6
Section One: The Fundamentals
A) Keywords
Exercise 1:
Provide a brief definition of one of the padlet keywords for this week.
| In the aging and sports context, equity is the process of recognizing and addressing the uneven barriers that groups face in trying to access physical activity or participate in sports. Elizabeth Pike highlights that not everyone who is older has the same access, like how gender, race, disability, and wealth determine who is excluded or included. Being an advocate for equity is to create policies and settings that promote equal access, especially to marginalized groups, as opposed to treating everyone the same. |
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 it in your notebook below with a brief explanation of what this image means to you.
| The image of the smiling, exercising older woman is seen all too often. It shows the standard “active senior” stereotype in media and advertising. It captures the model of successful aging, in which old age is only valuable as a good one if the individual is still young, active, and productive. It is great that older individuals are here being represented as being independent and capable, but it has the same old anti-aging agenda, encouraging individuals to battle the biological process of aging. It excludes those who cannot or do not wish to age in that manner and disregards diversity of experience in old age.
|
Exercise 3: NotebookPrompt
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.
| When the article, referencing Dionigi, says that sport helps aging people “simultaneously accept and resist the ageing process,” it means that older adults can recognize and adjust to the natural changes in their bodies while also challenging negative stereotypes about aging. They are able, through sport, to accept physical deterioration by modifying the manner in which they participate, choosing less demanding activities or shifting focus to pleasure and socialization. At the same time, they resist cultural constructions of aging as a weakness or retirement by remaining active and present in sporting contexts. For example, a photo of older adults practicing tai chi in a park demonstrates acceptance through gradual, age-modified movement toward balance and health. A photo of an older female athlete running in a marathon, by contrast, demonstrates resistance through demanding physical limits and challenging ageist stereotypes. Together, the two photos demonstrate how sport can be both a method of negotiating aging and a method of transforming the way society thinks about it. |
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).
| According to Elizabeth Pike, groups less likely to have extensive opportunities to take part in sports include people with disabilities, those who are weak, minority ethnic groups, individuals in care facilities, rural populations, and those with limited financial or social resources. Older women are specifically disadvantaged, often excluded by gender roles, care responsibilities, and reduced levels of physical activity. Privilege plays a major part in establishing who is most likely to age actively. Individuals who have economic and cultural capital, often white, middle-class individuals, are most likely to enjoy safe, appropriate facilities, be able to afford membership or equipment, and be featured in media and policy. Other groups are marginalized by structural barriers, social exclusion, and a lack of programs suited to their needs. Privileged older individuals are in a better position to take up sport as an activity of self-fulfillment, while others are entirely excluded from the “successful aging” agenda. |
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!
| Age discrimination is “reported more than any form of prejudice” because it cuts across all areas of life and is often disregarded or overlooked in ways other forms of discrimination are not. Older adults are frequently viewed as less productive, resistant to change, and dependent on public resources like healthcare and pensions. In a world that values speed, innovation, and youth, aging is a fault, something to be managed or hidden. This looks at older individuals as barriers to progress, especially in offices or industries controlled by technology and rapid development.
Advertising and the media also perpetuate this bias by always promoting anti-aging products and rarely portraying older people as able or deserving unless they appear youthful. Beyond other forms of prejudice, ageism may also feel more legitimate because we all age, it’s seen as natural rather than socially constructed. However, this attitude perpetuates negative stereotypes and policy-making that overlooks older people’s contributions and requirements. Because it is so common and normalized to be ordinary, age discrimination is not often checked, thereby becoming one of society’s most reported and entrenched forms of bias. |
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.
| The two ads present very different representations of aging and inclusivity in sports.
The first ad (Nike – “What Are You Working For?”) specifically targets young, successful athletes. It shows peak physical ability, a competitive spirit, and a drive to improve oneself. The environment is made with passion and ambition, however, it still reinforces the idea that athletic ability is mainly found in youth and physical dominance. The lack of images of older people sends the message that aging bodies are not desired in the world of sports. The second ad, “This Girl Can – ‘Fit Got Real,'” shows a much bigger picture of inclusivity. It shows people of different ages, body types, ethnicities, and physical fitness levels. Older women are shown participating in sports and exercising in physical activity in everyday, joyful, and realistic ways like dancing, swimming, and walking. The overall message is one of empowerment and accessibility, where sport is shown to be more than just performance, but also about movement, expression, and the value of community. Overall, the second ad is far more inclusive. It directly challenges common stereotypes concerning age, ability, and gender in the context of sports, while the first ad sticks to the familiar narrative that connects youth with sports ability. Age is portrayed as a natural and valid part of the sporting world in the second advertisement, while in the first advertisement, it is completely absent. |
Exercise 7: Notebook Prompt
In her article, “Assessing the sociology of sport: On age and ability,” Elizabeth Pike references a “trend towards a ‘feminization 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.
| Yes, I agree with Elizabeth Pike’s view that the process of aging has been feminized. Since women tend to have a higher life expectancy than men, they form a significant majority of the aging population. Many public images and discourses about aging, especially health care, caregiving, and media representations, largely focus on older women. Nevertheless, this “feminization” process is often accompanied by negative stereotypes. Older women are typically seen as weak, dependent, or excluded, while older men are usually viewed as wise or fit, especially if they engage in physical exercise.
Women face increased pressure to maintain their physical looks and abilities with age, largely because of societal notions of beauty and femininity. This is especially evident in the context of sports, where older women athletes are often judged more or are held to stricter standards than men. Unlike the respect given to older male athletes for their stamina, women are often seen as having passed their prime. As such, while the aging process has been conceptualized with a feminine approach, it is disempowering, instead, it reinforces a certain type of gendered ageism that affects the treatment, representation, and social integration of older women. |
Section Three: Module Mini Assignment
| The problem or controversy at the heart of the Great Peterborough Pickleball Debacle concerns the city’s plan to redevelop Bonnerworth Park, which involves transforming green space into hardscaped surfaces for the construction of 16 pickleball courts and a large parking lot. The plan has created significant criticism from residents who raise concerns about noise pollution, environmental impacts, the destruction of natural green spaces, and the lack of adequate engagement of the public in the consultation process. Critics argue that the park currently supports a wide range of users, including kite flyers, kids, casual walkers, and sports players, suggesting that replacing this open, multifunctional space with hardscaped facilities privileges one activity and demographics over others. This debate raises deeper questions about the design of parks in urban environments, the kinds of recreation activities that are valued, and the particular populations for whom public spaces are designed.
In media and social media discussions, older pickleball players are frequently portrayed as the main advocates pushing for the redevelopment. While their activism shows a growing demand for senior-friendly sports options, their representation often carries ageist undertones. Some coverage paints them as overly entitled, disruptive, or resistant to compromise—echoing familiar stereotypes of older adults as inflexible or out of touch. This dynamic connects to Elizabeth Pike’s critique of the neoliberal anti-aging agenda, where older adults are encouraged to remain active not solely for personal well-being, but to delay decline and reduce the “burden” they place on healthcare systems and public resources. Promoting pickleball fits this agenda, it is seen as a low-impact, community-building sport that keeps older people productive and engaged. However, this framing often benefits only those with the physical ability, time, and financial resources to participate, excluding more vulnerable seniors or those with intersecting barriers. Pike warns that such narratives promote a narrow, idealized version of aging that reinforces monitoring and social pressure, rather than true inclusivity. |
