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| Volume 8 Number 1 - Spring 1997 |
GIRLS AND WOMEN IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORT
Index
Why is homophobia an issue that is taken on by women's groups - isn't it an issue for the gay and lesbian community?
Homophobia has been identified as a barrier for girls and women who want to participate in sport and physical activity, so it is an issue for groups concerned with equal access to sport.
Certain sports that women participate in can become stereotyped as sports that lesbians play. Not only does this hurt those that play the sport, but the resulting societal or peer pressure can stop other women from wanting to play the sport.
By avoiding sport participation for these reasons, women's participation will continue to be less than equal to that of men. These forms of prejudice and discrimination can and are being used to marginalize women's participation in sport and physical activity and prevent them from becoming involved at any level.
Our society has many unfounded concerns and myths about women's participation in sport that has lead to this homophobic attitude.
Many people wonder if participating in sports will cause women to become lesbians, or does playing on sports teams with lesbians cause women to become lesbians?
It is estimated that between 10-25% of our population is lesbian or gay and therefore it can be estimated that the same percentage of the sport and recreation community are also lesbian or gay.
These questions all arise from a lack of understanding on sexual orientation and from a lack of discussion about this issue. This is a complex issue and researchers have been unable to define what determines an individual's sexual orientation, but they do agree that one activity, such as participation in physical activity or sport, will not determine one's sexual orientation.
Nor is there evidence to support that one will become lesbian or gay based on association with others. Sexual orientation is more than behaviour, it is a sense of identity and is integral to an individual's sense of being and researchers now believe that it is biologically determined. Some women may admit to being lesbians while on a sports team, but their participation on a sports team is not why they are a lesbian.
Another question that often arises is if they are not lesbians, then why do women athletes look so masculine? This question has more to do with our own culture than anything else. The traits that have been traditionally attached to being "masculine", those of aggressiveness, strength, bravery, and independence; are opposite of what we believe to be "feminine". So if we see a female athlete demonstrating these traits, we assume that the female is trying to imitate the other gender. We usually take this another step and assume that this particular female athlete must also be a lesbian. We need to work together to change society's definitions of masculine and feminine so that we no longer discriminate against athletic women. Why do we think that only men can have these traits and any women who have them must be "abnormal" or "unfeminine"?
Homophobia is a destructive tool for everyone, and can prevent individuals from being active in sport and physical activity - and don't we want everyone to participate in a healthy, active lifestyle?
So what can we do to deal with the issue of homophobia? Unfortunately, like many issues, homophobia may never disappear. What we need to do is to start talking about homophobia. This seems to be a "secret" issue that no one wants to talk about because they are afraid that talking about it may make others think that they are gay or a lesbian. Talking about this issue will dispel some of these myths and create some understanding of the issue.
The simplest way that each of us can contribute to reducing homophobic attitudes is to stop perpetuating the stereotypes and myths and start treating all participants with respect and dignity regardless of their sexual orientation.t
Some information taken from Eliminating Homophobia - an educational resource kit produced by the Women's Sport Foundation, call Promotion Plus for more information.
The Promotion Plus Leadership Awards ceremony was held on Friday, January 31, 1997 as part of the Kaizen Conference.
The Promotion Plus Leadership Awards recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of individuals or groups in BC who have challenged the traditional limits attributed to girls and women in physical activity and sport and in so doing have encouraged them to participate more fully as participants, competitors and leaders. The award winners for this year are:
Individual - Marilyn Johnny
Marilyn is an inspiration to First Nations youth, especially young girls as she challenges them to reach their fullest potential. As a coach, Marilyn took 2 women's teams to the BC soccer qualifiers for the North American Indigenous Games, and has started a volleyball team for women where she participates and coaches.
Two new awards were created this year to recognize deserving recipients:
Outstanding Role Model - Pauline Fleming
As a Moody Jr. High School teacher and volleyball coach, Pauline has created opportunities for girls to participate in challenging and fun activities and is an outstanding role model for her students and fellow teachers.
Challenging Traditions - Linda Kassis
Linda took the initiative to organize a female hockey program in Kamloops where registration grew from a few girls playing on boys teams to a division of approximately 150 female players.
