Diversifying Sport?
What is Diversifying Sport?
Diversifying Sport is a campaign running from March 22-24, 2023, to increase equality, diversity and inclusion within sport as Winchester. We want to increase the visibility of how diverse and inclusive sport can be and want to encourage all our students and staff to get involved!
The main areas we will be focusing on during this time period are Gender Identity, Gender Stereotypes, Sexuality and Identity, Disability, Mental Health and Race.
Why are we running Diversifying Sport
Each year Winchester Student Union does a demographical report on participation of various demographics within all of our activity groups. Unfortunately, the statistics of our sports teams are not where we would like them to be. Therefore, we are running this campaign to encourage the participation of all demographics in sports by making our teams as inclusive as they can be!
Gender and Identity
The Issue
Gender stereotypes in sport can play a big part in discouraging participation, due to the perception of sports being 'gendered'. All Gender Identities should be welcomed within sport and not face stigma or discrimination.
What we’re doing to help
To break down this barrier and encourage everyone to participate, this is what we're doing:
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Distributing pronoun badges to all sports teams to normalise the non-assumption of pronouns.
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Getting involved with the This Girl Can Campaign to showcase women in sport.
Previous campaign work done in this area
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This Girl Can 2020 - We took part in this campaign because it’s all about celebrating female representation in sport, empowering each other, and breaking the stereotypes which sadly still exist in the sporting industry.
Plans moving forward
We're looking beyond March seeing how we can break down Gender Stereotypes throughout the year. Here's the plan moving forward:
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Run 'Sports Swap' sessions to encourage participation of females in male dominated sports as well as vice versa.
Sexuality and Identity
The Issue
The LGBTQ+ community continue to face discrimination and barriers within sport. Exclusionary facilities, lack of representation, and gendered kits are only some of the barriers the LGBTQ+ community face when participating in sport.
What we’re doing to help
To help tackle this we are supporting campaigns such as Rainbow Laces, to highlight the struggles that LGBTQ+ community face within sport. We encourage all of our sports teams to Lace Up and Speak Up.
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Continue to provide our sports teams with Rainbow Laces to show their support
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Distribute pronoun badges to all sports teams to normalise the non-assumption of pronouns
Previous campaign work done in this area
- Rainbow Laces Campaign
Why do we need the Rainbow Laces Campaign?
Sport and fitness are an important part of so many of our lives – it has the power to bring people together, and to improve our mental and physical health. But too many LGBTQ+ people still feel confronted with a choice between loving their sport and being their true selves.
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82% of LGBTQ+ people have witnessed homophobia, biphobia or transphobia in sport
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43% of LGBTQ+ people think public sporting events aren't welcoming to them
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20% of sports fans think anti-LGBTQ+ banter is harmless
How can the campaign make an impact?
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Two thirds of sport fans who saw the campaign believe they have a responsibility to stick up for LGBTQ+ fans of the teams and sports they follow (ICM for Stonewall, 2020).
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46% of people feel confident challenging anti-LGBT language online and at live sporting events.
The campaign opens an opportunity to provoke positive, constructive conversations across your communities about LGBTQ+ inclusion. Remember – every conversation takes us one step closer to creating a better sporting world for LGBTQ+ people.
So, while there’s been a significant uptick in visibility in recent years, LGBTQ+ people still face prejudice across the sporting world, and that means many simply stop participating. That’s why it’s so important for each of us to talk with the people around us about the real experiences of LGBTQ+ people in sport and do our best to create inclusive environments.
10 tips to step up as an ally to LGBTQ+ people in sport
1. Challenge anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes
Over the years, the culture around anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes has started to shift in the sporting world. However, more than one in five sport fans still think anti-LGBTQ+ language is harmless if it’s meant as ‘banter’ (ICM for Stonewall, 2021).
Speak up when you see or hear anti-LGBTQ+ bullying or language. Allyship is a doing word! Even if it feels hard to challenge, your actions can have a real impact and go a long way to making sure that sport is everyone’s game.
2. Celebrate LGBTQ+ people’s achievements in sport
It’s important to recognise and uplift LGBTQ+ people throughout the year, not just in the context of discrimination. This can be as simple as sharing positive news stories or interviews with LGBTQ+ people in sports on your social media channels, or with friends and family.
3. Share your pronouns
This is a simple step that anyone can take to be a trans ally within their sport community. Sharing your pronouns (if you feel comfortable) and suggesting your teammates or fellow fans do to help to create a culture where no one’s gender identity is assumed. You can share your pronouns when introducing yourself to others, in your social media bio, and in your e-mail signature.
4. Be aware of the challenges your LGBTQ+ peers might be facing
Take the time to listen to LGBTQ+ people’s experiences. Consider the ways that they could be impacted by issues such as social isolation, healthcare inequalities, or discrimination at home, in the community, or at their place or work or education.
