6
Section One: The Fundamentals
A) Keywords
Exercise 1:
Provide a brief definition of one of the padlet keywords for this week.
| Aging Habitus
As described by Elizabeth Pike, this is the phenomenon in which an individual’s perception of their body as it relates to their surroundings begins to change as they progress in age. This includes older people feeling less capable of engaging in sport, lacking a similar age group to play with, or inadequate facilities or equipment. These cultural cues or signals unconsciously indicate to individuals of a certain age that they are no longer welcome in the realm of sport. |
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 think that this image accurately captures perceptions of the elderly in today’s society. The image depicts an older man receiving aid or assistance from a younger man. I think this is symbolic of the perceptions that older people are incapable or alwayse in need of aid and assistance which is just simply not the case. His need for a mobility device also further reiterates the narrative that all older people are frail and in poor physical health, something that automatically precludes them from being able to participate in sport within the mainstream consciousness. |
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.
| They mean that by engaging in sport, older individuals have an alternative avenue to traditional perceptions of ageing associated with decline and frailty. they are able to appeal to feel physically coptant which can help people negotiate the process of growing older, despite an overall decline in performance. I feel this is captured in the two images, particularly because the participants appear to be genuinely enjoying what they are doing. They are both connecting with their bodies in a meaningful way to them but particularly in the case of the marathon runner, know they will likely not ‘win’ or be the best. As mentioned in the article, there tends to be a preference towards group activities, something that may help mitigate any feelings of embarrassment at their skill level which may be amplified engaging with a younger crowd. Additionally, viewing one’s peers engaging in similar activities and challenging themselves could be motivational or encouraging for others.
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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)
| Pike states that those with disabilities, the very frail, some minority ethnic groups, those confined to care facilities and elderly individuals living in rural areas as the least likely to have opportunities accessing and taking part in sports. She also identis a lack of research through a racial or gendered lense, suggesting these populations may also experience a lack of access. This directly correlates to social location and privilege since sports and participation often requires material resources to access. Older individuals living off a retirement pension may not have the spare financial resources to obtain equipment or membership and may not be able to transport themselves to the sport if they live in a rural area or care facility. I know from personal experience volunteering in a care home that individuals were not allowed to come and go freely and there were no sports offered at the centre, making it next to impossible for them to easily access such activities.
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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 it is reported more than any other form of prejudice but i do not think it is experienced more than any other form of prejudice. With older individuals generally having more time on their hands when they enter the phase of life where they are no longer employed, I personally feel they find it worth pursuing. I feel I can better put this into context with an example. A single mother who is a person of colour or wears a hijab that experiences discrimination trying to access a service is much busier and also much more used to experiencing discrimination so they are less likely to take the time out of their day to formally complain. On the other hand, when a white man or women ages and experiences their first real bad instance of discrimination it is probably a much more notable or memorable experiences as well as something they have the time to address formally.
Moreover, elderly people are seen as a threat to social interests and values for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, we live in a capitalistic society in which the production of capital and ones ability to spend it are paramount to the functioning of society at large. This is hindered by older individuals who stop working and begin to require care, placing a ‘burden’ on different resources while simultaneously no longer spending the same amount of capital either. Additionally, over the decades society shifts and changes dramatically, meaning the circumstances in which the elderly grew up and the current circumstances differ significantly, leading to diverging opinions and interests between younger and older generations. This difference in opinion is seen as a threat because of the social systems in place that typically grant power to older members, allowing them to institute measures that best align with their interests. |
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.
| In the first Nike video there is plenty of diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and ability. However, it feels a bit tokenistic and there is no diversity in age beyond a few clips of some younger looking people, maybe kids. The oldest person that I recognized was among the professional athletes; Lebron James who is in his 40s. On the other hand, the second video, although more centred on women, depicts individuals of all ages, races, abilities, ethnicities, shapes and sizes. Additionally, they are all portrayed as equally capable and strong (despite some very realistic mildly begrudging attitudes to participating as seen at the start of the video), ultimately offering a much more inclusive and realistic picture of what sports participation looks like.
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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 with this statement to some extent as the current social perceptions and attitudes towards older individuals brings them more in line with stereotypical ‘feminine’ characteristics and further away from ‘masculine’ ones. This is more evident in the case of ageing men, however, as they age, become more frail, and have reduced capabilities related to strength and mobility, the begin to take on the characteristics of ‘delicate’ ‘fragile’ or ‘weak’ that would typically be ascribed to women. They also no longer financially provide for their families in the same manner (retirement vs going to work) which from a marxist feminist perspective is an important aspect of masculinity and is critical to its maintenance. |
Section Three: Module Mini Assignment
| Pickleball has boomed in popularity over the past few years and has gained significant popularity as a ‘sport trend’ among older populations. As a relatively new and popular sport, facilities are more likely to be accessible and appropriate. There is also less of an established narrative about who this sport is for and consequently who is expected to participate, mitigating fears of embarrassment common among older populations, which has prevented them from equally participating (Pike, 2015) in other areas. Furthermore, pickleball is a low-impact activity, taking place on a smaller court, and not necessarily requiring extensive strength, agility, speed, or mobility, which may further encourage older populations to attempt the sport. As such, pickleball can work as a way for older populations to navigate social and internalized perceptions of ageing, maintaining physical competence while working to accept the ageing process (Pike, 2015).
However, the sport is still far from perfect; there are still gaps in access that impact the most vulnerable populations. I have yet to see the sport modified or played in a way that is accessible to those with different physical abilities (e.g., wheelchair users) or offered in care homes, as they are often lacking the facilities, equipment, or resources to achieve something like that. There are also still equipment costs, potential transportation costs, and concerns that may reduce accessibility to certain segments of the population. Being from a small, rural, retirement town myself, I can confirm that there is a lack of space and equipment or even a place to buy equipment for activities like this, which limits its ability to be adopted by elderly populations more broadly. Moreover, I am unaware of narratives surrounding pickleball and its enjoyment by elderly populations as they relate to the maintenance of health. It seems as though it has gained popularity for being genuinely enjoyable, something that is particularly important in countering the narrative that suggests health is the sole reason older populations should be involved in physical activities (Pike, 2015). |
