Abstract
In recent years, to address barriers to Canadian girls’ sport participation, there has been a greater focus on supporting community-based sport programs that target girls and equity-deserving groups. However, it is imperative to be mindful that the act of establishing more programs does not necessarily mean the participants will automatically have positive experiences. Although sport tends to be perceived as a pure and inclusive setting where such experiences are inherent for youth, this is not the case for those who are traditionally and historically excluded in these spaces. As scholars continue to remain critical of sport spaces, questions of how youth sport researchers and programs can create spaces that can foster feelings of belonging and inclusion arise – specifically inquiring about tangible tools that can engage girls in processes of empowering and amplifying their voices. One tool suggested by critical positive youth development scholars is storytelling. It not only functions to empower youth to use their voice and reflect on their experiences, but also allows for their experiences to be heard by others. In this current study, I will be partnering with a community-based soccer program in Toronto, Ontario, that targets girls from equity-deserving groups. I will explore the sporting experiences of 6-8 athletes by employing a visual method of storytelling called photovoice, guided by the feminist participatory action research framework. To further amplify their voices using strategies that align with principles of knowledge mobilization, their photos will shared in a community art show with the program directors in attendance.
