Part 3 GLOBAL ISSUES: HARASSMENT AND ABUSE RESEARCH

More documents

Recommendations

Info

3.2 Emotional abuse in Canadian sport Ashley E. Stirling and Gretchen A. Kerr Background Interest in child maltreatment began during the World Wars as a moral concern for orphaned children and children in impoverished families, and then grew to include concern over abusive and neglectful behaviours directed at children. 1 Since this time, various definitions and classifications of child maltreatment have been proposed. In general, forms of maltreatment can be roughly categorized into relational and non-relational maltreatments. 2 Much maltreatment, both relational and non-relational, exists within relationships of differential power - thus, it is the critical nature of the relationship in which the maltreatment occurs that differentiates various forms of maltreatment in sport. The four major recognized forms of relational child maltreatment include; neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and physical abuse. These maltreatments are referred to as “relational disorders” as they “occur within the context of a critical relationship role,” in which the relationship has significant influence over the child’s sense of safety, trust, and fulfillment of needs. 3 Other forms of maltreatment that do not occur within critical relationships, are referred to as non-relational maltreatment, and include for example: child corruption/ exploitation, sexual exploitation/ prostitution, child labour, abuse/ assault by persons not known closely to the child, harassment, bullying, and institutional child maltreatment. 4 Just as there is a history to the evolution of child protection in society, the advancement of athlete protection initiatives and research on athletes’ experiences of maltreatment in sport must be examined within the greater societal and cultural context in which they have been developed. Preceding movements in sport such as the development of children’s and athletes’ rights in sport, examinations of the coaching profession, and endorsements of positive athlete development models, have contributed to the advocacy for athlete protection initiatives. However, despite this increased advocacy, it is apparent that improvement is required to protect athletes from maltreatment in this environment. 10
Research clearly indicates that relational athlete maltreatment remains a significant problem in sport. 5-11 To date, the experience of sexual abuse in sport has been the focus of most of this research, with emotional abuse receiving far less attention. As such, as series of studies were carried out on athletes’ experiences of relational abuse, specifically emotional abuse in sport. These studies are reviewed below. Research design In each of the studies, a qualitative research design was employed. Semi-structured interview were conducted with elite and sub-elite female athletes. 12 <strong>Part</strong>icipant samples ranged from 9-14 athletes. All athletes had competed previously at the junior national, senior national or international level. All athletes were from the individual sports of swimming and gymnastics, which comprise a young age of specialization and athlete maturation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted individually with each athlete. Interviews were then digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim, and data were analyzed inductively using open, axial, and selective coding techniques. Key findings Power of the coach The coach has immense power over the athlete, power that often transcends to other areas of an athlete’s life, including academics, social life, and diet. The participants highlighted the specific aspects of their coaches’ power that made them susceptible to experiences of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, including the closeness of the relationship, the legitimate authority of the coach, the coach’s expertise and previous successes, and the coach’s ability to control access to the athletes. As a consequence of the coach’s power, the athletes expressed feelings of fear and often normalized abusive behaviours that occurred in the coach-athlete relationship. As well, in relation to the athletes’ vulnerability to abuse, the participants perceived their coaches’ power as inhibiting their ability to report incidences of abuse once they occurred. 11
Page 1 and 2: Part 3 GLOBAL ISSUES: HARASSMENT AN
Page 3 and 4: It was in the middle of these early
Page 5 and 6: more likely to be harassed and/or a
Page 7 and 8: The survey revealed a considerable
Page 9: 8. Kirby, S.L. and Greaves, L. ‘F
Page 13 and 14: performance. Items thrown by the co
Page 15 and 16: High Low Figure 3.1 Athletes’ exp
Page 17 and 18: 3.3 Sexual harassment and abuse in
Page 19 and 20: variables:1) formation of the sport
Page 21 and 22: een harassed and abused by a coach.
Page 23 and 24: The results show that 30% of the st
Page 25 and 26: 3.4 Sexual abuse of athletes in org
Page 27 and 28: conversely, to present the perpetra
Page 29 and 30: staff or volunteers who were not as
Page 31 and 32: 3.5 Sexual harassment and abuse in
Page 33 and 34: automatically mean that he/she will
Page 35 and 36: councilors of NOC*NSF. Solid resear
Page 37 and 38: non-aggressors. Such variables are
Page 39 and 40: 3.6 Risks and opportunities for sex
Page 41 and 42: under the three major headings of
Page 43 and 44: These findings indicated that clubs
Page 45 and 46: Whilst 8% of sports clubs knew of s
Page 47 and 48: 3.7 Sexual harassment among female
Page 49 and 50: slapped on the face, head or ears b
Page 51 and 52: When I was not getting as good achi
Page 53 and 54: 3.8 Unwanted sexual experiences in
Page 55 and 56: 18-21 years old). The VUBrussels sa
Page 57 and 58: Coach behaviour Perceptions Experie
Page 59 and 60: However, KULeuven students’ perce
Page 61 and 62:
7. Leahy, T., Pretty, G., and Tenen
Page 63 and 64:
Nineteen male swimming coaches part
Page 65 and 66:
this study. 14 It is important to n
Page 67 and 68:
Finally, it is important to note th
Page 69 and 70:
3.10 What price gold medals? An inv
Page 71 and 72:
The research that supported and und
Page 73 and 74:
symptoms. Lastly, this will only oc
Page 75 and 76:
The results from this study may lea
Page 77:
i NIF, Årsrapport 2006 - Norges Id
show all

Part 3 GLOBAL ISSUES: HARASSMENT AND ABUSE RESEARCH

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?