Scottish Women in Sport (SW/S) have a vision for a world where women and girls have equal and fair opportunities in sport and we believe one way that this can be achieved, is through a gender balance on all decision-making boards.
This year we support the theme of International Women’s Day 2024, #InspireInclusion, by adding ‘Start at the Top’.
Our 2021 research, giving the gender breakdown on a variety of roles in sport, highlighted the gap still prevalent in leadership roles between women and men.
If we want to change this, we must have change from the top down.
SW/S spoke to three women from diverse backgrounds who hold posts in sporting organisations. They shared what their journey was like and why they believe in order to #InspireInclusion, we must look at changes from the Boardroom down.
Amani Afzal
Project Coordinator, Active Life Club
Active Life Club has been championing youth empowerment through sports since 1999. Amani has volunteered with the club since 2019 and now holds the position of the Project Coordinator. Her primary goal is to enhance organisational capacity, providing opportunities for skills and personal development, particularly for underrepresented groups. As someone from a BME background, Amani recognizes the significance of diversity and inclusion in sports. She actively addresses gender inequalities, leading to increased participation of young females in volunteering, sports sessions, and the development of transferable skills for their chosen career paths.
How and when did you get interested in sport and what do you love about it?
I didn’t develop an interest in sports at a young age because I was led to believe that it wasn’t a domain for females, especially for someone from an ethnic minority background. The lack of representation of Asian ethnic minority females in sports reinforced this. Although I enjoyed participating in sports at school, the idea of pursuing it further never crossed my mind. My involvement in sport began when I started volunteering at Active Life Club, an organisation dedicated to inspiring, debunking myths, and empowering individuals regardless of gender or ethnicity. I love sport because it provides a platform for personal growth, teamwork, and achievement, allowing individuals to push their limits and strive for excellence. It offers an holistic approach to health and wellbeing, promoting physical, mental and social development while also fostering important life skills and values.
Do you feel that you had barriers to breakdown as a woman in sport and how have you overcome them?
As a female from an ethnic minority background, I have faced numerous barriers in pursuing sports, from societal stereotypes to limited opportunities. However, with the support of Active Life Club, I was able to overcome these challenges. Through mentorship, access to training programs, and a supportive community, I gained the confidence to tackle inequalities, defy stereotypes and pursue my passion for sports. Active Life Club not only helped me overcome obstacles but also empowered me to inspire others and advocate for inclusivity and diversity in the sports community.
Tell us about who has supported you on your journey?
Throughout my journey, I’ve been fortunate to receive support from various individuals, including my family and friends. The team at Active Life Club has been a pillar of support for me, providing not only moral support but also practical guidance, encouragement, and opportunities for personal and professional development. Through their mentorship, I have been empowered to express myself freely, to speak up on issues that matter, and to advocate for inclusivity and diversity within the sports community. Their dedication to creating an inclusive space where everyone feels valued and empowered has had a profound impact on my journey, and I am incredibly grateful for their ongoing support.
What do you feel are the benefits of diverse and inclusive leadership in sport?
Diverse and inclusive leadership in sport fosters innovation, creativity, and a broader range of perspectives. It helps create environments where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their unique talents and experiences, leading to stronger, more vibrant sporting communities and organisations. Increased engagement and participation across diverse groups can create positive role modelling for athletes and stakeholders, and greater social impact by challenging stereotypes.
Why is it important to have female role models in sport?
Having female role models in sport, especially those from black and ethnic minority / underrepresented backgrounds, is crucial. They inspire and empower girls and women to pursue their athletic dreams, challenge gender and racial stereotypes, provide representation, increase visibility for women’s sports, advocate for gender and racial equality, and can encourage other females to pursue their passions and dreams in sports. Given their under-representation, their presence is vital for inspiring other ethnic minority females to participate in sports and to demonstrate that it’s acceptable for them to do so.
Can you tell us who are your role models in sport?
My role model in sport is Raza Sadiq. As the founder of Active Life Club, Raza has not only demonstrated exceptional leadership but also shown a deep commitment to uplifting individuals and helping them be the best version of themselves. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, or background, he tirelessly supports and has changed the lives of countless individuals through his dedication and volunteer work. I am incredibly grateful for his mentorship and guidance, and I aspire to follow in his footsteps as a champion for diversity and inclusivity in sport.
Cara Shearer
Partnership Manager, sportscotland
Cara is an experienced sport development professional with a demonstrated history of working in the sports development and research sector. She is passionate about working with under represented groups to make sport a more inclusive space. She currently works for sportscotland as a Partnership Manager, as well as sitting as Vice Chair for both Scottish Women in Sport and LEAP Sports Scotland.
