5
Section one: The fundamentals
A)
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)
How prevalent are these forms of security among disabled people you know? Or, if you identify as a disabled person, would you say your social surroundings and community foster and support these kinds of security? Furthermore, while the article focuses on Kinesiology programs, it is also important to reflect on how academia accommodates for disability. If you feel comfortable answering this question, what has been your experience of postsecondary education to date?
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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 two ability concepts, ability security and ability identity security, are not as prevalent as this article makes them seem. As I have mentioned before, my cousin has Down syndrome. Although he is 30 now, I have watched my aunt and mom fight for his rights regarding sports throughout the education system. I remember when he was in elementary school, he wanted to join the school basketball team. However, many teachers advised him to get into Special Olympics basketball, which he still participates in. Why couldn’t he join the school basketball team without being urged to join the Special Olympics? Although it was an excellent opportunity for him, teachers advised against something he wanted to participate in.
Thinking about other individuals with disabilities and the concept of ability security, I believe this concept is often not followed within today’s society. Many individuals are still fighting many obstacles regarding education and transportation, fighting for their rights. To bring another personal example in, my mom has always fought the school systems for my sister and me, who are diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety and other silent disabilities, and it was a continuous problem, even today in my postsecondary experience. Overall, I believe that the concepts of ability and identity security are difficult to achieve due to how society is structured for the typical individual. Society creates various barriers that restrict individuals with disabilities. It is essential for these individuals to feel safe in their environments. While society does make some accommodations, these are not long-term solutions, which makes support feel so out of reach and deprives an individual of ability security. When talking about identity security, society is a significant negative factor when they create environments that make individuals feel like they are less; they cannot feel secure in their identity.
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Exercise 2: Implicit Bias Test
Did anything surprise you about the results of the test? Please share if you’re comfortable OR comment on the usefulness of these kinds of tests more generally.
| I was surprised as I thought my tests would have shown a different result completely not being ableist, but the results were much different than I thought. When I took the test, it was hard for me to do the test accurately as it was hard to follow, but I am surrounded by a family who are constantly facing barriers when it comes to being disabled in today’s society. I was very uncomfortable seeing my results as I thought they would be the opposite, but they show the effect of society’s norms and how big of an impact they have on individuals.
I also believe these tests are helpful to help individuals understand the impact of society’s norms on disabled individuals. It made me aware of how society is a negative influence and to change some of my ways of answering questions. Overall, this kind of test shifts people’s viewpoints and could help make progress to challenge society’s norms that are affecting individuals
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B) Keywords
Exercise 3:
Add the keyword you contributed to padlet and briefly (50 words max) explain its importance to you.
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The keyword Medical Model of Disability is one of the models when looking at disability. It is the model that I disagree with most, along with the charity model. The medical model looks at the individual and their disability as a problem that needs to be fixed, which is totally wrong. This model does not look at how society and norms could be negatively affecting the individual with disability, ; itakes the disability the problem that needs to be “fixed”. It is important that society and institutions focus on helping to ensure the inclusivity of individuals with disabilities. |
B) On Disability
Exercise 4: Complete the Activities
Exercise 5: Notebook Prompt
What do Fitzgerald and Long identify as barriers to inclusion and how might these apply to sport in particular?
C) Inclusion, Integration, Separation
Exercise 6: Complete the 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.
- Should sport be grouped by ability or disability?
- Is sport for participation or competition?
- Should sport competitions be integrated?
This question is difficult to answer as it can be beneficial and negative on both sides. Grouping sports and athletes by ability can create an inclusive environment that identifies and supports the needs of athletes with disabilities. It can be beneficial to a certain degree, but grouping due to abilities can reinforce feelings such as being less than the typical individual in society. By not grouping sports, it creates a statement that everyone is included no matter their ability. My own thoughts on this question should be that every individual and sports team should have their own choice to join a team that enforces inclusivity. Sports should foster teamwork and inclusivity among all participants; they should not be an activity that divides based on ability. |
Part Two: Making Connections
A) Gender, Sport and Disability
Exercise 8: Complete the Activity
The paradox that sportswomen habitually face (as the authors observe, this isn’t confined to disabled sportswomen) involves the expectation they will be successful in a ‘masculine’ environment while complying with femininity norms in order to be recognized as a woman.
