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Research Article: Gender-Based Violence in Girls’ Sports

Date Published: 2023-04-20

Abstract:
Millions of girls and young women participate in organized sports annually as a vehicle for developing a strong sense of self, social bonds, a positive body image and a sense of agency. Although the benefits of sport engagement are experienced by many girls, the overwhelming evidence of experiences of gender-based violence in sport cannot be ignored (e.g., USA Gymnastics, Hockey Canada). This paper will address gender-based violence experienced by adolescents in sport with a focus on psychological violence. The literature is replete with evidence that girls experience higher rates of gender-based psychological violence in sport than boys, and as a result, incur developmental costs. Psychological violence is experienced by girls in sport in the form of demeaning comments, body shaming, inequitable media coverage and funding and the ongoing policing of women’s bodies in sport through sexualized sport attire and physiological testing. The causes and effects of psychological violence will be addressed along with recommendations to prevent and address gender-based violence in sport.

Introduction:
Millions of girls and young women participate in school and community sports annually as a vehicle for developing a strong sense of self, social bonds, a positive body image and a sense of agency [1]. However, girls are more likely than boys to stop engaging in sports as they mature, with half of all participating girls dropping out of sports by adolescence [2,3]. This trend is most notable amongst racialized and Indigenous girls and young women [3]. Teenage girls have reported that deterrents from sport…

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