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Section One: The Fundamentals
A) Keywords
Exercise 1:
Briefly (in 100 words or less) define one of the keywords in the padlet (including one that you. may have added yourself).
| Intersectional Feminism: Intersectional feminism examines how multiple social identities, such as race, gender, class and sexuality, intersect to create unique experiences of oppression and privilege. In the context of athlete activism, intersectional feminism highlights how Black, female athletes face both gendered and racial discrimination, making their activism distinct from that of white women or male athletes. The reading by Cooky and Antunovic (2020) critiques how media often centers on neoliberal feminism, while overlooking intersectional feminist efforts, such as the WNBA’s activism for racial justice through the Black Lives Matter movement.
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B) Representing Race
Exercise 2: Notebook Prompt
In about 50-70 words, consider Joel Bervell’s question: why do we feel the need to extrapolate the athleticism of one Black athlete to all Black people when we do not do the same for white athletes?
Try to think of examples when this happens, making sure to reflect on your own positionality.
| Historically, white people believed they were superior in intelligence, attributing Black athletic success to uncontrollable biological factors. This reinforces stereotypes that link Blackness to physical ability rather than skill, while white athletes are seen as individuals with unique talents, as shown in the TikTok video with Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt. I recognize my own bias, such as when facing a Black rugby player, I assume she’s naturally fast and strong, but I don’t make the same assumption for a white athlete. |
C) Gender, Race & Sport
Exercise 3: Notebook Prompt
What are some strategies for resistance that Rajack and Joseph identify in their article as a means of pushing back against and resisting misogynoir?
| One strategy that Rajack and Joseph identify in the article as a means of pushing back against and resisting misogynoir is self-representation through information and communication technologies (ICTs). ICTs help mobilize support, expose biased coverage, and challenge stereotypes. Social media and digital platforms allow athletes to counteract mainstream media narratives, assert their racial and cultural identities, and resist erasure. An example of this was shared in the article, about Naomi Osaka’s response to racist comments made by the Japanese comedy duo “A Masso.” The comedians joked that Osaka “needed bleach” and was “too sunburned,” reinforcing colorist and anti-Black sentiments. Osaka then went to Twitter and said “Too sunburned? Lol, that’s wild. Little did they know, with Shiseido Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen, I never get sunburned” with three smiling emojis. She used social media to resist misogynoir. Feminist sports media in general, creates “transgressive spaces” to discuss inequalities and shift control away from male-dominated institutions. ICTs have the power to reshape athlete narratives, challenge sports journalism’s racialized storytelling, and hold people accountable for their words and actions. Overall, ICTs (social media) provide counter-narratives that challenge misogynoir and racial erasure, exemplified by Naomi Osaka’s use of social media platforms to assert her Black and Haitian identity in addition to her largely recognized Japanese heritage. In my opinion, ICTs allow athletes to take control of their identity and their own representations. |
Section Two: Making Connections
A) Athlete Activism
Exercise 3: Padlet Prompt
Do athletes have a responsibility to use their platform for social change? Why or why not? Please remember to record your response in both the padlet below and in your Notebook.
B) Athlete Activism & Feminism
Exercise 4: Complete the activities
Exercise 5: Notebook Prompt
What do the authors of the article call for as a way of challenging how mainstream sports journalism privileges neoliberal feminist concerns? (100 words max.)
| The authors of the article call for disrupting the boundaries of mainstream sports journalism by telling stories differently. They suggest “telling stories differently” by including diverse media sources, amplifying underrepresented voices, and examining other forms of communication, such as social media, that challenge traditional media narrative. They also argue that feminist scholars should interrogate how athlete activism is gendered, often favouring neoliberal feminist concerns like equal pay over intersectional feminist issues such as systemic racism. |
C) Corporate social justice
Exercise 6: Padlet Poll
| In Favour:
I believe sports leagues have a responsibility to support social justice movements like BLM. These organizations hold significant influence over millions of people and have both the financial and social power to drive meaningful change. As Ramsey Khabbaz discussed, prohibiting athletes from expressing their support for causes they care about is not fair. When the very individuals who fuel these leagues, such as the athletes, coaches, and staff, demonstrate that a movement is important to them, I think the organization should stand in solidarity alongside them. Ignoring these concerns not only silences key voices but also contradicts the values of inclusivity and progress that sports often claim to uphold. This image below is my response to a classmates post:
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Section Three: Taking a shot
Module Assignment (submit as part of notebook and separately through Blackboard mini assignment #1 portal)
Ted Lasso (2020-present) is a sports drama about an American football coach managing an English soccer club. While often lighthearted, the show also explores deeper themes like race, activism, and power structures in sports.
One of the most significant examples of an athlete activist in Ted Lasso is Sam Obisanya, a Nigerian footballer who protests against his team’s corporate sponsor due to their harmful environmental practices in his home, Nigeria. His actions are similar to real-world activism by athletes like Naomi Osaka and Colin Kaepernick, who use their platforms to challenge injustice (Razack & Joseph, 2020).
Sam’s activist actions begin when he learns that Dubai Air’s parent company is destroying communities in his home country. Refusing to wear their logo, he posts a public statement on social media explaining his stance. His activism disrupts corporate control over athletes, an issue Cooky & Antunovic (2020) argue is major in sports media. Inspired by Sam, his teammates stand in solidarity, demonstrating how athlete activism can drive larger conversations. This moment also shows the importance of organizations supporting athletes, as the NFL failed to do with Kaepernick (Khabbaz, 2021).
Like many real-world sponsors, Dubai Air expects players to remain silent, to maintain sponsorship. While Ted supports Sam, the club initially hesitates, fearing the backlash. This reflects how leagues discourage activism, much like Kaepernick’s blacklisting (Cooky & Antunovic, 2020). Sam’s identity as a Black, Nigerian footballer is important in this show. Sam’s activism is not just political but also deeply personal, as he risks losing the respect of his community if he remains silent. His restaurant is even vandalized in retaliation, showing the backlash Black athletes often face when speaking out.
Sam’s story in Ted Lasso reinforcers that sports are inherently political, and even athletes with large platforms are sometimes forced to stay silent, due to contracts and pressures from others. It also shows the risk that athletes take when they choose to get themselves involved in activism, as Sam risks his career, sponsorships, and reputation, much like real athletes who take a stand.
