The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Scotland’s No 1 squash player Aitken aims to raise awareness of issues around racism
Angus squash star Aitken helped raise awareness of lack of diversity in society
Angus squash ace Lisa Aitken has revealed she’s spent the coronavirus lockdown helping to raise awareness of issues around racism.
The Montrose star, Scotland’s No 1 female player, admits she wanted to educate herself and asked others to do likewise via her social media channels.
Lockdown has allowed an opportunity for reflection, something Aitken’s well accustomed to doing having spent the best part of three years off the PSA Tour after contracting dengue fever competing in Malaysia in 2014.
The death of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has emboldened a global movement demanding action and change when it comes to racism, inequality and a lack of diversity in society.
Aitken’s anti-racism efforts have not been tokenistic gestures, acts of whiteguilt posturing or grandstanding.
They’ve simply been the actions of a normal woman from Montrose, who happens to be good at squash, wanting to educate herself and asking others to do likewise.
“Everyone in the whole world has become more aware of racism during this period,” said Aitken, 30, who won a fourth national title in March.
“That’s fantastic but we need to learn far more about it and it needs to be spoken about more.
“I’m anti-racist which is all very well me saying but what I’ve realised is – that’s not enough.
“I need to educate myself a lot more so I can understand more.
“It’s something moving forward I won’t be scared to speak about, particularly with my friends who are black.
“I want to know how they feel and they want to be asked questions and speak about it.
“By not speaking about it makes it a taboo subject and that’s taking a step backwards.”
She continued: “With things that I post on social media, I want people to know what I think and potentially have an influence on how they think.
“Posting an image on Instagram is all well and good but I’m like ‘here’s a link, click on it, read this article, watch this Tedtalk, documentary or film.
“Even if just two people of my 2,000odd followers click the link and do any of these things then that’s progress, educating and raising awareness.”
So what about racism in the sport she plays professionally and loves.
Black squash player, French Guianese ace Melissa Alves, recently spoke movingly about her experiences of societal attitudes to race and colour but said: “The PSA Tour is the most
welcoming and inclusive place to play your sport and everyone is treated the same no matter the colour of their skin.”
She points to the great players from Asia and the fact the women’s rankings are dominated by players with brown skin from Egypt. She would, however, like to see more black players competing.
Aitken agrees, saying: “I’m proud of my sport and there’s no evidence of racism on the PSA Tour.
“But it has got me thinking – why do we not have more black players in the squash community? That for me is an issue and it’s still predominantly a white-orientated sport and we still need to become more diverse.”
The Montrose player highlights issues of perception having been struck by a conversation she had with her girlfriend Rachel Corsie, who captains the Scotland national football team and plays for Utah Royals in the USA’S National Women’s Soccer League.
She added: “Rachel said to me, ‘it’s a white-privileged sport that rich middleaged men go and play after work and then sit in a sauna.’
“That’s someone’s overview of squash looking totally from the outside. When she thinks of squash that’s what she thinks. The demographic which played back in the day was a lot like that but it has changed.
“Maybe because squash is not an Olympic sport, not in the face of the general public as much, means it still carries that stigma unfortunately.
“Our sport needs to be more attractive to every race and a way to help do that is to change the stereotype, stigma and perceptions that are associated with the name squash.”