Re-Norming Sport for Inclusivity: How the Sport Community Has the Potential to Change a Toxic Culture of Harassment and Abuse

Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 2019, 13, 274–289.

Albany Law School Research Paper No. 2 for 2019-2020

Posted: 4 Jul 2019 Last revised: 8 Oct 2019

See all articles by Melissa L. Breger

Melissa L. Breger

Albany Law School

Margery Holman

University of Windsor Windsor, ON N9B 3P4 519-253-3000 Ext. 2436

Michelle Guerrero

Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute

Date Written: July 2, 2019

Abstract

Traditional sport norms and gender-based biases that are prevalent in the sport environment, both explicit and implicit, have contributed to a culture where sexual harassment and abuse is commonplace. This article examines how sport tolerates the development of this culture, and more importantly, how practices and policies can be utilized to transform sport’s culture to one that is inclusive and safe. Reform is needed in attitudes and norms towards gender bias and sexual violence that primarily, but not exclusively, targets girls and women in sport and is perpetrated by boys and men. The application of various theories from psychology is recommended as one strategy to rid sport of both a culture of misogyny and of those who resist change to achieve this objective.

Note: © 2019 Human Kinetics, Inc.

Keywords: masculinity, #MeToo, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, sport

Suggested Citation

Breger, Melissa L. and Holman, Margery and Guerrero, Michelle, Re-Norming Sport for Inclusivity: How the Sport Community Has the Potential to Change a Toxic Culture of Harassment and Abuse (July 2, 2019). Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 2019, 13, 274–289. , Albany Law School Research Paper No. 2 for 2019-2020, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3413949

Melissa L. Breger (Contact Author)

Albany Law School ( email )

80 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, NY 12208
United States
518-445-2311 (Phone)

Margery Holman

University of Windsor Windsor, ON N9B 3P4 519-253-3000 Ext. 2436 ( email )

Windsor, ON N9B 3P4 519-253-3000 Ext. 2436

Michelle Guerrero

Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute ( email )

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