I was recently fortunate enough to have a very illuminating conversation with my good friend Anissa Moisson. She brought to light the notable dichotomy in our university experience among the polarization of wealth in student populations in regards to participation in sport. More specifically, ‘the wealthy sports’ and what it means in regards to social status to be able to participate in these activities.
Socialization is linked to economic status. It is so noticeable when we consider our privilege, in our ability to perform well in activities that require a good basis of funding and in order to undertake. To put it more plainly, I came to Queens not knowing it was so common to go skiing, golfing, and sailing, being assimilated in an environment where students are able to go to vacation homes and ski/golf/sail on weekends was quite shocking to me as someone who grew up in a small blue-collar town on Lake Ontario. While the shock of life at Queens has been quite the adjustment, it is not the knowledge of paying the highest tuition of any Candian university institution, nor is it the inflated rent prices in the entirety of the university district; what has affected me the most is the normalized expensive standards of living.
Gucci belts and golf, both used to be completely unknown worlds for me. I grew up living in what I thought was luxury (on a shoestring budget), but the more time I interact with my peers at Queens I have been subject to experiencing what is the polarizing nature of wealth. The divide even among middle and upper-class students is so visible. I had never before interacted with wealth in the way I have been conditioned to in the time I have been at Queens. A $2000 Gucci belt and a $2000 set of golf clubs feel like a standard- one that I simply cannot reach. Casual wealth is an unspoken distinction in every relationship at this school. There is very much a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ mentality among my wealthy friends, but as someone who is admittedly from a middle-class immigrant family it is painfully visible how far behind I stand from so many peers.
It is time to normalize not knowing how to do a medley of activities that Queen’s students often grow up with. The wealth distinction and how we align with economic status bleeds into every conversation often in the most innocuous ways. The difference between being able to go on a weekend trip to the slopes and afford utilities or groceries is an issue more people face than we realize. Understanding the privilege one has in undertaking something as simple as a sporting activity can offer us an astonishing perspective on the world we live in and where we are placed ourselves.
Last reading week, I went skiing with a group of friends, something I have only done once in my life. I envied the lived experiences they shared of growing up on the slopes, where I struggled. Watching children, who have been skiing since before they could walk, soar past you, whilst you struggle to stand is a staggering metaphor for just how far behind I am when I compare myself to my peers simply because I never had the financial means, privilege, and mobility to undertake activities my good friends take for granted.
I am mesmerized by the idea that somehow I can break through the generational mobility issue, and break into the higher echelons, but I already cannot talk the talk, or walk the walk in this case and it differentiates me by class. I never thought I would be defined by my parents’ salaries, yet, the striking experiential differences in removal from dominant class in the spaces I pursue often makes me feel like an imposter. I am not heavily burdened or facing hardships due to my financial position, and it is for that reason that I want to recognize the privilege I am gifted with due to my status, race, sexual orientation, and ability.
For some context into the associated costs of sporting life here is a set of numbers from a 2016 survey by Utah State, the sports listed cost in USD this amount per year in the youth divisions.
For instance:
Lacrosse, $7,956 a year
Hockey, $7,013 a year
Baseball/Softball, $4,044 a year
Football, $2,739 a year
Soccer, $1,472 a year
Basketball, $1,143 a year
Clearly, based on these numbers it is difficult for families to fund even one child’s dream of pursing athletics. According to Stack, https://www.stack.com/a/youth-sports-ranked-from-most-to-least-expensive “children from low-income families are now just half as likely to participate in organized sports than those from high-income families.” In a fairly homogenous society such as Queens, it is often harder for privileged individuals to understand the serious financial undertaking such a casual activity offers. Remaining in circles of individuals of similar financial perspective reinforces the bias that sports are a privilege everyone is financially able to participate in. The impairment of understanding privilege will continue to enforce boundaries among the have and have-nots of the world. Taking a moment to consider where we are benefited, and where we least expect it is necessary to become a more understanding and enlightened individual. Poverty bleeds into every aspect of life.
Participating in high level sports organizations such as tennis clubs, golf clubs or ski clubs offer the opportunities to comingle with individuals of similar financial status, thus, in some ways, participation in these organizations act as a buy-in for valuable connections and networking opportunities. The old adage that ‘business is done on the golf course’ has a striking connection to the fact that privileged sports are inaccessible and often perpetuate levels of inequality by way of exclusivity. We might also consider that these privileged sports (tennis, sailing, golf, hockey, etc.) are still highly accessible during the pandemic, these spaces are still open to individuals with the means to access them whilst neighborhood basketball hoops and soccer nets have been removed based on concerns involving covid, stifling the opportunities of the lower classes.
In conclusion, I ask you to examine your life and experiences. Take a moment to consider the institutionalised privileges you have and what you have taken advantage of that others may never have had the privilege to. Endeavor to learn more about how you interact with the world. Athletics should not be limited to individuals based on classist divides, take time to appreciate what opportunities you have had compared to others you know and understand how the divide drips into other aspects of life.