Women’s Sport in Canada:Women’s Sport in Canada:

Have We Achieved Gender Have We Achieved Gender Equity?Equity?

M. Ann HallM. Ann HallUniversity of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta

CanadaCanada

Presentation to the 5Presentation to the 5thth Annual Congress of the Japan Annual Congress of the Japan Society for Sport and Gender StudiesSociety for Sport and Gender Studies

Kyoto, Japan, July 1-2, 2006Kyoto, Japan, July 1-2, 2006

Presentation ThemesPresentation Themes

(1)(1) What have we been doing to bring about gender What have we been doing to bring about gender equity in sport (especially last 10-15 years)?equity in sport (especially last 10-15 years)?

(2)(2) Strategies employed – what has worked?Strategies employed – what has worked?(3)(3) Areas of gender inequity still remainingAreas of gender inequity still remaining(4)(4) Relationship of women’s (feminist) movement Relationship of women’s (feminist) movement

to achieving gender equity in Canadian sport to achieving gender equity in Canadian sport (5)(5) Role of feminist academics and researchers in Role of feminist academics and researchers in

the change processthe change process(6)(6) Future of women’s sport in Canada (and the Future of women’s sport in Canada (and the

world)?world)?

What have we been doing in What have we been doing in Canada to bring about gender Canada to bring about gender

equity in sport?equity in sport?

Will focus on last 10-15 yearsWill focus on last 10-15 years

2006 Winter Olympics2006 Winter Olympics

• Canada won 19 Canada won 19 medalsmedals

• 14 by women14 by women• 5 5 goldgold medals: 4 in medals: 4 in

women’s sportswomen’s sports• 8 8 silversilver medals: 5 by medals: 5 by

womenwomen• 6 6 bronzebronze medals: 5 by medals: 5 by

womenwomen

2006 Paralympic Winter Games2006 Paralympic Winter Games

• Canada won 13 Canada won 13 medalsmedals

• 6 by women plus one 6 by women plus one by a mixed teamby a mixed team

• 5 5 goldgold: 1 by a woman; : 1 by a woman; 1 by a mixed team1 by a mixed team

• 3 3 silversilver: 2 by women: 2 by women• 5 5 bronzebronze: 3 by women: 3 by women

Focus Areas:

● Leadership ● Access ● Participation

●Awareness ● Research

Examples of women’s sport advocacy organizations in Canada

Growth in girls’ and women’s soccer

► 347,228 registered players in 2004 (42% of total)

► more than doubled since 1996

Growth in girls’ and women’s ice hockey

► 54, 563 registered players in 2001-02

► 400% increase in 10 years

• National campaign to increase the number of National campaign to increase the number of coaching opportunities for women, at all levels of coaching opportunities for women, at all levels of sport.sport.

• Directed by the Canadian Coaching AssociationDirected by the Canadian Coaching Association• Provides professional development grants, Provides professional development grants,

apprenticeship grants, and National Coaching apprenticeship grants, and National Coaching Institute scholarshipsInstitute scholarships

• Over 500 women coaches have received some Over 500 women coaches have received some $3,000,000 since 1987$3,000,000 since 1987

• Development of resources – e.g., Development of resources – e.g., Canadian Canadian Journal for Women in CoachingJournal for Women in Coaching

► about 50 universities in Canada

► most have an equity statement of some kind

► 58% of athletic departments have a specific equity statement

► identification of best practices (e.g., special funds to enhance women’s sport programs, detailed action plans to achieve gender equity)

Addressing controversial issues

Strategies employed – what has Strategies employed – what has worked?worked?

Gender equity strategiesGender equity strategies

• 1990s: shift from “equality” to 1990s: shift from “equality” to “equity” “equity”

• EqualityEquality = equality of opportunity = equality of opportunity– Women (and other disadvantaged groups) Women (and other disadvantaged groups)

identified as a target groupidentified as a target group– Focus is on women themselvesFocus is on women themselves

• EquityEquity = focus on a system (e.g., = focus on a system (e.g., sport)sport)– System needs to change to accommodate System needs to change to accommodate

womenwomen

Strategies cont’dStrategies cont’d

• EqualityEquality focuses on creating the same focuses on creating the same starting line for everyonestarting line for everyone

• EquityEquity has the goal of providing everyone has the goal of providing everyone with the same finish linewith the same finish line

• Women’s sport advocacy organizations Women’s sport advocacy organizations (e.g., CAAWS) endorsed this shift (e.g., CAAWS) endorsed this shift

• CAAWS works with other sport CAAWS works with other sport organizations to become gender equitableorganizations to become gender equitable

Strategies cont’dStrategies cont’d

• Incorporation of gender equity into Sport Canada policy statements

• The goals of the Canadian Sport Policy (2002-2012) are:– enhanced EXCELLENCE– enhanced PARTICIPATION– enhanced CAPACITY– enhanced INTERACTION

