Jablonski v. Privette: Another Gender Equity #Fail
nmlavoi | January 11, 2012In my last blog, following severe injuries of two MN high school hockey players, I argued checking should be banned at all levels and for all hockey players. Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist Rachel Blount wrote a piece title “Despite tragedies, hockey reformer finds resistance to change” where Hal Tearse,Minnesota Hockey Coach in Chief, is interviewed.
Banning checking would primarily affect male hockey, as checking is illegal in female hockey. In many sports rules differ for the male and female version. For example: Lacrosse-males wear more protective padding. Basketball-women play with a smaller ball. Tennis-women play 2 of 3 sets (in most circumstances) and men play 3 of 5 sets. In short, different rules set up the male version of the sport to be “the real” version while females are left to play a version; in which they don’t have to play as long, play with rules that “protect” them, and make the game easier. We are now 40 years post Title IX, I think females can handle it. Make one version of the game and make everyone play by those rules. This might help (some) people see women’s sport a real sport and advance gender equity. It might help people stop viewing the female version as “less than”, believe that females need protection, or that females are fragile and can’t sustain competitive effort as long as males. Making the rules equal might help people value women’s sport and female athletes in similar ways to their males peers.
Even if you don’t value girls’ and women’s sport, do you value the life, health and well being of females less than males? Is one person’s injury more important and newsworthy? In Minnesota right now, it appears this is the case.
You see, in short succession two young athletes were severely injured in hockey games following checks from behind. Jack Jablonski and Jenna Privette both currently have no feeling below the waist and remain in the hospital. Jablonski was injured first and just when we were about to resume “hockey as usual” Privette was injured.
The difference is the media treatment and public support for these two athletes has been drastically different. Google it.
Jablonski received calls from hockey coaches and players from all levels of play, celebrities tweeted support, MN Wild players visited him the hospital, a fund was set up, a logo was created and widely used as a badge (see pic on left) on Facebook and Twitter to show support, a “Support Jack Jablonski” Facebook page was created, fundraisers were organized all over the state, proceeds from games were donated, and Hockey Day Minnesota (Jan. 21, 2012), the annual hockey showcase that features high school games held outdoors on Lake Minnetonka, will be dedicated to Jack Jablonski’s family this year. In addition, The Wild, FOX Sports North and Wells Fargo will combine to host an all-day telethon beginning at 9 a.m., raising money for the Jack Jablonski Fund.
In the story announcing the Hockey Day Minnesota events, Privette was not even mentioned! Not one word.
Same injury(**) (***) Same sport. Different sex of athlete.
The local print and broadcast media were all over the Jablonski story. I heard about Privette on Twitter from Mark Rosen (@WCCORosen). I’m not the only one who has noticed this disparity. In a small effort, people are being encouraged to support Privette’s recovery by wearing blue on Jan. 11. [which ironically I found out about on Twitter from Greg Litman (@GRLitman) who also works on WCCO]
If you Google “Jenna Privette badge”..the first image is the Jablonski badge. The second image is connected to Jabs’ badge (see image on right). A sad symbol of how the value of male sport and therefore male athletes is somehow greater than female sport and female athletes. If you Google Jenna Privette (as of 1/11/2012 at 9:07am) no stories about benefits or fundraisers, or calls, visits or tweets from famous people appear, with the exception of a “Support Jenna Privette” Facebook page. I’m sure the Privette’s need support too.
Come on Minnesota (and everyone else!) we can do better, and should do better. This is a challenge to the people organizing Hockey Day Minnesota. How about Hockey Day Minnesota be dedicated to BOTH Jablonski and Privette. Events that day feature both boy’s and girl’s games. How about having the girls’ game featuring Hopkins vs Minnetonka at 4:30 PM on Lake Minnetonka benefit and honor Jenna Privette? How about the proceeds from the telethon you are organizing be split between the Jablonski’s and the Privette’s? It is the right thing to do.
NOTE: Irony. One hour after I posted this blog, as a member of Minnesota Hockey I received the newsletter from MN Hockey President Dave Margenau. While he mentioned both families in the body of the newsletter, only the badge of Jablonski is included in the open letter (see graphic). Another example of the main premise of my blog.
**I have been corrected (see comment), the injuries are different Jablonski’s spinal cord is severed, Privette’s is not. My point is that as of right now at the time of writing this blog, both cannot move from the waist down. It is not know if or when Privette will recover.
***It has been suggested to me by someone MUCH more knowledgeable about the injuries that a more accurate statement would be: “Different injury*. Same sport. Different mechanism of injury. Different prognosis. Different sex of athlete.”
A Radiologist Dr. Friend of Mine sent this to me and with his permission, I am posting it:
Your Jablonski/Privette blog post is very telling. However, it’s not the same injury. The boy’s spine is fractured and his spinal cord is completely severed.People with that type of injury regain function only in rare cases. The girl’s spine is not fractured and her spinal cord is not severed. She has a SCIWORA injury,(spinal cord injury without radiologic abnormality) from what I have heard. SCIWORA is not as well understood, and definitely not as predictable in outcome. The injured usually regain at least some function.
