Assessing and Addressing Racial Diversity in Australian Quidditch

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Assessing and Addressing Racial Diversity in Australian Quidditch

Ajantha Abey, Australian quidditch player, photographer, and QA Media Director, reflects on his experience of race and ethnicity in quidditch since joining the sport in 2014. This essay dives into the Australian population data to examine the lack of diversity in Australian quidditch (part 1), interrogates the systemic parts of our culture and sport that oppress and exclude indigenous Australians and other minority ethnicities (part 2), and examines a number of ways that individuals, clubs, community leaders, and Quidditch Australia can begin addressing these systemic issues (part 3). Ajantha also reflects on his own experiences and perspectives on being a player and leader in the sport with Sri Lankan migrant parents.

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QLD Gender Engagement: SCF Women On Pitch & Level The Playing Field

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QLD Gender Engagement: SCF Women On Pitch & Level The Playing Field

In 2019, two events were held that focused on promoting female involvement in the sport. These were the “Women on Pitch” game at Sunshine Coast Fantasy, and the Level The Playing Field event. Here, Laura Smith, of the QA Gender Engagement Committee, and Alise Fox, of USC, report on the success of these events.

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How No One Benefits from the Gender Norms of Chasing

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How No One Benefits from the Gender Norms of Chasing

Taylor Angelo, of the University of Sydney Quidditch Club, and captain of the USyd Unbreakables in 2019, writes about her experiences, observations, and thoughts around gender norms in the chaser game: how women are routinely pushed out of ball-carrying roles into wing positions, how they are underutilised in these positions still, how this can produce “ball-anxiety”, and how this can not only negatively affect non-female players but the team as a whole.

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