Inclusivity within the Strength/Powerlifting Space
The basic, fundamental statement we aim to abide by is
“Strength is for everyone.”
Fitness, like many other spaces in this world, has been and continues to be exclusionary- specifically based on race, gender, and sexuality. Being BIPOC & Queer can create barriers, underrepresentation, and discrimination for individuals in and outside of the gym- this is commonly known and experienced by many.
This reality cannot be ignored. If we truly want to make the strength/Powerlifting space one that uplifts all, supports individuals across many different backgrounds, and provides an opportunity for everyone to unite through strength- the first step is to speak about it.
I believe that strength can be an impactful pursuit infiltrating all aspects of life.
I believe it can be a way for individuals to connect to their bodies and one another.
I believe that strength can be a tool for empowerment, character development, and confidence-building, among other things.
And I want everyone to have that experience. We, as individuals, cannot fully benefit from that pursuit if it does not extend to all. Only through community action- can we truly reap the rewards that strength provides us.
This is where intersectionality comes in. It is one thing to state that “strength is for all” and “everyone is welcome.” But, especially in a sport where success depends on our efforts, words hold no weight without action. Our motto here is “Facta Non Verba,” Deeds not Words, which applies to many different facets.
Let's explore some examples of barriers that individuals may face when embarking on their training journeys, as well as relevant resources & references to support this.
(Note: As a white woman, my lived experience is different from many individuals I'll refer to. My perspective is limited in this way. My goal is not to speak prescriptively- to pretend as if I know what it’s like to have these experiences- but rather to further the conversation and uplift those who have been discussing it long before I. I do not pretend to, or claim in any way, to be an expert on the reality of experiencing discrimination based on race especially- but I want to highlight, listen to, and support those who do face that issue, specifically in the fitness space).
What does true inclusivity entail?
It is not simply enough to promote "equality." True inclusivity requires awareness, support, and education.
“Intersectionality” is an important extension of common concepts regarding diversity. The term was first coined by professor Kimberle Crenshaw in 1989 to describe “how race, class, gender, and other individual characteristics “intersect” with one another and overlap,” (1). Race, gender, and sexuality all overlap when it comes to the differences and hardships one may face due to systemic issues in society.
The same holds in fitness and Powerlifting. At its core, Powerlifting has been a male-dominated space since its origins. That’s not to say that female Powerlifters didn’t exist- there were a few at the old Westside Barbell, but by and large, the mainstream space has been focused on straight/white dudes. Many fitness and strength scopes- gyms, coaching, etc. have also lacked diversity.
We’ve witnessed vast progression recently, with female Powerlifters dominating left and right. Look at Tamara Walcott and Brianny Terry as examples- the two best female deadlifts ever: both over 600 lbs. Change has certainly occurred, and it must be recognized.
But, there’s not enough conversation, in the space as a whole, around how these characteristics impact one another- and one’s experience of the sport. Race, gender, sexuality: these factors affect those pursuing athletic endeavors.
2. How does this pertain to fitness/Powerlifting?
As briefly mentioned, since these factors play a role in all aspects of one’s life, they also impact Powerlifting- especially since these spaces have previously (and in many cases, currently) lacked diversity. The actions, attitudes, and behaviors of the traditional fitness space, and those within it- have the potential to perpetuate exclusivity, discrimination, prejudice, and unsafety- rightfully dissuading many from engaging in training.
Let’s view specific examples:
Racism & Fitness
According to the National Library of Medicine, "About 38% of non-Hispanic black women against 23% of non-Hispanic white women had reported little or no participation in leisure-time physical activity,” (2). There's a distinct difference between races, even of the same sex, due to many social, socioeconomic, and societal factors.
What are some of those factors? Specific barriers stated included: "income, personal safety, lack of exercise partners, body image perception, hair care concerns, gender norms, fear of sexual stereotypes, and family stereotypes,” (2).
Another paper outlines similar, specific obstacles, "The lack of neighborhood resources (e.g., facilities, programs, safety) in predominantly Black neighborhoods and the messages that Black women receive from the media and the Black community, along with the lack of recommendations from healthcare providers," (3) further discourage training pursuits. Note that exercise barriers are not simply societal or economic- there are many issues a woman of color may face when beginning a training routine. Additionally, diet culture messaging has ties to racism and is so prevalent in the fitness space- disproportionately impacting this population.
