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Section One: The Fundamentals
A) Keywords
Exercise 1:
Provide a brief definition of one of the padlet keywords for this week.
| In the context of aging habitus involves how aging individuals adjust to or internalize societal expectations about growing older, including the changes in roles, identities, and values associated with later life. It reflects how people navigate the aging process in ways that are influenced by their social environments, prior life experiences, and cultural understandings of age, such as how they perceive their bodies, health, and the meaning of aging itself.
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B) The Social Significance of Aging in Sport
Exercise 2: Notebook Prompt
How is old age popularly represented today? Find an image online that you think exemplifies one defining attitude towards old age and paste in your notebook below with a brief explanation of what this image means to you.
I find that there are both positive and negative stereotypes of aging in today’s society. Within the media, seniors are often shown traveling, exercising, depicted as wise, and loving grandparents. I find this image properly demonstrates how aging is represented today. Negative depictions are shown as frail bodies, mental decline, loneliness, and or sick. In the consumer world, older adults are sometimes shown as enjoying the comforts of luxury or leisure products, but they are also frequently targeted in marketing campaigns that play on fears of aging or the desire to look younger. Anti-aging products, retirement planning services, and health-related advertisements often portray old age as something to be “fought” or prevented. I chose this image as I thought it represented just how the world sees aging, as something that needs to be hidden. A woman using anti-aging cream highlights the way society places immense pressure on individuals, especially women, to maintain youthful appearances, subtly reinforcing the idea that growing older is undesirable. This image emphasizes the constant battle against the natural aging process and the societal push to avoid showing signs of age, which ultimately contributes to the stigmatization of growing older and the loss of its natural beauty and wisdom. |
Exercise 3: Notebook Prompt
What does the article (referencing another study by Dionigi) mean by its statement that sport can help aging people to simultaneously “accept and resist the ageing process” (572)? Respond by audio or text and find paste two images sourced online into your notebook showing how sport might help aging people to both accept and resist the aging process.
| In the referenced study by Dionigi, sport serves as a dual mechanism for older adults, allowing them to both “accept and resist the aging process.” Participation in sports enables seniors to “resist” aging by maintaining physical fitness and challenging societal stereotypes about aging. Simultaneously, it encourages “acceptance” by promoting adaptation to age-related changes, emphasizing personal growth, and redefining one’s identity in later life. I find these images help explain the aging process by allowing flexibility and strengthening activities to keep the body loose. As well as allowing your mind to slow down and introduce moments of mindfulness and relaxation, these activities support not only physical health but also mental well-being. It also invites the social aspect to it where you can interact and build connections with others. Engaging in physical activities, whether it’s through team sports, fitness classes, or recreational groups, fosters a sense of community and belonging. Additionally, it can enhance emotional well-being by providing opportunities for older adults to share experiences, make new friends, and stay mentally sharp, all of which contribute to a healthier, more fulfilling aging process.
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Exercise 4: Notebook Prompt
Who are the groups less likely to have extensive opportunities to take part in sports, according to Pike? How does privilege factor into aging and sport? (200 words max)
| According to Pike, groups less likely to have extensive opportunities to take part in sports include those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, racial or ethnic minorities, and individuals with disabilities. As well as some groups that are in long term care homes and do not have the freedom to participate in such activities if the facilities do not offer them. Privilege plays a significant role in aging and sport by influencing access to opportunities. Those with higher socioeconomic status are more likely to have the financial means to access fitness programs, live in areas with better recreational facilities, and have the time and energy to prioritize physical activity. Privilege also intersects with factors like race, gender, and disability, where individuals from privileged groups often have more social capital, networks, and resources to maintain an active lifestyle as they age. In contrast, those who face systemic inequality may be excluded from these opportunities, limiting their ability to resist or embrace the aging process through sport and physical activity.
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Exercise 5: Padlet Discussion
Why do you think age discrimination is “reported more than any form of prejudice” with older people presented as a threat to social values and interests? Feel welcome to use video in your responses. Paste your comments (or transcript of your video) below!
| I think age discrimination is reported more than any other form of prejudice because society often sees older people as a “burden” or “threat” to social values and interests, particularly in cultures that prioritize youth and productivity. Older adults are sometimes perceived as less adaptable to change, less technologically savvy, or even financially burdensome due to retirement or healthcare costs. This view positions them as individuals who no longer contribute meaningfully to society, challenging the social order that values efficiency, innovation, and economic productivity. In these situations, older individuals are seen not as valuable sources of wisdom, experience, or community connection, but as liabilities. This creates a cultural narrative that fuels ageism and reinforces negative stereotypes about aging. By depicting older adults as threats, society marginalizes them, making it easier to overlook the needs and rights of this demographic. However, as awareness of ageism increases, there’s a growing movement toward changing these perceptions, highlighting the importance of integrating older individuals into society in a meaningful, respectful way.
