7 Notebook for Module 1

Exercise 2: Choose one of the points above (also reflected in the columns below) and speculate on why they might be untrue for some people or from a certain perspective

Sports transcend politics

The idea that sports transcends politics may be untrue for certain people or from a certain perspective can be true for many reasons. One of the main reasons that comes to mind is the discussion of politics in major league sports. Recently in the Superbowl Trump was present, and he was apparently the first president to ever be in attendance at a Superbowl. This became political as Trump’s attendance became a big spectacle, they often panned to him during the game and made a few comments. Drawing attention away from the sport, fans and the players who had worked very hard to make it to this point. People then may take their political opinions on him and associate it with that game, or the team he’s rooting for, whether these opinions are positive or not.

I found the idea of transgender individuals to be surprising for the fact that I have discussed this idea in other classes and was part of a movement to support trans individuals playing rugby. I was surprised because it is a topic that is not often discussed when talking about sports and it was very smart to bring it up.

Exercise 3: What are some metanarratives about sport?

What are some other metanarratives about sport that you are familiar with? Find an image or video clip or draw something yourself that captures this idea…

so what? Why does any of this matter?  Does it matter? As something we grow up with – live with – play through – we don’t often interrogate the meanings of sport, and perhaps we don’t want to.

But being aware of these assumptions and metanarratives is especially important, I would argue, because of the centrality of sport to our everyday lives, the role that sport plays in shaping our childhood and worldviews and….. [finish that thought]

A sacrifice for the greater good. When athletes make an extreme sacrifice for success such as pain, relationships, or their health. It portrays athletes as individuals who must give up a normal life in their pursuit of greatness.

…the ways it challenges societal values and norms. Examining these metanarratives helps us see sports as not just games, but as a powerful force shaping how we view success, identity and community.

Exercise 6: What are the implications of bodies-at-risk discourse and the refusal to understand the health gap from a social justice perspective, according to the authors of this article?

The bodies-at-risk discourse treats certain groups, like POC, women, LGBTQ individuals, and those with disabilities, as if they are naturally unhealthy or lacking something. This way of thinking blames individuals for health problems instead of recognizing the larger social and historical causes, such as racism, poverty and discrimination. By ignoring a social justice perspective, researchers and policymakers continue to focus on what marginalized people lack instead of addressing the unfair systems that create these health gaps. The authors argue that instead of seeing these communities as a problem that needs fixing, research should take an intersectional approach. This can occur by listening to their experiences, and understanding how different forms of discrimination overlaps.

Exercise 7: What is feminism?  What does it mean to you? Choose one of the images below and explain how it captures your understanding of feminism (or find one that does speak to you and paste this into your pressbook with an explanation of why it matters to you.

Feminism is wanting equality and equity for everyone. To me it means genuinely believing that all people deserve to be treated the same, but also uplifting those who have often been considered lower in our society. The image of the black women next to the chalkboard that says “women power” captures my understanding of women power. I believe that it is able to represent someone who faces many intersectionalities that impact her way of living and that she is trying to advocate for a better future.

Notebook prompt: What are the different kinds of feminism the authors outline and how do they connect to sport? 

The first kind of feminism outlined is Liberal feminism. This feminism connects to sport as it has a focus on equality of access and opportunity in sport. It advocates for increased participation of women in sports and highlights the underrepresentation in leadership and coaching roles. They call for policy reforms to ensure equal access.

The next kind of feminism was Radical feminism. This feminism’s main focus is the patriarchy as the root of women’s oppression. It connects to sport by arguing that sports reinforce male power and excludes women. It critiques the sexualization of female athletes and control over their bodies, for example the uniform regulations like the bikini rules in beach volleyball. They support women only spaces and sports models that prioritize female environments.

Following this is Marxist/Socialist feminism. Their focus is the intersection of capitalism and patriarchy in gender oppression. It connects to sport by highlighting how capitalism benefits from women’s unpaid labour in sports. For example, how mothers support children’s sports by showing up, bringing them there etc., while sacrificing their own participation. They also critique the disparities in funding, sponsorship, and prize money between male and female athletes.

Furthermore there is Black feminism. This feminism focuses on the intersection of race, gender and class. This feminism connects to sport because it critiques the exclusion of black and minority women in feminist sports conversations. It highlights the racialized representation of Black female athletes like Serena Williams. It also asks for intersectional approaches to addressing inequalities in sport.

Lastly, is Poststructuralist and Queer feminism. Their focus is deconstructing fixed gender identities and norms. They connect to sport by challenging binary gender categories in sports. For example the Caster Semenya case and gender verification testing. They explore the experiences of LGBTQ+ athletes and heteronormativity in sport.