How and when did you get interested in sport and what do you love about it?
I’ve always loved being active and I was encouraged from a young age to try different sports and participate. While I’ve never been a gifted athlete, I’ve always loved the way that playing sport makes me feel; celebrated for being strong, connected to my community and confident that I can support my friends/teammates both on and off the field.
Do you feel that you had barriers to breakdown as a woman in sport and how have you overcome them?
Unfortunately, I have and still experience barriers to being active, particularly within traditional sporting settings. As a working mum of two toddlers, I find that there are limited options available for recreational and/or flexible sporting participation for females – it would be great to see a more varied offering. In terms of breaking barriers, I think it’s important to keep going, keep challenging the societal norms and strive to support the next generation of women and girls coming through so that they have the opportunities we haven’t.
Tell us about who has supported you on your journey?
I’ve been so privileged over the years to be supported by so many inspiring women/girls, alongside strong male allies who have mentored and supported me both personally and professionally. My team mates, family, coaches and work colleagues have all played a part and I’m surrounded by so many positive and forward-thinking people. As with every journey, there are highs and lows. Having a supportive network is crucial and I strive to be that cheerleader for others.
What do you feel are the benefits of diverse and inclusive leadership in sport?
Diversifying and having greater representation in sports leadership is crucial as it ensures that individuals from all backgrounds are represented at decision-making levels. Too often, women are not included within high-level leadership discussions and, as a result, decisions are often made for them without fully understanding the challenges and barriers faced.
Why is it important to have female role models in sport?
The saying ‘you have to see it to believe it’ always comes to mind when I’m reflecting on the power of female role models in sport. For many women and girls, society has expectations of how we should look/behave/be and it is only through challenging these traditional ideologies that we will see real change at all levels of sport and society.
Can you tell us who are your role models in sport?
Witnessing the growth and progress of women’s professional sport over the past decade has been a complete joy and there are so many examples of incredible female athletes, breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes. However, the role models that continue to inspire and motivate me are the mums playing sport while juggling the challenges of family life, female community leaders of all shapes/sizes getting active and women/girls who are brave enough to pushout of their comfort zone to try something new.
Aileen Neilson
Scotland and GB Wheelchair Curler
Aileen first tried curling when she was 15 years old, but due to surgery and radiotherapy on a tumour on her spinal chord when she was 2 ½ , she was unable to continue playing. Due to nerve damage, she faced the challenge of declining mobility from aged 18 but successfully completed her degree and achieved her goal of working with and inspiring young people. When she took her class of children along to her local ice rink, the coach encouraged her to try wheelchair curling and she was delighted to be back on the ice. Aileen was selected to play for Scotland in 2007 and has been a member of the Scotland/GB Wheelchair Curling Squad ever since. She was the first female skip at a World Championships and Winter Paralympics. As well as skipping the team to a silver medal in 2011, the highlights of her career include skipping the GB Team to a bronze medal at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games and skipping the Scottish Team to a silver medal in front of a home crowd in 2019.
How and when did you get interested in sport and what do you love about it?
From an early age I’ve always enjoyed sport and played netball and badminton at Primary School. I grew up on a dairy farm and was lucky to have a pony and loved horse riding and carriage driving. All my family curl so I first tried that when I was about 14. I get a real buzz not only from competing but also training, honing my skills. I love the challenge of being the best I can be.
Do you feel that you had barriers to breakdown as a woman in sport and how have you overcome them?
In international wheelchair curling it has to be mixed gender, but often only one female makes the team. With hard work, dedication and self-belief, I became the first female skip/captain at a World Championships and Paralympics which certainly broke some barriers and led the way for other women to do the same.
Tell us about who has supported you on your journey?
I’ve had great support from my partner, Michael, and all my family and friends. When competing we also had fantastic support from so many crucial areas such as nutrition, psychology, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, video analysis and coaching, and many of these roles were taken by females!
What do you feel are the benefits of diverse and inclusive leadership in sport?
It can raise awareness, inspire action and drive positive change. It makes everyone feel valued and included and shows a level of equality. It lets everyone see that anything is possible and you can be the first to do something and inspire others.
Why is it important to have female role models in sport?
Young girls can often move away from sport in their early teens for various reasons but if they see female role models it will inspire them and hopefully keep them active and involved in sport. Sport offers many pathways, be it as an athlete or many other professions, which females can certainly excel at.
Can you tell us who are your role models in sport?
There are many people of mixed gender who have inspired me and there have been excellent female role models – one being Ellen MacArthur. I was truly inspired when I read her book ‘Race against Time’. What she achieved at such a young age and how she overcame barriers and went out of her comfort zone really impacted on my belief in myself as an athlete.
#InspireInclusion
