11 Notebook for Module 5

Exercise 1: Notebook Prompt

Many of you are likely familiar with the concept of “ability inequity,” which the authors of this article define as “an unjust or unfair  (a) ‘distribution of access to and protection from abilities generated through human interventions’ or (b) ‘judgment of abilities intrinsic to biological structures such as the human body’.”

However, they go on to identify the following “ability concepts” that are less familiar:

1) ability security (one is able to live a decent life with whatever set of abilities one has)

2) ability identity security (to be able to be at ease with ones abilities)

-OR-

The authors also observe that “Ableism not only intersects with other forms of oppression, such as racism, sexism, ageism, and classism, but abilities are often used to justify such negative ‘isms’.”

What do you think this means? Provide an example.

• The quote means that ableism often connects with other types of unfair treatment, like racism, sexism, ageism and classism. It also means that people’s abilities are often used as excuses to treat others unfairly in these ways. For example, if you look at sexism,  people have said women aren’t as logical or as strong as men, so they shouldn’t lead or make important decisions.

Exercise 5: Notebook Prompt

What do Fitzgerald and Long identify as barriers to inclusion and how might these apply to sport in particular?

• They identify physical barriers like inaccessible facilities and equipment, and barriers such as low expectations or negative views of disabled people. Communication issues ans a lack of clear information also prevents participation. Some disabled people feel uncomfortable or out of place in mainstream sports due to low confidence or fear of being judged. Sport, with its strong focus on physical ability and competition, often makes these barriers more visible and harder to overcome than in other leisure activities.

Exercise 7: Notebook Prompt

Choose ONE of the three questions Fitzgerald and Long argue disability sport needs to address and record your thoughts in your Notebook.

1. Is sport for participation or competition?

• According to the reading, sport often prioritizes competition over participation, focusing on physical ability, performance, and winning. This emphasis can exclude disabled people, especially when they are judged by non-disabled standards. Competitive structures and rules are typically built around non-disabled bodies, making it harder for disabled athletes to feel included. While participation should be about enjoyment, inclusion, and personal growth, the competitive nature of sport can create pressure and reinforce feelings of difference or inadequacy. As a result, sport can unintentionally marginalize disabled people, even when inclusion is the intended goal.

Exercise 9: Notebook/Padlet Prompt

Watch the film, Murderball and respond to the question in the padlet below (you will have an opportunity to return to the film at the end of this module).

The authors of “Cripping Sport and Physical Activity: An Intersectional Approach to Gender and Disability” observe that the “gendered performance of the wheelchair rugby players can…be interpreted as a form of resistance to marginalized masculinity” (332) but also point out that it may reinforce “ableist norms of masculinity.” After viewing the film, which argument do you agree with?

1. a) Murderball celebrates a kind of resistance to marginalized masculinity
2. b) Murderball reinforces ableist norms of masculinity
3. c) Murderball does neither of these things
4. d) Murderball does both of these things

Explain why in your notebook:

• The film both celebrates resistance to marginalized masculinity and reinforces ableist norms of masculinity. On one hand, the film shows resistance by highlighting that strength, athleticism, and competitiveness are not limited to able-bodied people. The athletes in wheelchair rugby prove that people with disabilities can still be a powerful part of the sports world, especially in a tough, contact sport like this one. It shows that all kinds of bodies can be strong and capable, which challenges the idea that masculinity has to look a certain way. The film also shows resistance through a more personal moment, when one of the main characters supports his son, who doesn’t play sports. Even though the father hopes his son would be into sports, he doesn’t pressure him. Instead, he encourages and praises his son for doing well in school and playing music. This moment shows a different, softer side of masculinity that values emotional support and acceptance over traditional gender roles.
• At the same time, the film also reinforces ableist norms of masculinity. Some of the men talk about how people often assume they’re angry or mean just because they use wheelchairs, which reflects harmful stereotypes about disability. Also, the film has a focus on the men proving their masculinity by talking about sex. They explain how they can still have sex or masturbate, and they place a lot of value on being able to “get girls”. Some even use pity to attract women, which feels like they are trying to prove their worth based on a narrow idea of what makes a man.

Exercise 10: Mini Assignment (worth 5% in addition to the module grade)

1) Do you agree with the critique of the “supercrip” narrative in this video? Why or why not? Find an example of the “supercrip” Paralympian in the 2024 Paris Paralympics or Special Olympics coverage and explain how it works.

• I agree with the critique of the “supercrip” narrative. The idea that disabled athletes are somehow “overcoming” their disability or doing something superhuman just for existing or playing sports is harmful. It makes it seem like disabled people have to do something amazing just to be seen as valuable. The blog discusses how the video doesn’t show the full story or the real experiences of disabled people. It also makes people outside the disability community think that every disabled person wants to be a Paralympian, which just isn’t true. The narrative can even lead to athletes distancing themselves from their own disability, just to be seen as “normal.” In the 2024 Paris Paralympics coverage, I saw a profile of a sprinter who lost a leg and now runs with a blade. The story focused mostly on how they “overcame” their injury and very little on their training, daily life, or what being disabled means to them. The message was more about how they rose above their disability instead of seeing them as an athlete who is also disabled. This is what the blog criticizes, the idea that these athletes are special because they are disabled and doing sports, not just because they’re good at what they do. This kind of storytelling might look inspiring, but it actually sets a standard that’s hard for all disabled people to live up to. It can make them feel like they have to prove something just to exist, which is unfair.

2) Does the film Murderball play into the supercrip narrative in your opinion? How does gender inform supercrip  (read this blog for some ideas)?

(300 words for each response)

• I think Murderball does play into the supercrip narrative in some ways. The movie shows the athletes as strong, competitive, and aggressive, which helps fight against the idea that disabled people are weak or helpless. But at the same time, it also focuses a lot on how these men are “overcoming” their injuries and trying to live like they did before. That’s very much apart of the supercrip story, where disability is something to push past, not something that’s just part of who you are. The movie also has a lot of talk about sex and dating, with the players trying to prove that they’re still “real men.” they talk about how they can still have sex and how they pick up girls, almost like they need to prove their masculinity to the audience. This is where gender really shows up in the supercrip idea. These guys aren’t just trying to be seen as stronger athletes, they’re also trying to be seen as traditionally masculine. That includes being tough, independent, and sexually active, which are all traits that society often links to being a “real man.” the blog discusses this too, especially when it mentions how athletes don’t want to be seen as needing help, like using the automatic door button. It’s not about proving independence, strength, and control, thing that are very tied to how society view masculinity. So Murderball both pushes back against some stereotypes and reinforces others. It shows that disabled men can be athletes but it also says “only if you act like a certain kind of man.” that’s a problem, because not everyone fits into that box.