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B) Older Women and Sport
Exercise 6: Notebook Prompt
What differences do you see in these ads? Which one is more inclusive? How is age represented or not represented in each? Answer these questions in your notebook.
| The “This Girl Can” campaign is more inclusive, as it actively represents women of various ages, body types, ethnicities, and abilities. The ad emphasizes that all women, regardless of their background or physical appearance, have the right to enjoy and participate in sports without fear of judgment. It brings attention to inclusivity in sports for women of all walks of life, rather than focusing on professional or elite athletes. In Nike’s “You Can’t Stop Us”, age is less represented. While there is diversity in terms of ethnicity and gender, the ad primarily focuses on younger athletes and does not highlight older individuals as much. There’s a stronger emphasis on professional and competitive athletes, which may overlook the participation of older adults in sports.
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Exercise 7: Notebook Prompt
In her article, “Assessing the sociology of sport: On age and ability,” Elizabeth Pike references a “trend towards a ‘feminisation of ageing’, with many women living longer than men” (573). Do you agree that aging has been “feminized” in this way? How? Answer these questions in your notebook.
| I do agree that aging has been “feminized” in some ways, as Elizabeth Pike suggests. The “feminisation of aging” refers to the fact that women, on average, live longer than men, and as a result, aging is often associated with women in ways that shape how society perceives older adults. Society often places different expectations on women as they age. Women are expected to maintain youthful appearances, often leading to a focus on beauty standards in aging. The media and advertising industries emphasize anti-aging products targeting women, reinforcing the notion that aging for women is something to be resisted or hidden, which might not be as prevalent for men. Women are frequently portrayed as needing to combat the visible signs of aging, while men may be allowed to embrace it more gracefully. The “feminisation of aging” can also be linked to the expectation that women will take on caregiving duties as they grow older. This places additional emotional and social responsibilities on older women, making their aging process more complex than that of older men. I believe aging has been feminized in the sense that societal views, health narratives, and expectations around aging are often more focused on women, given their longer life expectancy and the unique pressures they face as they age.
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Section Three: Module Mini Assignment
| The “Great Peterborough Pickleball Debacle” revolves around a controversy in Peterborough, Ontario, where the rising popularity of pickleball, especially among older adults, led to tensions over community resources (Anselmi, 2024). The growing demand for pickleball courts led to conflicts with other groups who felt that their recreational needs were being overlooked in favor of older adults. In particular, many felt that the prioritization of pickleball was unfair, especially when it came to access to limited public spaces in recreational centers. A source I found highlights that pickleball’s low-impact nature and accessibility for various physical abilities have contributed to its growing popularity among older adults (Burns, 2022). The sport’s relatively gentle demands can be enjoyed at any level of intensity, making it an appealing choice for seniors seeking physical activity without the intense strain of more traditional sports. Additionally, pickleball has become increasingly addictive as players’ skill levels improve, leading to greater participation across all age groups, which has fueled a rising demand for courts (Milan, 2023). It is essential that this demand be met to sustain the sport’s accessibility for all players, especially seniors.
In media and social media discussions, older pickleball advocates are often portrayed as a group demanding special attention, sometimes framed as “needy” or “entitled” to community resources. This portrayal could be seen as ageist, as it reflects negative stereotypes about older adults, suggesting they are disruptive or overly focused on their own desires, rather than contributing to the broader community. According to Pike, neoliberalism promotes the idea that aging individuals must stay active to avoid being a burden on healthcare systems (Pike, 2015). The growing popularity of pickleball aligns with this ideology, as it is marketed as a way for seniors to maintain independence and self-sufficiency. In the case of pickleball, it is often portrayed as a way for seniors to “maintain health” and independence, which reflects a broader societal expectation that older individuals should be ‘active’ and ‘self-sufficient’ in their aging process. This perspective can be seen in the marketing of pickleball equipment, fitness clubs, and ads that focus on active aging, suggesting that older adults’ participation in sports like pickleball is both a personal duty and a means of “fighting” the decline associated with aging. This reflects the neoliberal idea that individuals are responsible for managing their own health and vitality, rather than relying on collective societal support.
References Anselmi, E. (2024, April 8). Plan to pave a Peterborough park for pickleball faces pushback. The Narwhal. https://thenarwhal.ca/opinion-peterborough-pickleball-paves-park/ Burns, H. (2022, August 30). Why older people love pickleball so much. TIME. https://time.com/6209400/is-pickleball-good-exercise-seniors/ Milan, L. (2023, May 9). Pickleball courts becoming more popular in Montreal as older players flock to the sport. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/pickleball-montreal-1.7409668 Pike, E. C. (2015). Assessing the sociology of sport: On age and ability. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 50(4-5), 570-574.
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