Resistance to Change (Episode 13)
On [un]phased this week Shaunna and Lisa examine resistance; resistance to change, to acknowledging privilege, and to uncomfortable conversations. They encourage us to engage in personal reflection and examine where our resistance may be coming from, particularly when it relates to recognizing our privileged identities. It is through introspection we can start to understand how our own resistance ultimately upholds larger systems of oppression that continue to marginalize people of color, women, disabled people and others in endurance sport. This self-examination can be difficult, but it is necessary.
Often, there is a connection between resistance to change and a perceived loss of power. This power may be overt (like a leadership position) or it could be less obvious (like seeing yourself routinely represented in triathlon media). Whether the power experienced is explicit or implicit, named or unnamed, it comes from an underlying sense of entitlement, such as a spot on a start line or the top step on the podium at our local race. However, as conditioned as we may be as endurance athletes to think in terms of “winning” and “losing”, we cannot think of DEI concepts in this same way. We have to look deeper and ask: who is always winning? Who is always losing? Who is holding the most space, and what would it look like if space and exposure were more equitably distributed?
Creating space for more folks to participate in endurance sport does not take away opportunities from those who already have them; instead, it allows broader participation and expands who feels welcome. As participants in the endurance sport space, we have to get comfortable leaning into the “headwinds” of these conversations. In particular we have to get comfortable with why we feel the sting of resistance when we are asked to share power, space, and access. Once you understand why you feel resistance to change, you can overcome it, move past it, and start to understand the small and big ways change is needed.