Mom wants Coed Changing rooms

[mom2burgess]

http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgar...9-6878f1c8e4dd

Mom wants coed change rooms
Minor hockey policy challenged

Lori-Anne Charlton
CanWest News Service


Monday, July 11, 2005








A Lumby, B.C., mom believes her 14-year-old daughter got the short end of the hockey stick while she was a member of the town's bantam house team, thanks to a B.C. Amateur Hockey Association policy requiring male and female players to change in separate rooms.

Jane Emlyn says female minor hockey players' rights are violated when they're forced to use separate changing rooms.

She's presenting her case to a mediator from the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal this morning, facing off against representatives from the BCAHA and the Lumby Minor Hockey Association at the Vernon, B.C., courthouse.

"There's a lot of girls that play, and I think the majority of them see this as discrimination," Emlyn said.

According to Al Berg, a member of the BCAHA's coaching committee, the policy was introduced in January 2001 by Hockey Canada, after a human rights commission mediation session in Ontario. It states players over the age of 11 are not allowed to change in the same room at the same time. The policy came as a result of increased female participation on integrated teams.

Jewel Emlyn, 14, who plays on the Lumby Stars with two other girls, says being kept out of the changing room before and after games or practice means they miss out on a lot of team camaraderie.

"It's fun in the changing room. You get to talk and socialize with all the kids and talk about the game, and talk about the practices and just discuss hockey," she said.

Her mom adds that, while girls are allowed in the room 15 minutes before game time, much of the coaching goes on while players are changing. Female coaches are also banned from the room except during those 15 minutes.

Emlyn is calling for shared changing rooms, with a dress code requiring all girls to have a minimum of shorts and T-shirt on, and boys to wear at least boxers.

© The Calgary Herald 2005

are girls rights violated if they cannot share the same changing room as the boys?

What are your thoughts?

[Jory]

What are your thoughts?

My thoughts are WTF? It is stupid frivolous cases like this that make people think "feminists" are a bunch of loons. And who can blame them?

[Melinda-Q]

Originally Posted by mom2burgess

http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgar...9-6878f1c8e4dd


are girls rights violated if they cannot share the same changing room as the boys?

What are your thoughts?

Uh no, girls and boys shoul dnot be expected to change in the same room. Period. It IS discrimination if the two rooms provided for changing are not equal. Two euqal rooms should be provided. One for girls, one for boys.

[kingclick]

Originally Posted by Jory

My thoughts are WTF? It is stupid frivolous cases like this that make people think "feminists" are a bunch of loons. And who can blame them?

Actually THIS is what I see as a GOOD feminist issue. These girls are missing out on an important part of something because of a stupid rule. They are members of the team yet are not ALLOWED to be there for key coaching?

[holychicken]

I 100% agree with king.

[eva]

Um, how about don't coach in the locker room? Doesn't seem particularly appropriate anyway. Maybe it's common in boy's sports, but none of my sports or activities ever did the coaching in the locker or dressing room.

[Jory]

Originally Posted by eva

Um, how about don't coach in the locker room? Doesn't seem particularly appropriate anyway. Maybe it's common in boy's sports, but none of my sports or activities ever did the coaching in the locker or dressing room.

Yeah, this is what I was thinking. I know stuff happens in the locker room, but why not have a common area to do all the coaching things? Get in, get changed, and come to the meeting/coaching area asap.

Emlyn is calling for shared changing rooms, with a dress code requiring all girls to have a minimum of shorts and T-shirt on, and boys to wear at least boxers.

I don't get how that works. what is the point of having a changing room, if you can't change? does this mean that the girls won't be able to change out of their shorts? That they will have to wear them under their uniform/regular clothing? And are the boy's boxers going to be sewn shut there? because you know, it is a 14 year old boy. One stray breeze, and wee willy winkie might decide to make an appearance. Not that I would be worried about my girl seeing it, but the poor boy.

[Scarlet]

I know it is slightly different, but many swimming pools I've been to in Britain have coed changing rooms with cubicles to change and cubicle showers so noone has to see anyone naked. If you can have coed changing rooms in swimming pools, you can have coed changing rooms for sports.

[kingclick]

Originally Posted by eva

Um, how about don't coach in the locker room? Doesn't seem particularly appropriate anyway. Maybe it's common in boy's sports, but none of my sports or activities ever did the coaching in the locker or dressing room.

It's not JUST about the coaching...it's about eh commeraderie. It's part of the hockey experience.

To take players out of that environment takes AWAY from the game and the experience.

The solution is easy. Keep the team together during the change. And THAT doesn't take away from anyone. And IF a player still wants to change elsewhere they have that right and ability...but to make a law restricting people who have consented is unfair.

[IdahoMom]

Originally Posted by kingclick

It's not JUST about the coaching...it's about eh commeraderie. It's part of the hockey experience.

To take players out of that environment takes AWAY from the game and the experience.

The solution is easy. Keep the team together during the change. And THAT doesn't take away from anyone. And IF a player still wants to change elsewhere they have that right and ability...but to make a law restricting people who have consented is unfair.

I agree with King.