Sports coordinator Andrew Pettit sets equal playing field for women

This article was originally published in Illuminessence e-magazine, March 26, 2013.

As a kid, Andrew Pettit loved baseball. But he knows not everyone is given the opportunity to play. His most obvious example is his own mother, Karen.

She showed him her old baseball gloves and shared her love of the game, says Pettit. But she was also disappointed, Pettit recalls, because she never got to play as there were no girls’ leagues then. As a girl growing up in the 1950’s, the idea of playing in a boys’ league in the pre-Justine Blainey era was still unmentionable. For the 10-year old Pettit who grew up watching his sister playing sports, he found it odd.

“I thought, ‘What? What do you mean there’s no opportunity?'” says Pettit.

Years later, Pettit continues to advocate for social inclusion in sports. Working at McMaster University’s athletic centre as the Sport Leagues and Camps Coordinator, Pettit strives to create inclusive environments to allow for equal participation in sports – starting in the University’s intramural sports and children’s camps. The camps, which occur seasonally across nine weeks, saw thousands of youth campers learning and playing a variety of sports.

What brings sport leagues and camps together is the idea of inclusion, says Pettit.

“Who is playing? Who isn’t? And why? Where are opportunities created and where are the barriers?” he questioned, emphasizing the need for a positive sports culture.

Drawing from his childhood observations, Pettit wants to provide the best sport experience to all participants.

“The best sport experience means removing barriers for some people while helping those with privilege to see it and then move to create space for others to be involved themselves,” he said.

Sport has a long history of being a “masculine” field, Pettit observes, though there has been a push for gender equity in athletics and sports. He references online pharmacy valium Title IX of the U.S. government’s Education Act, implemented in 1972. This federal education policy prohibits any form of discrimination in athletics on the basis of sex. As a result, there has been increased female participation in athletics across American schools and post-secondary educational institutions, said Pettit.

Despite the progress, Pettit thinks there has to be a constant push to create opportunities for marginalized groups to participate in sports. This includes the LGBTQ community.

“If someone doesn’t fit the prescribed gender roles in sports, we’re uncomfortable about it. Sport is [historically] separated by gender,” he says, recognizing the challenges as one tries to fit into unnecessarily limiting gender norms.

It is not often you can say you have walked in someone else’s shoes. But Pettit has done that, not once but twice. Participating in the YWCA Hamilton Walk a Mile in Her Shoes campaign, he dons the red high-heeled shoes to raise awareness about violence against women. He emerged as the top fundraiser in 2012, raising $1,400 online. He continues to walk the talk by sitting on the planning committee of this annual YWCA event.

By participating in this symbolic event, Pettit becomes more conscious of the privileges ascribed to men. He also acknowledges the challenges for men to participate in women’s movements.

“If you’re advocating for a marginalized group, you end up removing yourself from the majority. But you’re never quite part of the minority,” he points out.

Yet, it is important to move pass this skepticism and keep the momentum going. So for the third time this year, Pettit is putting on the signature red spiked pumps, stepping up for women and their futures.

“If I’m going to say something is important in my professional role, I better not just talk about it. But literally walk about it,” he concludes.

To learn more about YWCA Hamilton’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes campaign visit www.ywcahamilton.org.