True or false?
Take a moment to reflect on this paradox below (optional).
B) Masculinity, Disability, and Murderball
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?
a) Murderball celebrates a kind of resistance to marginalized masculinity
| D) Muderball does both of these things:
The authors argue that the film Murderball can be seen as a form of resistance against the marginalization of masculinity. It features athletes on a rugby team who embody strength and resilience, challenging stereotypes associated with men with disabilities in sports. These men fought back against the statements that having a disability makes one less than, affects their lives and is detrimental overall. The athletes fight back against these comments. The athletes used perseverance, strength and other powerful moves to fight against the negative stereotypes. While the movie promotes resilience, it also reinforces negative stereotypes that men are powerful and strong. The portrayal of men in these actions sends a message that they are only capable of being strong and powerful, which can further send out wrong messages to affect society and the norms of masculinity. Society has been dealing with these norms; movies like these can only be detrimental to the progress of eliminating these norms of masculinity. Although this movie is a great form of standing up for athletes with disability, it also, to a degree, reinforces negative stereotypes of genders.
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Section Three: Taking a Shot
A) Resistance
B) Calling out Supercrip
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 this video’s critique of the “supercrip” narrative. Showing people with disabilities completing different activities, such as Olympic sports and regular sports, is very inspirational. It is important when viewing these different clips that the viewer is aware of the different obstacles and barriers the person with disability might have faced when trying to accomplish the task. Showing positive videos of the individual with disability doing sports can be inspirational, but it does not capture the whole process of barriers, discrimination, exclusion and more.
To add to that point, it can be defeating to the athletes with disabilities as it only focuses on the product, not the process, which is way more important and shows what they have to overcome. These videos also portray a message that the athletes are overcoming their disability by being able to participate in able-bodied sports. Videos should show the training, practicing, and hard work that it takes to participate in these events instead of focusing on just the sports competition itself. Another message that these videos with supercrip narratives can portray is the medical model of disability, which is when the disability lies within oneself and one needs to be “treated” and overcome it. When looking at disabilities, it is important to look at the social model, which focuses on societies’ accessibility towards people with disabilities. For example, this video should look at the inaccessible barriers athletes may have gone through to get to this point. An example of a supercrip paralympion is Steven Serio, a wheelchair basketball player known for advocating for disability rights. Steven led the American men to many gold wins and has had lots of media coverage. His media coverage focuses on his advocacy and his inspiration to be a leader in men’s wheelchair basketball, but again the media does not cover the process and training it took for Steven to get to the place he is now. This shows how the media can portray different messages that can be harmful.
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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)
| In my opinion, the film Murderball plays into the supercrip narrative to some degree. The movie as a whole is very inspirational and can be motivating to some people, but if you look at it from a deeper level, it can align with the supercrip narrative. Murderball outlines the different athletes’ experiences and the perseverance they develop through the wheelchair rugby team. The supercrip narrative comes into play when the different clips of athletes with disabilities playing rugby, being a high-contact sport while in wheelchairs, many people think that is inspirational. The film shows how athletes’ disabilities affect their daily lives but does not go into detail about inequalities, barriers and other factors that they may face. This movie shows perseverance, making the men who are playing wheelchair rugby look inspirational, which is where I believe it plays into the supercrip narrative. As I mentioned earlier, instead of looking at the social model of disability, this movie focuses on the medical model and how the disability affects individuals’ lives. The movie focuses on how their daily lives are affected by the disability but does not focus on societies’ barriers that are the bigger issues. There is a heavy emphasis on how individuals persevere through their disability rather than how society may promote inclusivity.
Gender is also an important factor in this movie that goes along with the supercrip narrative. The movie Murderball is all about men playing wheelchair rugby and portraying male gendered norms that can contradict. These men are persevering, dominating, and using strength, which portrays the message that these traits belong to men. With no women in the movie, it can give off the wrong message to the viewer, such as aligning those traits with men only. With these men being highly successful in the movie, it portrays another message that when a man has a disability, they must be strong, dominant and successful, such as the team on Murderball. |