Organization - Burnaby Girls' Soccer Club (BGSC)
The Burnaby Girls' Soccer Club has been instrumental in the development, growth, and visibility of girls soccer in the city of Burnaby. Formed in 1992, four existing soccer clubs gathered to create an all girls association which in 4 years, has grown from 375 to over 850 players.
Organization - Vancouver West Side Minor Softball Association (VWSMSA)
The Vancouver West Side Minor Softball Association was created to provide training, equipment and competitive opportunities in softball for girls. Since the creation of the league in 1994, registration has jumped from 475 to over 1000 girls playing at various levels of competition.
Honourable Mention - May Wong
May has taken a lead role in policy development for a gender equity initiative of the Recreation Branch. This has resulted in the creation of the "More Than an Open Door" project, aimed at building a fairer community through equal opportunities for girls and women.
Congratulations to the following women who received
1997 Kaizen Awards:
Marion Lay, Program Director of Promotion Plus - Professional Lifetime Achievement Award
Fiona McLean-Foreman - Volunteer Special Event Award
Erin Murphy - Volunteer Community Recreation and Leisure Services Award
Geraldine York - Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award
Congratulations to the following women who received Sport BC Athlete of the Year Awards:
Shelley Howieson, Coach of the SFU Women's Soccer Team-Coach of the Year
Kathleen Heddle, Rowing, Senior and Overall Athlete of the Year
Marni Abbott, Wheelchair Basketball - Disabled Athlete of the Year
Cari Rampersad, X Country/Track & Field - University Athlete of the Year
Congratulations to the Thomas Haney Girls Basketball Team who won their second straight Senior Girls AAA Provincial Basketball Championship.
1997 Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Vancouver May 16-18,1997
Vancouver will have an opportunity to experience the sport of wheelchair basketball first hand when the 1997 Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Championships take place in BC from May 16-18, 1997 at UBC. The Finals of the Championships will be played at GM Place in conjunction with the Rick Hansen, Man in Motion 10th Anniversary Community Celebration. Admission is free - come out and cheer on the BC Breakers Women's Team as they try to bring the National Championship back home! For more information call 822-4433.
On Thursday, March 6th,
Promotion Plus hosted an International Women's Day Celebration. Events for the day included 2 opportunities to walk/wheel/run or ride around False Creek, a Women in Sport panel presentation, and the announcement of the first annual Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund recipient. Thank you to Janice Bremner, Ljiljana Ljubisic and Marni Abbott who participated in our women in sport panel and shared their answer to the question "Who is your inspiration or motivator in sport?" and their personal significance of International Women's Day.
Thank you to the Bread Garden for generously providing our lunch and Canadian Springs for providing water.
The Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund has been created to provide financial support to activities dedicated to advancing gender equity in physical activity and sport and/or the community betterment resulting from female involvement in physical activity and sport.
The first annual recipient is Katia Oteman, a Masters student at Dalhousie University. Her project will consist of 2 components: a needs assessment to determine the recreation needs of adolescent female smokers; and the design of a smoking cessation program by adolescent females for adolescent females based on the On the Move framework. This 4 month project will take place in the Comox Valley where the incidence of adolescent smoking in females is 36%, higher than any other region in BC. The recreation program will be created by the girls and will provide recreation opportunities according to their needs as well as a smoking cessation component.
The Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund is a registered charitable foundation trust. Donations can be made to the Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund and sent c/o Promotion Plus.
On February 14, 1997,
Promotion Plus, Sport BC, the Coaches Association of BC, and the BC Amateur Hockey Association participated in a presentation to the Minister responsible for Sport and Recreation, the Hon. Jan Pullinger. The material contained in the presentation was developed in cooperation with the sport and recreation communities. The goal of this vision is to prevent harassment in the sport and recreation environment. Harassment prevention goes beyond simply creating policies and procedures. In conjunction with appropriate education and training, these policies and procedures need to be implemented throughout the system so that all participants in BC are provided with a safe environment.
For more information on the vision for harassment prevention in BC, please contact the Promotion Plus office.
W.I.S.R.A.N. Breakfast Meeting schedule:
April 30 - Sally (Willis) Stewart, "Save Your Bones" - Tomato Cafe
May 28 - Marion Lay, "Achieving Equity in Your Own Life" -the Arbutus Club. This is the final meeting until September.
