Abstract
We present findings from STARS (Standing Together Against Racism in Sport); a novel participatory action research project designed to enhance racial literacy and capacity for anti-racism action in community sports settings. Previous research has found that efforts to increase diversity in these settings are hampered by a range of systemic exclusionary factors and racist encounters; from institutional resistance to accommodating difference to racist abuse (Young & Block, 2023). Moreover, club members are generally ill-equipped to address racism and support victims when it occurs (Farquharson et al., 2019). STARS was implemented in Melbourne, Australia from 2020 to 2023, and involved researchers partnering with a community-based not-for-profit organisation, Welcoming Clubs to design and deliver Active Inclusion (racial literacy) and Upstander Anti-Racism training to community clubs. Survey responses (n = 231) indicated that a minority of participants who had experienced and/or witnessed racism ‘did something’ about it. This contrasted with the 90% of survey respondents who either strongly agreed or agreed that they ‘stand up against all forms of discrimination’. These findings are contextualised by analysis of indicative racial literacy. Responses indicated that while most participants readily identified overt racialised abuse as racism, when asked whether examples of structural and more ‘casual’ forms of discrimination represented racism, they were more likely to answer ‘no’ or ‘unsure’. Interview findings suggest that the STARS training was appreciated as a valuable first step for clubs to tackle racism and exclusion. For anti-racism efforts to be effective, enhanced racial literacy is a fundamental first step.
Presenters
Dana M YoungResearch Fellow, Gender and Women's Health Unit, Nossal Institute of Global Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Karen Block
Principal Research Fellow: Community Engagement and Social Health Research, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Global Sports Local Cultures
KEYWORDS
Anti-Racism, Community Sport, Racial Literacy, Active Inclusion, Upstander Action, Intervention
