Critical race theory and black feminist insights into “race” and gender equality

ABSTRACT

This paper applies the concept “blind spots” to describe partial approaches to “race” and gender equality agendas in sport organizations in the UK, drawing on semi-structured, in-depth interviews with Equality and Coach Development Leaders. Using the specific context of sport coaching, our qualitative approach is underpinned by critical race theory and the work of black feminism and intersectionality scholarship. Three key themes are identified: The marginality of “race” in the equalities agenda; Patterns of (in)visibility; and Whitening Equality. We argue that there is an urgent need for “race” conscious intersectional critiques of sport coaching. This is to examine the multiplicity and complexities of inclusion and exclusion for coaches and the different levels at which social divisions are constructed and interconnected. The paper provides a theoretical contribution to develop “race” equality research and outlines implications for policy-makers and practitioners to help challenge notions of meritocracy.

KEYWORDS:

• Equality
• diversity
• race
• gender
• critical race theory
• black feminism

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the participants who contributed their experiences and perspectives for this research and the anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback on an earlier submission of this article. AJ would also personally like to thank Aarti Ratna for supportive discussions on this research and article, and Beccy Watson for providing feedback on a much earlier draft of this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Alexandra J. Rankin-Wright http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5962-266X

Notes

1. We have used the “BAME” here, as this term was used in the research report referenced. “BAME”, often used interchangeably with “BME” (Black and Minoritized Ethnic) in UK policy documents, is a popular acronym used in policy circles in the UK, used to denote the diverse positions and identities of all those individuals classed as “in the minority”. BAME makes South Asian identities more explicit.

2. Title IX is a federal civil rights law in the US that was passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972.

3. Sport England, Sport Scotland, the Sports Council for Wales, and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland.

4. UK Coaching, formally Sports Coach UK, are the national agency for coaching, working principally with national governing bodies in the recruitment and development of sports coaches.

5. Whilst acknowledging that “black” remained a contested concept for recognizing personal identity, and the multiplicity of experiences within and across different groups of people, Mirza used the term to denote a collective identity and space.