{"id":89444,"date":"2023-10-13T16:13:44","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T20:13:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?post_type=cu_story&#038;p=89444"},"modified":"2025-08-19T09:37:05","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:37:05","slug":"trauma-and-violence-informed-approach","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/trauma-and-violence-informed-approach\/","title":{"rendered":"Why taking a trauma- and violence-informed approach can make sport safer and more equitable"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-max  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n                    \n                    \n            \n    <div class=\"cu-wideimage relative flex items-center justify-center mx-auto px-8 overflow-hidden md:px-16 rounded-xl not-prose  my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 bg-opacity-50 bg-cover bg-cu-black-50 pt-24 pb-32 md:pt-28 md:pb-44 lg:pt-36 lg:pb-60 xl:pt-48 xl:pb-72\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/soccer-ball-field-1200x900-1.jpg); background-position: 50% 50%;\">\n\n                    <div class=\"absolute top-0 w-full h-screen\" style=\"background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.600);\"><\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"relative z-[2] max-w-4xl w-full flex flex-col items-center gap-2 cu-wideimage-image cu-zero-first-last\">\n            <header class=\"mx-auto mb-6 text-center text-white cu-pageheader cu-component-updated cu-pageheader--center md:mb-12\">\n\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold mb-2 text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] cu-pageheader--center text-center mx-auto after:left-px\">\n                        Why taking a trauma- and violence-informed approach can make sport safer and more equitable\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                            <\/header>\n        <\/div>\n\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"absolute bottom-0 w-full z-[1]\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 1280 312\">\n                <path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M26.412 315.608c-.602-.268-6.655-2.412-13.524-4.769a1943.84 1943.84 0 0 1-14.682-5.144l-2.276-.858v-5.358c0-4.876.086-5.358.773-5.09 1.674.643 21.38 5.84 34.646 9.109 14.682 3.59 28.935 6.858 45.936 10.449l9.874 2.089H57.322c-16.4 0-30.31-.16-30.91-.428ZM460.019 315.233c42.974-10.074 75.602-19.88 132.443-39.867 76.16-26.791 152.063-57.709 222.385-90.663 16.7-7.823 21.336-10.074 44.262-21.273 85.004-41.688 134.719-64.193 195.291-88.413 66.55-26.577 145.2-53.584 194.27-66.765C1258.5 5.626 1281.34 0 1282.24 0c.17 0 .34 27.596.34 61.3v61.299l-2.23.375c-84.7 13.718-165.93 35.955-310.736 84.931-46.494 15.753-65.427 22.076-96.166 32.15-9.102 3-24.814 8.198-34.989 11.574-107.543 35.954-153.008 50.422-196.626 62.639l-6.74 1.876-89.126-.054c-78.135-.054-88.782-.161-85.948-.857ZM729.628 312.875c33.229-10.985 69.248-23.523 127.506-44.207 118.705-42.223 164.596-57.709 217.446-73.302 2.62-.75 8.29-2.465 12.67-3.751 56.19-16.772 126.94-33.597 184.17-43.671 5.07-.91 9.66-1.768 10.22-1.875l.94-.161v170.236l-281.28-.054H719.968l9.66-3.215ZM246.864 313.411c-65.041-2.251-143.047-12.11-208.432-26.256-18.375-3.965-41.73-9.538-42.202-10.074-.171-.214-.257-21.38-.214-47.046l.129-46.618 6.654 3.697c57.313 32.043 118.491 56.531 197.699 79.143 40.313 11.521 83.459 18.058 138.669 21.059 15.584.857 65.685.857 81.14 0 33.744-1.876 61.306-4.93 88.396-9.806 6.396-1.126 11.634-1.983 11.722-1.929.255.375-20.48 7.769-30.999 11.038-28.592 8.948-59.288 15.646-91.873 20.147-26.36 3.59-50.015 5.627-78.35 6.698-15.584.59-55.209.59-72.339-.053Z\"><\/path>\n                <path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M-3.066 295.067 32.06 304.1v9.033H-3.066v-18.066Z\"><\/path>\n            <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n\n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<p>This article is <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/why-taking-a-trauma-and-violence-informed-approach-can-make-sport-safer-and-more-equitable-213349\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">republished<\/a> from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. All photos provided by <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Conversation<\/a> from various sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/healthsciences\/people\/francine-darroch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Francine Darroch<\/a> is an associate professor of health sciences at Carleton University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100px; border: none; position: relative; z-index: 1;\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/narrations.ad-auris.com\/widget\/the-conversation-canada\/why-taking-a-trauma-and-violence-informed-approach-can-make-sport-safer-and-more-equitable\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Spanish football player Jenni Hermoso <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/sports\/soccer\/jenni-hermoso-sexual-assault-accusation-luis-rubiales-spanish-soccer-1.6957834\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">accused Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales of sexual assault in September<\/a> after he kissed her on the lips without her consent during the FIFA Women&#8217;s World Cup award ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rubiales has since resigned from his job. And the incident has yet again highlighted the pressing need for action to support survivors and prevent sexual and gender-based violence in sports. It also underlined the sheer outrage of the public and <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10413200.2018.1564944\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">fuelled