Another metanarrative is that of “sport as diplomacy.” Events such as Ping Pong Diplomacy from the 1970s, for instance, show how table tennis helped reduce friction between America and China. The symbolic image of shaking hands between North and South Korean athletes at an Olympic ceremony presents unity above all politics.

These metanarratives matter because they shape societal values and our understanding of sports’ role in culture. The emphasis on competition and individual achievement can sometimes weaken values like teamwork or progress. Narratives about sports uniting people may bury deeper inequalities within the structures of sport itself. Recognizing these stories allows us to critically evaluate how sports shape our worldview and influence social dynamics.

Access and opportunity are very important, as sporting activities often reflect the inequalities within society. It would bridge the gap if sports were featured in the school curriculum, and would be freely available to students of all incomes. This will ensure that economic status does not limit access but there is also early exposure to youth for trying various forms of sport.

Another approach is investments in disadvantaged communities by building multi-use facilities that can adapt to different sports and abilities. Facilities would be designed with inclusivity in mind, using adaptive sports equipment like basketball wheelchairs or skate park ramps, in such a way as to assure equal service, access, and opportunities for people with disabilities.

Professional sports organizations and programs could also help to extend access. For example, professional leagues could mentor or sponsor programs in poorer or marginalized areas, providing both funding and visibility to the local initiative. Athletes can play an important role, using their platforms to raise awareness and interact with participants.

This can further the inequality angle in health by not considering its issue a social justice concern. Health, as it may be seen as a free market in many places, can no longer concern well-being as it has become profit-based. For example, fitness industries, diet programs, and even healthcare providers make use of this “responsibility rhetoric,” selling products and services to people by putting all choices into consumer’s hands.

The implications of this article extend beyond this. The emphasis on individual responsibility, it diverts attention away from systemic racism, economic inequality, and environmental injustices, all of which underline health inequity. It keeps those already marginalized in a circle of responsibility for things they have no control over. Such a perspective works to marginalize those labelled “at risk,” at times devaluing persons who exist in outliers of societal norms around health and fitness.

From a social justice perspective, health disparity calls for a change in the narrative, health needs to be reframed as a social responsibility in which the narrative shifts to dismantle systemic inequities and create equal opportunities regarding healthcare, education, and resources. It is from this perspective that societies can make their way toward truly inclusive health outcomes, where the values and support for all people move beyond their social and economic standings.

The picture of a flexing, confident woman under the slogan “We Can Do It!” also known as Rosie the Riveter, speaks to me about feminism. The original was a World War II call to women to enter the workforce, the image has since been used in various contexts as a symbol of women’s strength and resilience. This is indicative of the feminist character to break barriers and show the world that women, too, are capable of doing tasks that consider the needs of men.

This image also speaks directly to sport. Similar to the workforce, sports have been a very visible battleground in the fight for gender equity. For years, women athletes have fought to get equal opportunities, funding, and recognition for their sports. This imagery parallels campaigns like the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team for equal pay and Billie Jean King’s pioneering work in tennis.

Fundamentally, feminism is not about women’s equality but the freedom for all of them to live without strict gender roles. If this point is taken within an inclusive and intersectional framework, we would be able to provide more equitable and enabling contexts in many aspects of life.