International Women's Day | Embrace Equity

In honour of International Women’s Day, and the theme for 2023 – Embrace Equity – some of our OUA women student-athletes shared what equity meant to them.

Juliana Bossom, Waterloo Warriors, Rugby

“Equity for women in sport makes me think about how women and girls should be provided with all the resources they require to succeed, specifically comparable to male athletes. It involves providing sufficient resources, programs, funding and decision-making, without gender discrimination. More importantly, I think it should address the pronounced imbalances we all see when it comes to female athletics. Equity should focus on providing women in sport with resources and opportunities based on our unique needs, to allow us to reach our full uncapped potential, just like the sporting world sets out for men. Yes we are physiologically different from males, but we are no less athletic, competitive, determined, hard working, and worthy of support, funding and attention than male athletes. Equity should involve addressing the current imbalances still very present in athletics.”

Justine Bryson, Western Mustangs, Tennis

“Growing up, no other girls in my area played tennis so I trained with only boys. To me, equity means empowering girls to get involved in spaces that may be male-dominated and creating an environment where we are not only welcomed but valued.”

Jenna Gervais, Western Mustangs, Track & Field

“Sports have the power to unite us as a community and bring out the best of us all as individuals. For a lot of girls, sports can help us come out of our shell, but this can only happen when there are equal opportunities. As much as we love sports, the current system does not support women in sport as much as men. This is not only seen on the world stage, but at all levels. The word equity has been brought up a lot in terms of women in sport. Although there is an issue with less funding and participation, in my opinion, equity also pertains to the support by others. Women’s sports get less fans and less support from others. In personal experience, there is nothing like having a crowd scream your name or cheer for you when you score or win a race. I can only hope that someday we are seen as equals and that every girl and woman in sport get to experience that.”

Lauren Hart, Trent Excalibur, Curling

“To me, equity refers to fairness and impartiality with regards to the treatment of individuals or groups. In the context of women in sports, equity means ensuring that female athletes have equal opportunities, resources, and support as male athletes. It also means addressing and eliminating gender-based discrimination, bias, and stereotypes in sports. Historically, women have faced significant barriers to equity in sports, including limited access to funding, facilities, equipment, and media coverage. Additionally, women's sports have often been undervalued and dismissed as inferior to men's sports. Efforts to promote equity in women's sports have included increasing funding for women's sports programs, improving access to training and coaching, and providing equal media coverage and exposure. These efforts have helped to increase participation and success in women's sports and have also helped to shift cultural attitudes about gender and athletics. Despite progress, equity in women's sports remains an ongoing issue.”

Jess Malcolm, Trent Excalibur, Rugby

“Women's sport simply does not have the historical backing that men's sport does. And that's okay. Because more and more we are seeing women's sport rise in popularity, in skill and in competition. Although we may not be in the same spot as men's sports, we are continually striving for bigger and better things. Equity for this does not necessarily mean women have been given more or different supports than men. Equity is working together to help elevate women, and women's sport, by appreciating the work and effort women put into competition just as much for anyone else, regardless of identified gender.”

Tiffany McDonald, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, Rugby

“Equity means that everyone is playing together on one field, without any barriers. We are all united through the way of sport which it brings us together as equals. We all play for us but also play for each other. Being a female athlete is such an honour, as generationally speaking, this wasn't an opportunity for some people. Women are strong, capable and determined to continue to thrive within the sports community. Sports are a great place for people to feel safe and included and overall, for equality to continue to grow.”

Erin McLeod, Western Mustangs, Curling

“Equity in sport means that us women will have equal opportunities to compete in the sports we love while not being held back based on gender alone. I am grateful every day that I am able to play the sport of curling at the university level and represent my school. I think back to the times when women were restricted in what they could do, which makes me proud to be where I am. I have to think about all the hard work women before me have put in to get women into sports at the university level. I will continue to push for women’s rights where it is needed to assure we attain a completely equal society.”

Emma Suitor, Western Mustangs, Hockey

“Growing up, it was so important for me to have role models to look up to. I think overall, women’s sports and women’s hockey have gained much more support and traction. It is inspiring to see the successes and stories that women have in sport and I think it is important that this continues to be shared. There is more work to be done, and more stories to be shared, but I am grateful for all that I have been able to accomplish as a student-athlete at Western. I hope that younger women continue to see female athlete role models and know that they have some of the same opportunities as men in sports.”

Sophie Young, Western Mustangs, Hockey

“The word equity pertaining to women in sport to me means equal opportunity for women to succeed in their athletic hopes and pursuits. Female athletes work hard and deserve opportunities that allow them to succeed.”