5. Be an ally to LGBTQ+ people of colour and other people who face multiple forms of discrimination
The fight against racism in sport has been and continues to be a long and difficult one. For LGBTQ+ people of colour, sport can be an especially unwelcoming environment with barriers to inclusion and recognition. Kick It Out research showed that fans who were LGBTQ+ people of colour faced even more abuse - in stadiums and online.
You can start to tackle racism and other forms of oppression like ableism and sexism, which affect LGBTQ+ people at the intersections of these identities. Educate yourself about these issues and step up as an ally.
6. Establish or re-establish the ground rules of respect and inclusion
Every team member plays a huge role in making people feel part of a team. Whether it’s in team talks, end of season speeches, WhatsApp groups or changing room chatter – take a look at our steps to being an inclusive teammate to ensure everyone can give their all to the club and achieve their goals.
7. Make sure your club's policies reflect their values
For many, sport and sporting environments are ‘safe spaces’ - somewhere they feel comfortable and at ease. But for others, that same place might make them feel like they have to hide part of their lives because of how others might react.
Encourage your club to follow our tips on being an inclusive sports organisation to create a space where everyone can be their authentic selves. This way, they can spend all their energy and enthusiasm on thriving in their sport!
8. Commit to continuous improvement
Whilst there can be some quick wins for LGBTQ+ inclusion, the real impact comes with continued effort. Ask yourself what else you could do to be an ally to LGBTQ+ people. Even better, ask some LGBTQ+ people too.
9. Be a visible ally!
Wearing Rainbow Laces or a rainbow armband can go a long way to demonstrating your proud commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion. Consider how you can support the Rainbow Laces campaign and be a visible ally throughout the year.
10. Be consistent
Being an ally is about being consistent and looking out for your LGBTQ+ peers, no matter what. Join us in creating a world where every LGBTQ+ person can thrive in sport. Remember: inclusion has no off-season.
Stonewall Resources:
Plans moving forward
Looking beyond March, our pronoun badges available year-round, and we're constantly adding in options to choose from. When availability allows, we're also offering out rainbow laces at our events, such as at our Pride Nights.
Having an open conversation with members of the LGBTQ+ community on how we can continue to make sport at Winchester more inclusive.
Disability and Mental Health
The Issue
Sport can have such a positive impact on mental health and overall mood, yet we still need to be doing more to ensure that people of all abilities have access to the same opportunities, facilities, and sports clubs.
What we’re doing to help
To raise awareness of the positive impact sport has on mental health, and the barriers faced by those with disabilities, accessibility, or neurodiversity needs we asked students how we can be supporting them further.
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Wellbeing Reps are highly encouraged within ALL of our Activity Groups and are provided training to support students with their mental health
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Inclusion Reps are highly encouraged within ALL of our Activity Groups to advocate for inclusive practice and to bring to our attention areas where we can improve
Previous campaign work done in this area
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Accessibility in Sport 2022 - opening the conversation on how sport can be adapted to cater for those with disabilities and additional needs.
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Boys Do Cry 2020 - We created a safe space for our male identifying students to have an open and honest chat about the last time they cried.
Plans moving forward
Moving on from March, we want to break down these barriers to participating by starting an open and continuous dialogue with our sports facilities, ensuring they remain accessible.
Race
The Issue
Racism in sport has been a prevalent issue throughout the discipline, and no athlete should have to face racial abuse outside or within sports.
What we’re doing to help
Racism has no place being a barrier to sport, and we emphasised this by...
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Distributing 'Show Racism The Red Card' wristbands and badges for students to wear
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Encouraging our sports teams to get involved with 'Show Racism The Red Card' campaign by wearing red to training and opening up the conversation.
Previous campaign work done in this area
- Each year we run the 'Show Racism The Red Card' campaign and take part in the Wear it Red Day. We encourage our sports teams to show support by providing them with pins, writsbands, and encouraging them to wear red.
Plans moving forward
We shall continue to ensure racism has no place in our sport through the emphasis we place on this during our training sessions. Your inclusion reps are trained and prepared to identify, flag, and report any injustices, and we have an open-door policy should you wish to speak to us!
Additional work being done by Winchester Student Union to combat barriers to participation
Activities Participation Fund
Winchester Student Union recognises that some students encounter financial barriers to taking part in our activity groups (sports teams, societies, and representational networks).
The Activities Participation Fund is to support students who are in need of additional financial support in order for them to access opportunities for participation in extra-curricular activities provided by the Student Union to enrich the student experience.
More information about the fund can be found here: https://www.winchesterstudents.co.uk/participationfund
We are always wanting to make not only our Sports as inclusive as possible but all elements of the Union, if you have any feedback please do get in contact at student.union@winchester.ac.uk.