What about Powerlifting, specifically? While research on this relationship is essentially nonexistent, this Medium author states his experience, "I’ve always enjoyed watching powerlifters push the limits of human strength, but I’ve also noticed its unbearable Whiteness... From 2012 to 2019, only 38% of the USAPL’s men’s champions were Black,” (4). A lack of representation across multiple races creates a further barrier to entry
(Even the fact that there are limited studies specifically including women of color, where most female health/fitness research focuses on white women, is an example of a greater issue).
Homophobia & Fitness
Beyond race, finding Queer-affirming training communities can also be difficult. Front Sports Act Living raises the point that LGBTQ+ “individuals are at greater risk of losing opportunities to access fitness programs that can provide immense health and psychological benefits,” (5). Heteronormativity, and lack of diversity within fitness for Queer individuals, directly influences their safety & participation.
Some of these differences are evident from childhood, magnifying further into adulthood, “In December 2020, the Canadian Television Network (CTV) reported that every study over the past 15 years has shown that LGBTQ+ youth play sports at a lower rate than “straight” kids. Thus, these youth, and certainly adults, are doubly impacted by discrimination, while losing out on the mental health benefits of physical activity and sport," (5). When children don't have consistent exercise, adopting it into adulthood can be more difficult- which is disproportionately the case for LGBT+ individuals.
Transphobia & Fitness
And in strength sports, Powerlifting federations have shared trans-exclusionary rules, even currently. This issue is significant to trans folk and allies alike. Any perceived "threat" of trans individuals "stealing the platform" or "taking all of the records" is shortsighted and ignorant, and besides that- they deserve an opportunity to compete, period.
Here's a case that's caused a lot of discussion in the last year. Back in 2018, athlete Jaycee Cooper's request to compete in women’s powerlifting was “denied by USA Powerlifting officials,” (6). USAPL's medical director told her that “male-to-female transgenders are not allowed to compete as females in our static strength sport as it is a direct competitive advantage, (6). Even after passing every test provided, Jaycee was prevented from competing under the federation. This was ruled as illegal discrimination by a Minnesota judge last year. Bans & restrictions directly harm the mental and physical health of transgender athletes, directly opposing necessary non-discrimination policies to ensure inclusion & safety.
Sexism & Fitness
As stated above, women alone face certain barriers in strength training, and recent efforts have improved this disparity. While every single person, regardless of sex, may face difficulty in consistently engaging in physical activity, a few that impact women specifically include, “lack of time, self-consciousness about body size, shape, and physical activity ability; and urinary incontinence,” (7). Gender norms and other societal standards may influence the resources & beliefs (i.e., parenthood/homemaking, diet culture messaging, misinformation around exercise, the stigma surrounding strength training, etc.) a female has around strength training.
Based on race, gender, and sexuality, individual experiences will differ compared to those of white, straight/cis males. Strength training requires money, commuting, time, and energy, all of which may be more difficult based on these characteristics- due to systemic issues. Any level of discrimination adds another layer, making BIPOC/Queer individuals feel unsafe, unwelcome, or harmed in their attempts to begin training.
Fitness can be a radical, positive, life-enhancing pursuit, especially for this population-when in the past, strength communities have been exclusionary.
Creating genuine, inclusive representation, reducing barriers to entry, promoting strength, self-empowerment, and athletic success- changes lives.
We need intersectionality in the strength and Powerlifting space to ensure this.
Tamara Walcott (mentioned above- an absolute inspiration, who deadlifted 639 in a meet, the 2nd best female Deadlift ever) said it best when describing her journey into Powerlifting, “The first day I walked in a squat rack, I knew this was it,” she recalled...Something about Powerlifting just felt right. If I can control the weight on my shoulders, then I could take control of everything else in my life,” (8). It’s something we can likely all resonate with.
Powerlifting can:
transform how someone views themself and their limits
increase how confident and empowered they feel, both as an athlete and in their personal life
provide a form of training that no longer places “looks”/”aesthetics” above all else, instead shifting the focus to something more measurable/objective
change the perception of one's athletic potential: the open-ended chance to compete, for all people, may be the first (or most favorable) sports opportunity they've had
create community- by connecting them with people they can relate to
influence daily life. By nature of having an activity that is for yourself, your development, and your joy on your terms- and seeing yourself succeed in it- you feel more equipped and recharged to take on anything else that may arise.
impact how one feels about their life- sport can be a deeply personal thing, and you have free rein to define it as you’d like to, taking on whatever meaning you employ. It is yours to shape and shift throughout your journey.