Meetings begin at 7:30 am until 9:00 am. Call 737-3075 for cost and registration information.
EVENTS:
14th Annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards - May 15, 1997, Hyatt Regency Hotel Vancouver. Call 895-5765 for more information.
1997 Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Championships- May 16-18, 1997, UBC. Call 822-4433 for more information.
WORKSHOPS:
"Becoming an Outdoors-Woman" - May 31 - June 1, 1997. Call the BC Wildlife Federation at 1-800-533-2293.
"Business Workshop-Developing a Business Plan" - facilitated by Cheryl Smith. Thursday, April 24, 6-9pm. Call 737-3075 for details and cost.
CONFERENCES:
1997 BCRPA Symposium - May 7-10 , Whistler, BC. Call BCRPA at 273-8055 for more information.
In Concert '97 Conference - presented by BC School Sports, CIRA BC, and PEPSA - May 8-10 at UBC. Call 737-3069 for more information.
BC Coaching Seminar - May 31, 1997 at SFU Harbour Centre. Call the CABC office at 298-3137 for more information.
Levels 1, 2, & 3 Theory of the National Coaching Certification Program may be taken as a correspondence course in your own home, by an individual, or by a small group of coaches working together, through the Home Study Program. For further details contact Dr. Eric Broom at (604) 731-7066.
The following resources may be ordered from Promotion Plus by calling (604) 737-3075 or promotion.plus@telus.net
On the Move: A Handbook - to encourage non-active teenage girls to participate in a fun-filled, supportive, low skill level, team recreational activity. Handbooks are $10 plus $3 shipping.
Harassment in Sport: A Guide to Policies, Procedures and Resources, CAAWS, 1994.A user friendly tool for sport organizations. Contains a generic harassment policy (31 pages) $10.
Gender Equity In Recreation Services Policy for the City of London - a comprehensive policy from the Department of Community Services, Recreation and Community Programs Division, November 1996. Available on loan from Promotion Plus.
Promotion Plus Fact Files - are one page up-to-date facts on women in sport and physical activity. No Cost.
Determinants of Physical Activity/ Inactivity Among Girls and Women - Literature Review and Analysis, January 1997. Executive Summary available from Promotion Plus, complete copy available on loan.
Promotion Plus Resource Kits - Kits include up-to-date studies, surveys, statistics and articles on various topics.
- Self-Esteem, Sport and Physical Activity
- Body Image and Eating Disorders
- Facts and Stats
No Cost. (shipping charges will apply).
Celebrating Excellence: Profiles of Canadian Women Athletes, Wendy Long, 1995. Makes a great gift! $32 (incl. GST)
The following resources may be ordered from Promotion Plus by calling (604) 737-3075.
On The Move: A Handbook - to encourage non-active teenage girls to participate in a fun-filled, supportive, low skill level, team recreational activity. Handbooks are $10 plus $3 shipping.
Harassment in Sport: A Guide to Policies, Procedures and Resources, CAAWS, 1994. A user friendly tool for sport organizations. Contains a generic harassment policy (31 pages) $10.
Gender Equity In Recreation Services Policy for the City of London - a comprehensive policy from the Department of Community Services, Recreation and Community Programs Division, November 1996. Available on loan from Promotion
by Sandra Friedman
Who hasn't heard a young girl wail: "I'm not going to school today.
I feel so fat. I'm huge!"
In her new book, When Girls Feel Fat, psychotherapist Sandy Friedman explains that feeling fat is a code for expressing stressful or negative feelings. Feeling fat often means a girl is feeling inadequate or disappointed or other feelings that are difficult for girls her age to express. In the face of today's dieting epidemic among girls as young as seven, When Girls Feel Fat gives parents, teachers and professionals clear and proven strategies to deal with conflict, to recognize the "worries about weight" that can lead to serious eating disorders, and to cope with the grungies - Friedman's term for the voice of girls' self-deprecating negative feelings.
Pre-Order your copy for $20.00 + tax. Available in May from Promotion Plus.
NETWORK NEWS
Publisher: Promotion Plus
Editor/Writer: Carrie Linegar
Editor in Chief: Tammy Lawrence
e-mail: promotion.plus@telus.net
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