Women s Sport in Canada:

1. Women�s Sport in Canada: Have We Achieved Gender Equity? M. Ann Hall University of Alberta Canada Presentation to the 5th Annual Congress of the Japan Society for Sport and Gender Studies Kyoto, Japan, July 1-2, 2006

2. Presentation Themes What have we been doing to bring about gender equity in sport (especially last 10-15 years)? Strategies employed � what has worked? Areas of gender inequity still remaining Relationship of women�s (feminist) movement to achieving gender equity in Canadian sport Role of feminist academics and researchers in the change process Future of women�s sport in Canada (and the world)?

3. What have we been doing in Canada to bring about gender equity in sport? Will focus on last 10-15 years

4. 2006 Winter Olympics Canada won 19 medals 14 by women 5 gold medals: 4 in women�s sports 8 silver medals: 5 by women 6 bronze medals: 5 by women

6. 2006 Paralympic Winter Games Canada won 13 medals 6 by women plus one by a mixed team 5 gold: 1 by a woman; 1 by a mixed team 3 silver: 2 by women 5 bronze: 3 by women

12. National campaign to increase the number of coaching opportunities for women, at all levels of sport. Directed by the Canadian Coaching Association Provides professional development grants, apprenticeship grants, and National Coaching Institute scholarships Over 500 women coaches have received some $3,000,000 since 1987 Development of resources � e.g., Canadian Journal for Women in Coaching

16. Strategies employed � what has worked?

17. Gender equity strategies 1990s: shift from �equality� to �equity� Equality = equality of opportunity Women (and other disadvantaged groups) identified as a target group Focus is on women themselves Equity = focus on a system (e.g., sport) System needs to change to accommodate women

18. Strategies cont�d Equality focuses on creating the same starting line for everyone Equity has the goal of providing everyone with the same finish line Women�s sport advocacy organizations (e.g., CAAWS) endorsed this shift CAAWS works with other sport organizations to become gender equitable

19. Strategies 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

20. Strategies cont�d

21. Strategies cont�d Sport Funding and Accountability Framework (Sport Canada): National Sport Organizations (NSOs) must have a formal policy or policies demonstrating commitment to equity and access, notably for women, persons with a disability and Aboriginal peoples as athletes, coaches, 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)

22. Strategies cont�d ? Is this funding policy effective? very difficult to find out (no data available) many large NSOs do not rely on Sport Canada funding NSO websites do not mention gender equity policies NSO �strategic plans� do not mention gender equity Having a policy and taking action are not the same thing

23. Strategies cont�d Sophisticated use of information technology information archived and easily accessible websites continually updated electronic newsletters and journals

24. Strategies cont�d ? Legal challenges to inequality cases brought to federal and provincial human rights commissions many have been successful mechanism used less now than in 1970s and 1980s

25. Areas of gender inequity still remaining in Canada

26. Physical Activity Participation 54% of adult females not active enough to benefit health (compared to 48% of males) 65% of women (aged 65 and over) not active enough (compared to 50% of men) Source: Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute 2004 Physical Activity Monitor

27. Sport Participation Rates are dropping for Canadian women over 15 years of age 1992: 38.0% 1998: 26.0% 2004: 23.4% (39% for males) Participation for both genders decreases with age

28. Physical Activity and Sport among Children and Youth Over half of Canadian teenagers are sedentary Only 21% are accumulating enough daily activity to meet the international guidelines for optimal growth and development Teenagers, aged 15 to 19 are more likely to be sedentary than those aged 12 to 14 (51%) 63% of girls 15-19 years of age are inactive compared to 44% of boys 55% of girls 12-14 years of age are inactive compared to 43% of boys Obesity rates among Canadian children and youth are increasing and are among the highest in the world Source: CFLRI 2004 Physical Activity Monitor

29. Diversity Issues Aboriginal girls and women are often severely disadvantaged and marginalized Visible minority females (14%) greatly under-represented Women with disabilities participate much less

30. Women in Sport Leadership 1.17 million volunteers in organized sport (about 1 in 20 Canadians) Volunteers: 64% men; 36% women Coaches: 73% male; 27% female Executives: 61% male; 39% female Source: A Profile of Community Sport Volunteers (2005)