Ryerson faculty advancing gender equity in sport research in Canada
From left: Katie Lebel, Nicole Forrester, Lynn Lavallée
A new national research hub to study gender equity in Canadian sport is being bolstered by the contribution and involvement of three Ryerson faculty members.
Dr. Katie Lebel of the Ted Rogers School of Management, Dr. Lynn Lavallée from the Faculty of Community Services and Dr. Nicole Forrester from the Faculty of Communication and Design, will all be providing their knowledge and diverse academic backgrounds to advance research for the Hub.
The Gender Equity in Sport Research Hub will be funded by the Federal Ministry of Heritage for three years and aims to collect, generate and disseminate research on gender equity in sport.
“The Hub is bringing together an outstanding team of scholars that are highly motivated to put a dent in this space and move the needle forward for gender equity in sport,” said Lebel, assistant professor with the School of Retail Management. “Our goal is to curate the research that has been done and highlight the gaps that need to be addressed so we can work with the sport sector to develop meaningful, evidence-based solutions that cultivate systemic change.”
Leading the Hub are co-directors Gretchen Kerr (University of Toronto), Guylaine Demers (Laval University) and Ann Pegoraro (University of Guelph).
Lebel was identified by the co-directors as one of two emerging scholars in Canada for her work, research and commentary (external link) on gender equity in sport. She was part of the bid application and will now sit on the Hub’s Scientific Committee, which will be responsible for directing the Hub’s overall research agenda. Lebel will specifically be working on the women’s sport media research portfolio and investigating gender equity in sport business.
Dr. Nicole Forrester, assistant professor with the RTA School of Media, is deeply involved in various sport organizations at both the national and international level. She hopes her involvement in the Hub will help to create policies and opportunities that will address the gaps that prevent the involvement and advancement of visible minority females in sports – across all levels.
Forrester’s research interest focuses on the psychosocial factors that influence the performance and development of elite athletes, and is currently conducting research exploring the intersection of race and gender in this area.
“I believe if Canada is to achieve gender equity by 2035, it cannot be done without addressing the intersection of race and culture with gender,” said Forrester.
“Certainly as a visible minority female Olympian, I have always spoken about my unconventional introduction to my sport (being discovered working at McDonald's) and wondered how many other athletes - better than myself - could exist if given the opportunity.”
Forrester not only hopes the work of the Hub will increase opportunities for visible minority women in sports, but will also drive an interest in media consumption and accurate portrayals of these women in sport.
Dr. Lynn Lavallée, professor with the School of Social Work, is the strategic lead for Indigenous resurgence for the Hub. Lavallée will produce action-based research with a focus on Indigenous women in sport, recreation and physical activity.
Lavallée, who is currently acting president of the Aboriginal Sports Circle, acknowledges that the Indigenous sports world needs more leaders, particularly women, girls, trans, two-spirit and non binary.
"There are very few Indigenous academics focusing on sport, recreation and physical activity," she said. "For me the project means working with the Indigenous sport community in a reciprocal fashion and doing research that is relevant for them.”
Lavallée says one ultimate goal with the Gender Equity in Sport Research Hub is that there are more Indigenous women leaders involved in Indigenous sport.
For more information about the Hub, you can visit Canadian Women & Sport (external link) .