Strategies cont’dStrategies cont’d

Strategies cont’dStrategies cont’d

• Sport Funding and Accountability Sport Funding and Accountability Framework (Sport Canada):Framework (Sport Canada):– National Sport Organizations (NSOs) must have National Sport Organizations (NSOs) must have

a formal policy or policies demonstrating a formal policy or policies demonstrating commitment to equity and access, notably for commitment to equity and access, notably for womenwomen, persons with a disability and , persons with a disability and Aboriginal peoples as athletes, coaches, Aboriginal peoples as athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and leaders*officials, volunteers and leaders*

*A formal policy on women and sport is not required for NSOs which exceed 40% female participation or representation in all areas (athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and leaders)

Strategies cont’dStrategies cont’d

● Is this funding policy effective?Is this funding policy effective? - very difficult to find out (no data available)very difficult to find out (no data available)- many large NSOs do not rely on Sport Canada many large NSOs do not rely on Sport Canada

fundingfunding- NSO websites do not mention gender equity NSO websites do not mention gender equity

policiespolicies- NSO “strategic plans” do not mention gender NSO “strategic plans” do not mention gender

equityequity- Having a policy and taking action are not the Having a policy and taking action are not the

same thingsame thing

Strategies cont’dStrategies cont’d

• Sophisticated use of information Sophisticated use of information technologytechnology– information archived and easily accessibleinformation archived and easily accessible– websites continually updatedwebsites continually updated– electronic newsletters and journalselectronic newsletters and journals

Strategies cont’dStrategies cont’d

●● Legal challenges to inequalityLegal challenges to inequality- cases brought to federal and provincial human cases brought to federal and provincial human

rights commissionsrights commissions- many have been successfulmany have been successful- mechanism used less now than in 1970s and mechanism used less now than in 1970s and

1980s1980s

Areas of gender inequity still Areas of gender inequity still remaining in Canadaremaining in Canada

Physical Activity ParticipationPhysical Activity Participation

• 54% of 54% of adult femalesadult females not active not active enough to benefit health (compared enough to benefit health (compared to 48% of males)to 48% of males)

• 65% of 65% of women (aged 65 and over)women (aged 65 and over) not active enough (compared to 50% not active enough (compared to 50% of men)of men)

Source: Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute 2004 Source: Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute 2004 Physical Activity MonitorPhysical Activity Monitor

Sport ParticipationSport Participation• Rates are Rates are droppingdropping for Canadian for Canadian

women over 15 years of agewomen over 15 years of age• 1992: 38.0%1992: 38.0%• 1998: 26.0%1998: 26.0%• 2004: 23.4% (39% for males)2004: 23.4% (39% for males)

• Participation for both genders Participation for both genders decreases with agedecreases with age

Physical Activity and Sport among Physical Activity and Sport among Children and YouthChildren and Youth

• Over half of Canadian Over half of Canadian teenagersteenagers are sedentaryare sedentary • Only 21% are accumulating enough daily activity Only 21% are accumulating enough daily activity

to meet the international guidelines for optimal to meet the international guidelines for optimal growth and developmentgrowth and development

• Teenagers, aged 15 to 19 are more likely to be Teenagers, aged 15 to 19 are more likely to be sedentary than those aged 12 to 14 (51%)sedentary than those aged 12 to 14 (51%)– 63% of girls 15-19 years of age are inactive63% of girls 15-19 years of age are inactive compared to 44% compared to 44%

of boysof boys– 55% of girls 12-14 years of age are inactive55% of girls 12-14 years of age are inactive compared to 43% compared to 43%

of boysof boys

• Obesity ratesObesity rates among Canadian children and youth among Canadian children and youth are increasing and are among the highest in the are increasing and are among the highest in the worldworld

Source: CFLRI 2004 Physical Activity Monitor

Diversity IssuesDiversity Issues

• AboriginalAboriginal girls and women are girls and women are often severely disadvantaged and often severely disadvantaged and marginalizedmarginalized

• Visible minorityVisible minority females (14%) females (14%) greatly under-representedgreatly under-represented

• Women with disabilitiesWomen with disabilities participate participate much lessmuch less

Women in Sport LeadershipWomen in Sport Leadership

• 1.17 million volunteers in organized 1.17 million volunteers in organized sport (about 1 in 20 Canadians)sport (about 1 in 20 Canadians)

• VolunteersVolunteers: 64% men; 36% women: 64% men; 36% women• CoachesCoaches: 73% male; 27% female: 73% male; 27% female• ExecutivesExecutives: 61% male; 39% female: 61% male; 39% female

Source: Source: A Profile of Community Sport Volunteers A Profile of Community Sport Volunteers (2005)(2005)