Unsafe at Home Base: Women’s Experiences of Sexual Harassment in University Sport and Physical Education

Abstract

This investigation of sexual harassment in university sport begins by developing a theoretical framework based on feminist analyses of male violence, and examining the links between violence and the ideology of male sport. The organization of sport and physical education in Canadian universities is then described, and university women’s experiences of male violence in sport-related contexts is investigated, with particular reference to the issues of power relations in coaching and control of women’s bodies. Relevant findings from a preliminary survey of women’s experiences of sexual harassment in sport contexts are presented throughout the discussion, and recommendations are developed.

Consequences of sexual harassment in sport for female athletes

“…Research on sexual harassment in sports is scarce but has grown steadily since the mid-1980s (Crosset, 1986;Lackey, 1990;Lenskyj, 1992;Yorganci, 1993;Brackenridge, 1997Brackenridge, , 2001Volkwein et al, 1997;Fasting, Brackenridge and SundgotBorgen, 2000;Cense and Brackenridge, 2001;Toftegaard, 1998Toftegaard, , 2001Leahy, 2001). …”

Defining appropriateness in coach-athlete sexual relationships: The voice of coaches

“…In addition to the papers being presented in this journal issue, existing data clearly indicate that sexual harassment and abuse occur in sport (Bowker, 1998;Brackenridge, 1997a;Kirby, 1995;Lenskyj, 1992;Tomlinson et al, 1997). Researchers have suggested that the culture of sport, specifically the power invested in the coach, facilitates an environment conducive to, and tolerant of, sexual exploitation (Brackenridge, 1997a;Donnelly et al, 1997;McKay et al, 2000).…”

Temporal and Developmental Risk Factors for Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Sport

“…Academic work in the area emanated from the feminist movement and from critical sociology in sport, the first articles appearing in the mid-to late 1980s (Crosset 1986;Brackenridge 1987). Policy and prevention work has developed in parallel with academic research (Lenskyj 1992a(Lenskyj , 1992bBrackenridge 1996) but there is, as yet, no effective predictive theory of the risk of sexual abuse in the sport setting. Earlier inductive research by Brackenridge (1996Brackenridge ( , 1997aBrackenridge ( , 1997b established a set of risk factors for sexual abuse in sport presented under three headingsthe coach, the athlete and the sport -but these were neither cross-referenced nor linked temporally (see Figure 1).…”