anemia, orthostatic hypotension, electrolyte
irregularities, hypoestrogenism, vaginal atrophy,
and bradycardia.[2][4]
An athlete may show signs of restrictive eating, but not
meet the clinical criteria for an eating disorder. She may
also display subtle menstrual disturbances, such as a
change in menstrual cycle length, anovulation, or luteal
phase defects, but not yet have developed complete
amenorrhea. Likewise, an athlete's bone density may
decrease, but may not yet have dropped below her agematched normal range.

EATING DISORDER
Energy availability is defined as energy intake minus
energy expended. Energy is taken in through food
consumption. Our bodies expend energy through normal
functioning as well as through exercise. In the case of
female athlete triad, low energy availability may be due
to eating disorders, but not necessarily so. Athletes may
experience low energy availability by exercising more
without a concomitant change in eating habits, or they
may increase their energy expenditure while also eating
less.[2] Disordered eating is defined among this situation
due to the low caloric intake or low energy availability.
The disordered eating that accompanies female athlete
triad can range from avoiding certain types of food the

athlete thinks are "bad" (such as foods containing fat) to

serious eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia
nervosa.[8]
While most athletes do not meet the criteria to be
diagnosed with an eating disorder such as anorexia
nervosa or bulimia nervosa, many will exhibit disordered
eating habits.[4] Some examples of disordered eating
habits are fasting; binge-eating; purging; and the use of
diet-pills, laxatives, diuretics, and enemas.[2] By
restricting their diets, athletes worsen the problem of low
energy availability.
Having low dietary energy from excessive exercise and/or
dietary restrictions leaves too little energy for the body to
carry out normal functions such as maintaining a regular
menstrual cycle or healthy bone density.

AMENORRHOEA
Amenorrhea, defined as the cessation of a womans
menstrual cycle for more than three months, is the
second disorder in the Triad. Weight fluctuations from
dietary restrictions and/or excessive exercise affect the
hypothalamuss output of gonadotropic hormones.
Gonadotropic hormones stimulate growth of the gonads
and the secretion of sex hormones.[9] (e.g. gonadotropinreleasing hormone, lutenizing hormone and follicle
stimulating hormone.) These gonadotropic hormones play

a role in stimulating estrogen release from the ovaries.

Without estrogen release, the menstrual cycle is
disrupted.[10] Exercising intensely and not eating enough
calories can lead to decreases in estrogen, the hormone
that helps to regulate the menstrual cycle. As a result, a
female's periods may become irregular or stop altogether.
[8]

There are two types of amenorrhea. A woman who has

been having her period and then stops menstruating for
ninety days or more is said to have secondary
amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea is characterized by
delayed menarche. Menarche is the onset of a girls first
period. Delayed menarche may be associated with delay
of the development of secondary sexual characteristics .

OSTEOPOROSIS
Osteoporosis is defined by the National Institutes of
Health as a skeletal disorder characterized by
compromised bone strength predisposing a person to an
increased risk of fracture.[11] Low estrogen levels and
poor nutrition, especially low calcium intake, can lead to
osteoporosis, the third aspect of the triad. This condition
can ruin a female athlete's career because it may lead to
stress fractures and other injuries.[8]
Patients with female athlete triad get osteoporosis due to
hypoestrogenemia, or low estrogen levels. With estrogen

deficiency, the osteoclasts live longer and are therefore

able to resorb more bone. In response to the increased
bone resorption, there is increased bone formation and a
high-turnover state develops which leads to bone loss
and perforation of the trabecular plates.[12] As osteoclasts
break down bone, patients see a loss of bone mineral
density. Low bone mineral density renders bones more
brittle and hence susceptible to fracture. Because
athletes are active and their bones must endure
mechanical stress, the likelihood of experiencing bone
fracture is particularly high.[2]
Additionally, because those suffering with female athlete
triad are also restricting their diet, they may also not be
consuming sufficient amounts vitamins and minerals
which contribute to bone density; not getting
enough calcium or vitamin D further exacerbates the
problem of weak bones.[4]
Bone mass is now thought to peak between the ages of
18-25. Thus, behaviors which result in low bone density in
youth could be detrimental to an athletes bone health
throughout her lifetime.

CAUSES

Gymnastics, figure skating, ballet, diving, swimming,

and long distance running are examples of sports which
emphasize low body weight. The Triad is seen more often
in aesthetic sports such as these versus ball game
sports Women taking part in these sports may be at an
increased risk for developing female athlete triad.
Athletes at greatest risk for low energy availability are
those who restrict dietary energy intake, who exercise for
prolonged periods, who are vegetarian, and who limit the
types of food they will eat. Many factors appear to
contribute to disordered eating behaviors and clinical
eating disorders. Dieting is a common entry point and
interest has focused on the contribution of environmental
and social factors, psychological predisposition, low selfesteem, family dysfunction, abuse, biological factors, and
genetics. Additional factors for athletes include early start
of sport-specific training and dieting, injury, and a sudden
increase in training volume. Surveys show more negative
eating attitude scores in athletic disciplines favoring
leanness. Disordered eating behaviors are risk factors for
eating disorders.

IDEOLOGY

In this article, we analyze how gender affects womens

political participation. More specifically, we test the effect
of gender ideology on young womens participation in
political consumerism. The current literature suggests
different reasons to explain the gap in political
participation between men and women, most importantly
focusing on socioeconomic resources, gender roles, and
political socialization, whereas little attention has been
devoted to the individual interpretation of a woman and
mans own role in society. We test the effects of gender
ideology on political consumerism, a form in which
women participate more than men. We analyze political
consumerism among young urban women, the population
most likely to hold an egalitarian gender ideology.
Moreover, we compare young women with different job
conditions. Although the gender gap is closing or
reversing in regard to specific forms of participation, such
as consumerism, some inequalities remain, and our study
contributes to understanding differences in participation
among women themselves.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
It gives me great pleasure to
express my gratitude towards our
physical education teacher Mr.
PRAVEEN PANDEY for his
guidance, support and
encouragement throughout the
duration of the project. Without his
motivation and help the successful
completion of this project would
not have been possible.

Amisha Rai

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that SHIVANI SHUKLA of
class 12th a Science has successfully
completed physical education project on
topic WOMENS AND SPORTS under the
guidance of Mr. PRAVEEN PANDEY
(subject teacher) during the academic
year 2016-17 in partial fulfillment of

curriculum of CENTRAL BOARD OF

SECONDARY EDUCATION (CBSE).

External examiner

Subject teacher

TEACHERS OBSERVATION