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Section One: The Fundamentals
A) What do we know about sport? What are common assumptions we make about sport and society?
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I always thought sports built character, but my during my years of playing rep soccer, that experience made me question that. There was a girl on my team through all the years I played, and she was quite a talented player, she won MVP almost every game, but unfortunately she was also a terrible teammate. She never passed, blamed others for mistakes, and made teammates feel awful all the time. Instead of addressing it, the coaches praised her because she helped us win games. It showed me that sports does not always teach teamwork or respect, they often just reward talent. However, I do think sports can build character in other ways. Through the ups and downs of competing, I learned to handle disappointment, frustration, and excitement. Losing a tough game, pushing through a bad performance, or celebrating a hard-earned win all teach emotional resilience. Sports does not automatically make someone a better person, but dealing with setbacks and successes can help shape who you become. It’s not the game itself that builds character, it is how you respond to it. |
Exercise 3: Notebook prompt
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]
| Growing up, I always heard people say “sports teaches discipline and hard work,” but I’ve realized not everyone gets the same chance to play. Some kids have top coaches and fancy fields and equipment, while others make do with whatever they have. I’ve seen how talent is not always enough and opportunity matters. Sports shape how we see the world, but they also show us who has access and who does not. Thinking about this makes me appreciate the game more while questioning what’s fair. |
B) What is social justice?
Exercise 4: Padlet Prompt
Think back to the last section and try to look at some of the ideas we discussed differently. How might sport and social justice actually co-exist?
Record any images, video clips, or gifs you added to the padlet and identify a point of intersection between sport and social justice (can be an issue or a barrier or a debate or something you would like to explore in more depth in this course) . Screenshot or paste in your response below.
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Equity & Representation
Sports and social justice can work together when everyone has a fair shot to compete and succeed. Equity can be described as removing barriers such as cost, discrimination, and lack of access. Representation is significant when athletes and leaders are diverse, it inspires change. Soccer is a great example of how sports and social justice intertwine with each other. Players such as Megan Rapinoe have fought for equal pay in women’s soccer, pushing for fairness in the game. The U.S. Women’s National Team’s lawsuit brought attention to gender pay gaps in sports. When athletes speak up for change, it shows that sports are not just about winning and competing, they can help make the world become more fair for everyone. |
C) Social Justice Reading
(note: this activity is optional!)
D) KINESIOLOGY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Exercise 5:
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 makes it seem like health issues are the fault of individuals instead of bigger problems like poverty and lack of healthcare. From what I’ve seen, people in tough situations often don’t have the same access to healthy food or safe places to exercise. Harrison, Azzarito, and Hodge point out that blaming people doesn’t fix anything. If we really want change, we need to focus on making healthcare and wellness more fair for everyone. |
Section Two: Sport Feminism
Exercise 7: Notebook Prompt
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 to me, is about women supporting each other, standing strong together, and proving that we are just as capable as anyone else. Growing up in a household of only women, just my mom, my sister, and myself, I learnt firsthand what resilience and unity mean. We faced challenges, but we never backed down. We lifted each other up always, and found strength in our struggles, and proved that we did not need anyone else to define our worth. The We Can Do It! image relates deeply with me because it captures that same worth of determination. It reminds me of how my mother worked tirelessly to provide for my sister and I and how my sister and I pushed through every obstacle we faced together. To me, feminism is about that unbreakable bond between women, standing together no matter what you are faced with. |
Exercise 8: Notes Prompt (optional)
NB: Cornell notes is a great resource that teaches effective notetaking. Unfortunately, our system can’t save notes taken in the H5P app, so this is fully optional.
Exercise 9: Crossword Activity
Exercise 10: Padlet Prompt
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I love seeing major athletes such as Simone Biles, Angel Reese, and Caitlin Clark dominate their sports. It finally feels like women’s sports are getting the attention they deserve. The energy is real, and people are watching. Unfortunately though, when it comes to advertising and sponsorships, it’s still not the same story. Men’s sports get way more money and promotions, even when women are breaking records and drawing huge crowds. The basketball illustration felt true as women’s sports are rising, but they’re still fighting for equal space. The momentum is there, but there’s still tons of work to do.
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