To a lay person, the effects are the same at this moment, so it’s essentially the same injury. In that sense, your blog is spot on. It’s not whether they’re ACTUALLY the same injury, it’s what people believe. As of today, I think you’re right. I think people do believe it’s the same injury, and therefore it’s odd that one is receiving so much more attention than the other.
It could be a “first” thing and it could be a gender thing, whatever it is, it’s odd.
I wont disagree that this could be a male vs female thing but my outrage is more on the basis of what about all of the other people that suffer these types of devastating injuries? I have been coaching youth hockey for 9 years and love the game but when I read an article in the Star-Trib last week that gave us insight from Jack Jablonski’s doctor, I could not believe what I was reading. The doctor stated that at HCMC alone, they deal with 60 families annually who are going through the same thing the Jablonski’s are. Now why are we not hearing about those families, and who is supporting them and their financial difficulties. Are Jack and Jenna special because they were injured by a bad check? Or is it because they are teenagers with their whole lives to look forward too? I dont know, but even as a very active member of Minnesota hockey, I find outrage in this much further than equality in sports, what about equality in life???????
Thank you for your post and insights. I’m hoping the new 5 mn checking rule will help, but coaches have to teach it, kids have to embrace it, parents support it, and refs call it. A cultural shift in hockey must occur. -nml
I have completely noticed this apparent gender inequity however, I’m sure that the parents of Jack Jablonski really pushed his story to the media more than the Privette family. This kind of injury happens more than we think. I guarantee you that Jack is not the only person to suffer this kind of injury in the last 5 years yet he is the only one we have heard of and that has really made national news. Maybe Jenna Privette’s family only went to the media because they saw the support Jack was receiving.
With this being said, I do still believe that there would have been a difference in the way the media portrayed both of their injuries if all of the variables were controlled for.
Both of their injuries are devastating and I hope they both have great recoveries but people need to keep these injuries in perspective and realize that it is not the end of the world for either of them. It is the start of a new life dealing with their new challenges.
Scott Bush tired to a leave a comment WordPress apparently didn’t like it! So here it is:
I’m 100% in agreement with you on the strange difference in support shown to the two athletes by the local and hockey communities. If those that have established fundraisers, shows of support, etc. do not also include the second victim, it is a clear dismissal of women’s sports. The message seems to be that either women don’t know how to play (she was hurt because ‘they’ are clueless) or women aren’t tough enough to play. Both of which are awful.
I’m saddened and disappointed that these tragic events involving young athletes have turned into a controversy involving gender equity. It’s particularly troubling given the stark contrasts between the two cases, in terms of injury, diagnosis, prognosis, and the future each one has to look forward to. I’m thankful and relieved that Ms. Privette’s MRI came back completely clean, showing no damage at all. Thank God she has feeling and mobility throughout her upper body and, according to recent news stories, mobility in her legs. Thank God doctors suspect she reinjured or reaggravated the same injury she suffered in the 8th grade and she should be able to heal as she did as a 14-year-old. Thank God she’s been able to start physical therapy so soon after her incident. I hope one doctor steps forward to provide local news journalists at least some information. I hope the parents decide to break their silence and offer something more beyond mere vague statements as to her condition and prognosis. In the meantime, we’re still coming to terms with the fact that Jack Jablonski suffered a total break, sever, of his spinal cord, rendering him a quadriplegic but for slight movement in his upper arms. He will never again hold a video game controller. He will not have the ability to control a tv remote, or a fork, or a child… Let’s hope the Jablonski’s manage to adjust to the new life and a future they never anticipated. These cases are different in many ways and on different levels. I’m sorry you feel as though any greater attention on Jack’s behalf is a product of gender inequity, or sexism.
Dear Playball,
We can disagree and I see your points. Thank you for posting. -nml
There is gender inequity in sports primarily because there is more money at the top of the pyramid of boys sports. US boys hockey in most cases mirrors what goes on in Canada and I doubt you will see checking removed from boys hockey there any time soon.
I see plenty of boys games at legal checking ages that more closely resemble football games and I have seen boys tackled on the ice. No checking is not likely to happen but the sport needs to move towards a zero tolerance policy and consistently call penalties when necessary.
Right now if a team gets too many penalties the coach is removed from the game. It should be changed that the coach is permanently removed. Bad sports behavior is either coached or ignored and neither should happen.
David, Thanks and I agree! Zero tolerance. -nml
I came across this site and was just wondering what your take on these “heads-up stabilizers” is. http://www.heads-upstabilizer.com/coachchicpurchase.html
I realize you are looking for more of a game change, but i guess there is a chance these would help with the injuries.
I queried a colleague who is an expert in this area and he stated we don’t have enough (or any) scientific evidence to prove efficacy. Efficacy of these devices is currently unknown. Individuals should be wary on any device that makes such claims. -nml