3 Equity Myths and Assumptions You Can Stop Perpetuating

 

The term ‘equity’ has been used a lot in recent years when talking about diversity initiatives, but it’s not always clear what that actually means. And unfortunately, there are also misconceptions and assumptions around equity in sport that, as a caregiver of a young athlete, you should recognize and discontinue. Here, TrueSport Expert Nadia Kyba, MSW, President of Now What Facilitation, reveals a few of the most common misconceptions around equity in sport and how you can shift the narrative.

The Why

As a caregiver, you have the power to shape your athlete’s understanding of equity in sport. You may assume that this information will come from coaches, athletic directors, or teachers, but young athletes often look to their parents to help them navigate trickier social topics.

“Understanding equity starts at home, regardless of whether you’re having those conversations,” says Kyba. “Your athletes look at how you model behaviors, and they mimic them.” Being able to look at the barriers that others face and understand other perspectives is the first step to being able to address those barriers, even on a small scale.

Making assumptions about equity can be dangerous, since they can lead to a lack of empathy for others who are suffering from different kinds of discrimination or discomfort. A young able-bodied white male from an upper-class neighborhood who is taught to believe that ‘enough progress has been made towards creating equity in sport’ is less likely to offer a ride to a teammate who can’t afford his own car to get home from practice. He’s less likely to help the J/V women’s team at school fight for equal court time to practice. And he’s less likely to stand up for a teammate who’s getting bullied because he’s different in some way.

Myths and Assumptions about Equity

1. Myth: Equality is the same things as equity

This is a common mistake. “Equality is about equal access to opportunities,” says Kyba. “Equity looks at potential barriers that are only experienced by some of the population and addresses those barriers. It could look like offering scholarships or organizing transportation to help address financial barriers that some athletes on the team face."

For example, if athletes on the team are required to pay for their uniforms and the price is the same for everyone, that’s equality. However, it fails to take into account that some athletes may not be able to afford the uniforms. Creating a way for athletes in need to access uniforms regardless of their ability to pay would be a way for the team to push for equity, rather than equality.