March 8, 2022
Break The Bias | Sophia Tafel, Queen's Rugby
What, if any, biases have you faced along your athletic journey as a woman in sport?
Ever since elementary school I was always aggressive and competitive during gym games. When gym classes started being split into boys and girls classes, I realized we wouldn't play the same games or try the same sports as the boys. While we were playing ringette, the boys were playing football, while the boys got to try wrestling, we played volleyball. Some of my gym teachers argued that the girls wouldn't be interested in the same things, or that we might get hurt. I would often be be told to play nicer or throw softer for my other classmates. When I got to high school, it was funding, tradition, expectations and school culture that was bias to the boys teams. While the girls rugby program, only three years old, won regional and provincial titles, the decades old boys program had a whole weekend dedicated to their alumni game, with brand new jerseys and an international rugby tour every year over spring break. You can't argue with the timelines, but the interest in girls sports and the promotion of it at the school was next to none. And for the female athletes at the school, we were required to achieve much higher level athletic accomplishments outside of high school to be recognized at all. Media coverage, especially growing up, was always favoured to men's sporting events.
How have you responded to these biases so as to continue on in your athletic journey at the university level?
Performing to the best of my ability, and showing gratitude for those who guided and supported my athletic journey. Several coaches truly inspired me, and elevated me in more ways than one. As a successful varsity women's program at a well recognized university, I continue to have conversations with teammates and parents about gender inequality in sports. I share women's sporting events with my teammates and continue to challenge subtle discriminatory comments made about female athletes that would treat them unequally.
What are some ways that people can come together to ensure we can break the biases surrounding women in sport?
Support women's and girls' sports as a fan or player: from attending women's sports games at all levels. Support female athetes by watching their games on television or following them on social media. Demand and develop gender equity policies: sports organizations need to continue to work towards gender equity. Women doing equal work should have equal participation opportunities, financial aid or funding, wages, and benefits as anyone else. Avoid sexist language in communications: from writing about women's sports to commentating during games, avoid using innuendos or belitting athletes by alluding to their outfits, family roles outside the game, etc. Use the same language when describing the performances of all athletes. Finally, hire more women for sports executive positions!
What piece of advice would you have for girls / younger female athletes as they continue along on their athletic journey?
If people say you can't do something - just smile when you prove that you can. You can fight your own battles, be a leader and speak up for yourself. It's all through your own behaviour, whether it's you attitude towards winning, your physique, or how you practice.
Ever since elementary school I was always aggressive and competitive during gym games. When gym classes started being split into boys and girls classes, I realized we wouldn't play the same games or try the same sports as the boys. While we were playing ringette, the boys were playing football, while the boys got to try wrestling, we played volleyball. Some of my gym teachers argued that the girls wouldn't be interested in the same things, or that we might get hurt. I would often be be told to play nicer or throw softer for my other classmates. When I got to high school, it was funding, tradition, expectations and school culture that was bias to the boys teams. While the girls rugby program, only three years old, won regional and provincial titles, the decades old boys program had a whole weekend dedicated to their alumni game, with brand new jerseys and an international rugby tour every year over spring break. You can't argue with the timelines, but the interest in girls sports and the promotion of it at the school was next to none. And for the female athletes at the school, we were required to achieve much higher level athletic accomplishments outside of high school to be recognized at all. Media coverage, especially growing up, was always favoured to men's sporting events.
How have you responded to these biases so as to continue on in your athletic journey at the university level?
Performing to the best of my ability, and showing gratitude for those who guided and supported my athletic journey. Several coaches truly inspired me, and elevated me in more ways than one. As a successful varsity women's program at a well recognized university, I continue to have conversations with teammates and parents about gender inequality in sports. I share women's sporting events with my teammates and continue to challenge subtle discriminatory comments made about female athletes that would treat them unequally.
What are some ways that people can come together to ensure we can break the biases surrounding women in sport?
Support women's and girls' sports as a fan or player: from attending women's sports games at all levels. Support female athetes by watching their games on television or following them on social media. Demand and develop gender equity policies: sports organizations need to continue to work towards gender equity. Women doing equal work should have equal participation opportunities, financial aid or funding, wages, and benefits as anyone else. Avoid sexist language in communications: from writing about women's sports to commentating during games, avoid using innuendos or belitting athletes by alluding to their outfits, family roles outside the game, etc. Use the same language when describing the performances of all athletes. Finally, hire more women for sports executive positions!
What piece of advice would you have for girls / younger female athletes as they continue along on their athletic journey?
If people say you can't do something - just smile when you prove that you can. You can fight your own battles, be a leader and speak up for yourself. It's all through your own behaviour, whether it's you attitude towards winning, your physique, or how you practice.
