CBC News interviews Kaitrin Doll about roller derby teams’ decisions to not travel to the US
Kaitrin Doll (they/them), pictured above, right is not only a PhD candidate at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, they are also a competitive roller derby athlete.
CBC News — including Metro Morning, CBC K-W’s The Morning Edition, the This is Toronto podcast, and As It Happens — all spoke to Doll about Roller Derby Teams’ plans to cancel travel to the U.S. in the wake of America’s 2-gender rule, which has left many team members fearing for their safety when crossing the border.
Writes CBC News:
Doll said that as a skater who is transgender and gender queer, they appreciate the team taking a stand on travel to the U.S. and for team leadership to take the proactive step in making the decision.
“The reality is roller derby is a sport where we have had trans and gender-diverse inclusion since basically the inception of our sport. We are one of the only full contact sports that is crowned inclusive … that is an important ethos of our sport,” Doll said.
“I know and love this team and trust this team. But I think it was an important decision for our leadership to make that centred the well-being of our skaters over competition.”
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Doll said they’re worried about roller derby athletes in the U.S. who may be impacted by the U.S.’s two-gender rule, as well as the sport itself.
“We were hit pretty hard during the pandemic. This is like another big giant hit to our sport,” Doll said. “It’s not necessarily just the skaters within the space. It’s our sport in general that is really struggling and taking another hit here, which is a big challenge.”
Doll hopes people who are unfamiliar with the sport, and either want to experience it as a fan or an athlete, will attend bouts and information nights to learn more.
“Roller derby is an incredibly fun, skilled-needed and talented sport. We have a lot of cool people — the environment is great,” Doll said. “I’ve built my life around this sport and I’ve got my community with friends.”
Doll’s doctoral research examines the experiences of sexual and gender diverse individuals who play sports in affirming environments, with a particular emphasis on roller derby. The PhD candidate is also the Co-Chair for INQYR’s Canada Regional Network. Their study “Reimagining Roller Derby: Resistance, Rebellion and Resilience” seeks to understand how participation in roller derby can influence identity and wellbeing. Findings from the research will not only provide insight into the relationship between one’s participation in roller derby and their wellbeing, but also help inform broader policies and practices specific to sexual and gender diverse populations.
With a solid background in social work, Doll brings hands-on experience in inner city social work, community development, social innovation, and 2SLGBTQIA+ health and policy. They are currently a course instructor in social work and social policy at the University of Toronto, where they are dedicated to advancing knowledge, destabilizing the status quo, and actively supporting and uplifting student voices and learning experiences.