Five members of Canada’s gold medal-winning 2018 World Junior Hockey team were recently indicted on sexual assault charges, putting Hockey Canada and its issues back in the public eye.
In 2022, a woman sued Hockey Canada, claiming she was sexually assaulted in a hotel room by eight Canadian Hockey League players, some of whom were members of the 2018 World Junior Team.
In a complaint filed in April 2022, the women allege that Hockey Canada has failed to address systemic abuse within its organization and fostered a “culture and environment that glorifies the degradation and sexual exploitation of young women.” accused of being
Police suspended the investigation in 2019, but reopened it in 2022, leading to the suspension of the 2018 World Junior Team from international competitions and the latest charges.
Hockey Canada also came under fire in May 2022 after news broke that it had paid $8.9 million in settlements for sexual abuse dating back to 1989 (including an undisclosed $350 million settlement in a lawsuit over allegations of assault in 2018). (excluding $1,000,000).
While coverage of this incident continues to raise important questions about systemic flaws within Hockey Canada, many are wondering what can be done to prevent gender-based and sexual violence in the future. .
As a public educator and researcher who has worked with men and boys on violence prevention for eight years, I urge people to invest in programs that are proven to reduce the incidence of abuse and harassment in sports. I urge you.
Canadian Press/Jeff Robbins
Hockey Canada lacks accountability.
Hockey Canada’s response to the scandal has been largely reactive, typical of Hockey Canada in the face of mounting public pressure.
But as some critics have already made clear, their plans lack transparency, accountability, and foresight in preventing violence. In November 2023, Hockey Canada announced that it would no longer publicly release an independent report into the 2018 sexual assault allegations.
However, they said they had taken steps to address the issue, including implementing a mandatory vetting process, adopting a code of conduct, third-party complaint handling and anti-violence training during major tournaments. It is still unclear whether these measures will be effective.
range of violence
This problem with Hockey Canada is not isolated. Professional and competitive sports have seen many high-profile incidents of domestic and sexual violence, including allegations of hazing, harassment, and sexual assault, even down to the amateur level.
Gender-based violence does not occur in isolation. It thrives in environments that foster it, especially the normalization of sexist, racist, and homophobic hazing.
Research shows one in three coaches in Ontario are aware of hazing rituals within their teams. One in five people have heard sexist, racist or homophobic language within their organization or in competition.
These practices often go unresolved because coaches feel incompetent to address them or share the belief that hazing is simply part of sports culture and team building.
However, we know that hazing can have dire consequences for overall health, well-being and participation in sport.
Hazing rituals can escalate to sexual assault within hockey teams. Additionally, acts such as hazing create an environment in which misogyny, homophobia, and racism can escalate into visible forms of violence outside of the locker room.
Efforts to address these issues generally rely on framing them as problems caused by a few “bad apples.” However, this approach overlooks the normalization of these practices and the actions of bystanders that allow them to continue unabated.
violence prevention program
In my experience running gender-based violence prevention programs with young male athletes, many are initially put off by violence prevention programs because they are seen as denigrating boys and men. is.
However, research shows that gender-specific programs offered during adolescence have the most positive impact on changing misogynistic attitudes, reducing perpetration of abuse, and improving bystander intervention behaviors. It has been shown that
These programs are particularly effective when continued over a long period of time, focus on gender messages, and take place in key locations such as schools or sports settings.
These findings contradict current models of violence prevention in professional or competitive sports, such as OHL mandates. ~ side The training is a two-hour workshop for new players on sexual violence.
Tackling violence in sports
To meaningfully address violence in sport, gender-based violence programs need to be continuous and dynamic, rather than just a checkbox.
One example of such a program is Coaching Boys Into Men, created by the nonprofit Futures Without Violence and being piloted in Hamilton, Ontario.
(Maddie Brockbank)
Coaching Boys Into Men allows coaches to have 15-minute conversations with their team of adolescent boys every week for three months about consent, healthy relationships, and challenging harmful behaviors.
Those who complete the program are less likely to commit abuse and are significantly more likely to intervene if they see harm occurring.
We should view violence prevention not as a blame game, but as an inherently hopeful endeavor that focuses on the humanity and well-being of athletes and communities. Investing in sustainable, evidence-based violence prevention is key to ensuring we stop this violence.