Violence against women and girls in sport contexts is a pressing issue in Canada. The most recent investigations into sexual assaults against women involving Canadian hockey players have re-exposed long standing systemic problems in hockey and other Canadian sports. This violence is rooted in a culture of sexism where violence against women at all levels—from sport federations to teams and clubs—is enabled and condoned, and often dismissed as “boys being boys”.
Violence against women and girls in sports is not unique to Canada. The International Olympic Committee's three scientific "Consensus Statements" in 2007, 2016 and 2019, warned sports organizations that sexual harassment and abuse happen in all sports and at all levels. Other studies show that this violence is connected to an organizational level tolerance of abuse and a conformity to dominant masculine values in sports across many societies.
To address this enduring crisis, Canadian and international experts in sports have called for actions to prevent this violence by transforming the deeply entrenched norms and cultural drivers of these problems, in addition to efforts that support victims and survivors.
Similarly, organizations and experts working on the primary prevention of violence against women and girls have identified sport as a key sector. These organizations have stressed that, similar to other social institutions such as schools and workplaces, people learn and reproduce particular attitudes, behaviours and social norms in sport settings. The importance of sport as a social practice and institution is therefore seen as an opportunity to set and reinforce positive community standards about respect and equality.
A review of global evidence on primary prevention initiatives in sport settings found significant interest and activity in this area, but few initiatives had been sufficiently evaluated. With this in mind, there are promising primary prevention techniques and examples inclusive of gender-transformative approaches. However, these approaches can be further explored, implemented and/or evaluated in the Canadian context. Gender-transformative approaches and techniques are necessary in all settings, and especially in sports, given the unequal gender dynamics that lead to condoning violence and incidents of violence that are often widely and systemically espoused and promoted in sports settings. Additionally, sports offer a critical opportunity to engage with people of all genders and walks of life.