Physical Literacy and Inclusive and Equitable Opportunities

This chapter critically examines the intersection of physical literacy and social justice, highlighting the ways in which systemic inequities shape opportunities for engagement in movement, sport, recreation, and physical education. While physical literacy is grounded in principles of inclusion and holistic development, structural barriers related to age, socioeconomic status, gender, culture, ethnicity, and ability often undermine its accessibility for marginalised groups. Drawing on intersectionality, we emphasise how overlapping social identities intensify barriers and perpetuate cycles of exclusion, limiting the health and well-being benefits that physical activity affords. A social justice approach reframes physical literacy as not only an individual journey but also a collective responsibility to dismantle inequities embedded in societal structures and institutional practices. The chapter offers recommendations for creating inclusive, culturally relevant, and trauma-informed physical activity opportunities that recognise diverse lived experiences and empower all individuals to flourish. Ultimately, we argue that physical literacy, when pursued through equitable and socially conscious means, can serve as a transformative pathway towards agency, participation, and social change.