demands<\/a> for education, interventions and the dire need to overhaul and reform the sport sector here in Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/violence_injury_prevention\/violence\/status_report\/2014\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">World Health Organization<\/a> has declared sexual and gender-based violence one of the most ubiquitous and complex global health issues. Canada has been going through its own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/sports\/sports-minister-carla-qualtrough-safe-sport-crisis-1.6959940\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">safe sport crisis<\/a>. The recent <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/hockey-canadas-problems-show-that-the-government-needs-to-regulate-sport-in-canada-192052\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hockey Canada crisis<\/a> boldly and publicly illustrated the need for better educational activities in youth sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Hockey Canada&#8217;s CEO and entire board of directors <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/hockey-canada-board-1.6612582\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">resigned due to their controversial handling of alleged sexual assaults<\/a>. Allegations of abuse in varsity sports across Canada have been on the rise, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tsn.ca\/u-sports\/western-investigating-misconduct-allegations-within-women-s-hockey-program-sources-say-1.2006658\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">with the most recent allegations<\/a> put forth in September by the women&#8217;s hockey team at Western University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These issues have prompted public discussion around sexual violence, abuse and safeguarding sport. There is a need to develop both innovative interventions and unorthodox approaches at all levels \u2014 from the grassroots to the elite level \u2014 to truly make sport more equitable, inclusive and safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"trauma-and-violence-informed-approaches\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trauma- and violence-informed approaches<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mainstream sport and physical activity programs rarely tackle social and structural inequities. In response, <a href=\"https:\/\/equiphealthcare.ca\/files\/2021\/05\/GTV-EQUIP-Tool-TVIC-Spring2021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a trauma- and violence-informed approach<\/a> calls for participants, coaches, managers and organizations to better understand the effects of systemic, structural and interpersonal violence. This approach is guided by <a href=\"https:\/\/equiphealthcare.ca\/files\/2020\/01\/EQUIP_GTV_TVIC_Principles.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">four tenets of trauma- and violence-informed care<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1) trauma awareness;<br>\n2) safety and trustworthiness;<br>\n3) choice and collaboration;<br>\n4) strengths-based and capacity building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Canada, calls for a preventive approach to sexual and gender-based violence are loud and clear. There have been demands by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scholarsagainstabuse.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">scholars<\/a>, sport managers, policymakers, <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fspor.2022.840221\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">athletes<\/a> and coaches for sporting bodies and governments to better understand the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/sports\/scholars-against-abuse-jan23-1.6722975\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">widespread abuse in Canadian sports<\/a>. And yet, these issues remain understudied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"accounting-for-violence-in-sport\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accounting for violence in sport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Through our <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/levelling-the-playing-field-how-a-trauma-informed-approach-can-make-physical-activity-more-accessible-181952\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">community-based research<\/a>, we are working with diverse community organizations in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver on a multi-level, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/news\/2022\/10\/government-of-canada-supports-projects-to-prevent-and-address-family-violence.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pilot project that brings an understanding of trauma and violence<\/a> into their sport and physical activity programs and organizations more broadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through this work, we aim to address and foreground the intersecting effects of systemic, structural and interpersonal violence in the development and delivery of sport and physical activity. To do this, we are using <a href=\"https:\/\/apwld.org\/feminist-participatory-action-research-fpar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">feminist participatory action research<\/a> to better address the diverse voices, needs and concerns of community members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This research involves piloting trauma- and violence-informed training modules for coaches\/providers, alongside sport and physical activity programs that cater to their specific needs and priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We have also explored what we can learn from sport for development programs across the globe. