Institute Hosts Town Hall on Gender Equity and Sport
Photo: David Schmitz
[ISSSSC] San Jose Stateās Institute for the Study of Sport, Society and Social Change hosted Words to Action: Gender, Sport and Society, a town hall at Hammer Theater Center in downtown San Jose.
Following remarks by ISSSSC Interim Director and 91³Ō¹Ļ Professor Ted Butryn and 91³Ō¹Ļ President Mary A. Papazian, renowned sport sociologist Harry Edwards, ā64 Sociology, ā16 Honorary Doctorate, gave a thought-provoking address framing the dialogue for the event.
āWomen historically have proven their physical and mental strength. That is undeniable,ā Edwards said. āIt is time [for change] because women and girlsā lives matter.ā
Marshall University Professor Kat Williams moderated the first panel, āTaking the FieldāTrailblazers in Sport,ā telling the panelists that ā[women] need to understand that they have shoulders to stand on. One way to do that is for you to continue telling their stories.ā
āTrailblazers in Sportā panelists included Olympic gold medalist swimmer and co-founder of the American Basketball League Anne Warner Cribbs, Basketball Hall of Famer and NBA/WNBA executive Ann Meyers Drysdale, Olympic fencer and President of Valencia Collegeās East and Winter Park campuses Stacy Johnson, ā80 Public Relations, and Marie Tuite, San Jose Stateās director of intercollegiate athletics. They shared their perspectives on the impact of Title IX on their lives and on sport in general.
āTitle IX is not a womenās sports law,ā said Meyers Drysdale. āIt has become the mantra for women in sports because the bottom line is opportunity.ā
Olympic medalist swimmer, attorney and CEO of Champion Women Nancy Hogshead-Makar gave an informative keynote address on protecting and empowering athletes through the law, including Title IX. Following Hogshead-Makarās keynote, she invited to the stage Brenda Tracy, founder of Set the Expectation, for a moving and deeply personal conversation in which both women were frank about the impact of their experiences as survivors of sexual violence.
Photo: James Tensuan, ā15 Photojournalism
Through her Set the Expectation campaign, Tracy, who went public with her own story of sexual assault in 2014, works with coaches and educators to encourage proactive dialogue about sexual violence.
āWe need to talk to men in positive terms and tell them men are the solution,ā Tracy said. āIf women could stop sexual violence, it would be done already.ā
Spartans Football Head Coach Brent Brennan and players from 91³Ō¹Ļās football team attended the event, a day after Tracy spoke with them and players from 91³Ō¹Ļās menās basketball team.
āThis is such a powerful event,ā said Brennan. āItās important for our guys to hear the discussion. Treating people with respect is one of our teamās core values.ā
San Francisco 49ers General Counsel Hannah Gordon moderated āBeyond the FieldāOpportunity and Empowerment,ā the eventās second panel that included two-time Olympic gold medalist, WNBA Hall of Famer and author Ruthie Bolton, Endeavor Executive Vice President Karen Brodkin, Olympic silver medalist and sideline reporter for the San JosĆ© Earthquakes Danielle Slaton, and 49ers Assistant Coach and former pro football player Katie Sowers.
Photo: David Schmitz
The panelists discussed how women have moved from athletics to leadership positions in sport, sharing personal experiences and advice for current and future athletes and leaders.
āOur good stories and bad stories empower young girls,ā said Bolton. āWe need to remind these girls: you can turn your pain into power.ā
Thereās great power in student-athletes. They can come together and move mountains.
Stacey Johnson, who recently joined the ISSSSC advisory board, captured the heart of the event and a core goal of the institute: āThereās great power in student-athletes. They can come together and move mountains.ā
By Rodney Knox | March 14, 2018