When that’s paired with empowerment, education, and efforts to provide support/resources for all communities- the benefits explode even further. Social issues & strength training are inherently related- we bring our backgrounds and experiences to the table, especially in something as sacred as our bodies. Trauma remains in the body, and while there are many other forms of support and help, a certain level of catharsis and connection can be derived from lifting heavy shit, especially in an environment that feels encouraging.
Social justice, discrimination, and systemic issues extend to strength training, with both potential positive and negative associations. There are many examples of how this affects athletes, clients, and their participation. In the past, this has been a perpetual issue within fitness spaces, as represented in the statistics, and can be overlooked by fitness professionals- as an extreme disservice to their clients. The first step in change is knowledge and then applied knowledge. Powerlifting is full of passionate individuals who have had their personal transformative experiences. If we want to do as we say and expand that reach to the community- we need intersectionality. White/straight/male coaches & trainers must be aware of the individual issues that minorities face in fitness- and how to break those barriers together. The purpose of this post was to highlight some of these differences- and emphasize the importance of it, rather than pose many specific solutions- that’s a separate topic to be touched upon further. Below, I will list some resources for further information by BIPOC/Queer individuals in the space itself.
Relevant Resources
Justice Roe, owner of Fitness 4 All Bodies, utilizes the term "fitness industrial complex" to provide a framework to discuss the problems of exclusion. The mission is to help undo the harms that the fitness industry causes, specifically to queer & BIPOC individuals, and create new visions of how fitness can be supportive to all. Classes, courses, consulting, and more can be found on his website.
Ilya Parker founded the business Decolonizing Fitness, an effort to dismantle toxic fitness culture & redefine the role it plays in our lives. In his words, “Social characteristics, language, and habits that promote/reinforce ableism, fatphobia, racism, classism, elitism, body shaming/policing, LGBTQIA+ hatred under the guise of fitness and wellness,” comprise mainstream fitness- harming individuals across multiple communities. His website has webinars, clothing, blog posts, databases, and ebooks.
Fitness Professionals of Color PNW is a local organization that provides opportunities, scholarships, and resources to aspiring & current BIPOC coaches/trainers in Oregon and Washington. Check out their Instagram: @fitnessprofessionalsofcolorpnw
Rain City Powerlifting Union: Based in Seattle, RCPU is an up-and-coming federation specifically created with Queer athletes in mind to provide a competitive space for those excluded from other federations. They are hosting more and more events as time goes by, and you can find them on Instagram: @raincitypowerliftingunion
References
(1) Coaston, Jane. “The Intersectionality Wars.” Vox, 20 May 2019, www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/5/20/18542843/intersectionality-conservatism-law-race-gender-discrimination.
(2) Obi OC, Nnonyelu AC, Onobrakpeya A, Ogundele OJ. Benefits and barriers to physical activity among African women: A systematic review. Sports Med Health Sci. 2022 Dec 8;5(1):59-66. doi: 10.1016/j.smhs.2022.12.001. PMID: 36994171; PMCID: PMC10040374.
(3) Ray, Rashan. Sociology Compass, 2014, An Intersectional Analysis to Explaining a Lack of Physical Activity Among Middle Class Black Women.
(4) Harris, Hal H. “How Did Strength Sports Become so Damn White?” Medium, LEVEL, 23 Aug. 2021, level.medium.com/how-did-strength-sports-become-so-damn-white-d665b8797035.
(5) Bell D, Rahman S, Rochon R. (Trans)forming fitness: Intersectionality as a framework for resistance and collective action. Front Sports Act Living. 2023 Jul 26;5:944782. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2023.944782. PMID: 37564917; PMCID: PMC10410259.
(6) Collins, Jon. “‘A Huge Win’: Minnesota Judge Rules USA Powerlifting Can’t Bar Trans Athletes.” MPR News, MPR News, 28 Feb. 2023, www.mprnews.org/story/2023/02/28/a-huge-win-minnesota-judge-rules-usa-powerlifting-cant-bar-trans-athletes.
(7) Peng, B., Ng, J.Y.Y. & Ha, A.S. Barriers and facilitators to physical activity for young adult women: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative literature. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 20, 23 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01411-7
(8) Powerlifting Mom Transforms Life, Sets World Record in the Sport After ..., www.blackenterprise.com/powerlifting-mom-transforms-life-sets-world-record-in-the-sport-after-battling-hardship. Accessed 10 Jan. 2024.