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportanddev.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sport for development<\/a> positions sport as a valuable tool to achieve local, domestic and global development objectives, including those encompassed by the <a href=\"https:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/goals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UN Sustainable Development Goals<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, Women Win \u2014 an international organization that aims to advance girls&#8217; and women&#8217;s rights through sport and play \u2014 supports <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/9781838678630\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">sport, gender and development<\/a> initiatives to safeguard and support survivors while promoting health equity and safe sport. Their programming has been useful for promoting sexual and reproductive health rights and addressing sexual and gender-based violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Women Win has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenwin.org\/grls\/areas-of-expertise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">developed toolkits<\/a> to help youth address sexual and gender-based violence by transforming their attitudes and behaviours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other topics encompassed by the toolkits include using sport and play to build self-confidence, assertive communication, positive body image and self-advocacy. While a notable first step, it is important to ensure these tools don&#8217;t place the burden of preventing sexual and gender-based violence on the shoulders of survivors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"alternative-solutions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alternative solutions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While <a href=\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/applied-health-sciences\/kinesiology\/faculty-research\/faculty-directory\/cathy-van-ingen-phd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">scholarship is growing in this area<\/a>, further research is needed to better understand how trauma- and violence-informed approaches to sport in Canada \u2014 alongside sport for development \u2014 may address systemic and institutional violence. Indeed, these approaches can potentially help self-identified women who have \u2014 and continue to \u2014 experience inequities and <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/10778012221134821\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">barriers to participation in sport and physical activity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Managers, coaches and policymakers must gain a deeper understanding of interpersonal, systemic and sexual and gender-based violence, while also providing support to survivors. While Canadian sport for development organizations like <a href=\"https:\/\/shapeyourlifeboxing.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shape Your Life<\/a> and global entities like Women Win offer promising strategies, additional resources are required to address these issues adequately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scholars and stakeholders have an opportunity to generate new ways of thinking about safe sport practices and policies promoted, for example, through sport for development programming that is survivor-led, trauma-informed and grounded in transformative justice. And while sport for development programs aren&#8217;t perfect, the sport sector would do well to build on the crucial groundwork organizations like Women Win and Shape Your Life have already laid out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trauma- and violence-informed approaches can potentially enhance safety across Canada&#8217;s abusive, patriarchal sporting culture. Now, more than ever, we need collaborative, evidence-based and novel solutions to address violence in sport and support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Because we can \u2014 and must \u2014 do better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>__<br>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\">Carleton Newsroom<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/213349\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" alt=\"The Conversation\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> Spanish football player Jenni Hermoso accused Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales of sexual assault in September after he kissed her on the lips without her consent during the FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup award ceremony.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":410,"featured_media":89447,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_story_type":[1623],"cu_story_tag":[],"class_list":["post-89444","cu_story","type-cu_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","cu_story_type-expert-perspectives"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":"blueprint"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/89444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/cu_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/410"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/89444\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89475,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/89444\/revisions\/89475"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/89447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_story_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_type?post=89444"},{"taxonomy":"cu_story_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_tag?post=89444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}