6 Chapter Six: Aging in Sport
Section One: The Fundamentals
A) Keywords
Exercise 1:
Provide a brief definition of one of the padlet keywords for this week.
| Equity refers to fairness and justice in terms of how people are treated and how resources are distributed. It involves recognizing and addressing the unequal starting points and barriers that marginalized groups experience within society due to race, gender, sexuality, ability, class, or other social determinants. The ultimate goal is to create fair and just outcomes by dismantling systemic inequities and ensuring everyone has the support they need to succeed. |
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.
| Today, old age is represented in several different ways. On one hand, there’s a growing trend toward positive and empowering portrayals. Older adults are increasingly recognized as active, wise, and engaged in meaningful lives. Once retired they tend to start new careers, travel, participate in fitness activities, or stay involved in their communities. Recently, social media has helped amplify this, as influencers in their 60s and 70s have challenged traditional ideas about aging.
On the other hand, there are stereotypes regarding older individuals. In many media narratives, order individuals are depicted as forgetful, fragile, resistant to change, or out of touch with current societal norms. They are sometimes used for comic relief or portrayed as burdens on younger generations. These portrayals can reinforce ageist assumptions and ignore the importance of experiences among older adults.
This image is of a 75-year-old man that reminded me of my grandfather. He exemplifies positive attitudes towards old age, as despite being 75, he still has a strong work ethic. He routinely fishes, walks, and travels with my grandmother, demonstrating his younger side. A trait that I admire about him is wisdom, as he possesses knowledge that comes from life experience, reflection, and learning. He has been a great role model and a great representation of what old age looks like to me. |
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 aging 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 states that sports can help aging people to simultaneously “accept and resist the aging process” it is referring to physical activity, especially in the form of sports which offers a unique way to deal with getting older. Accepting the aging process involves embracing the natural changes that come with aging such as slower recovery, decreased strength, or reduced mobility. Once older adults continue to play sports, they experience these changes, which can help them come to terms with their body’s capabilities. Instead of avoiding the disappointment of aging, they approach it head-on, which promotes self-awareness, emotional maturity, and resilience.
At the same time, sport allows people to resist the aging process, as negative stereotypes and limitations often associated with aging are eliminated. Through training, competing, or simply staying active, older adults can maintain strength, agility, independence, and mental sharpness far longer as opposed to older adults who do not maintain physical activity. They demonstrate that aging does not mean becoming inactive, as they can rewrite what aging looks like. Overall, sports have become a strong tool for accepting and resisting the aging process. It acknowledges that aging is inevitable, but empowers people to age on their terms.
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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)
| According to Pike, the groups who are less likely to have extensive opportunities to take part in sports are those with disabilities, the very frail, some minority ethnic groups, those confined to care facilities, and those living in rural areas. This lack of opportunity may stem from a variety of factors, including social stigma, financial constraints, inadequate transportation, and limited access to sporting facilities. For example, an individual may be unable to travel to a sporting event due to their disability. Many facilities might also not have the proper restrictions in place to ensure the safety of all disabilities. These barriers can lead to feelings of exclusion and reduced motivation to engage in physical activity, ultimately impacting both physical and mental health. Another example, is typically those who live in rural areas are isolated from towns where sporting events take place. This might prevent them from engaging in sports leagues due to the distance and inadequate transportation.
Privilege factors play a significant role in aging and sports, as they can determine the resources and opportunities available to someone as they age. Individuals with greater financial means are more likely to afford things to improve their physical health such as gym memberships, transport, specialized equipment, or entry into senior sports programs. They also may live in communities with better infrastructure, including well-maintained parks and walking trails. |
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 believe that age discrimination is reported more frequently than any other form of prejudice because it is so deeply incorporated into everyday language and media that it can go unnoticed or unchallenged. Unlike other forms of discrimination have have gained advocacy over time, ageism is accepted in a subtle way. Older adults tend to be presented as a threat to social values and interests because of frequently used stereotypes such as being frail, resistant to change, unproductive, or a burden on healthcare and welfare systems. Each of these stereotypes creates a narrative that aging is something to be feared or pitied, rather than embraced as a natural stage of life. |
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 main differences that I saw in these ads are how inclusivity was portrayed. The first ad appeared to address all forms of discrimination, including racism, sexism, ableism, and homophobia. For example, the ad displayed several acts of inclusivity, including a transition of a male-to-female athlete, while the commentator said, “We are never alone, and that is our strength”. These transitions encouraged that sports are for every individual, and that is what makes them great. The second ad demonstrated that women are more than just mothers and maintain physical activity. At the beginning of the ad, a mother was sitting down, and her daughter shouted, “Let’s go, Mom!”. The mother rolled her eyes but proceeded to work out with her daughter. By the end of the ad, the same lady continued to enjoy working out.
I think that the first ad is much more inclusive, solely because it addresses several forms of discrimination rather than just sexism and agism. However, the representation of age is non-existent in the first ad, but present in the second. The second ad displays the importance of mothers maintaining physical activity and the positive effects that it can have on their general well-being. |
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 agree with Elizabeth Pike’s observation about the feminization of aging. Statistically, women tend to live longer than men, which naturally leads to a larger population of older women compared to older men. This demographic trend has major social and cultural implications.
Firstly, aging being “feminized” means that many of the issues associated with older age such as healthcare, caregiving, and social isolation are often framed through the experiences of women. Since elderly women are more likely to live alone, as they outlive male partners, particular policies and societal attitudes toward aging often reflect this specific challenge. The same applies to financial difficulties due to their lifetime earnings or unpaid caregiving work. This creates many false stereotypes of elderly people due to the feminization of aging. To conclude, the media representation of aging is often centered around the experiences of women, particularly about appearance, health, and independence. There is a strong cultural pressure on older women to age well and maintain youthfulness as opposed to men, which reinforces the gendered aspect of aging. In this way, the feminization of aging is not solely related to statistics, but it is also about how society supports, perceives, and stereotypes the aging process, particularly when it comes to women. |
Section Three: Module Mini Assignment
| According to the article, Pike examines how age and ability are socially constructed and represented within the context of sport. She challenges common narratives that link aging with decline, dependency, or physical incapacity, and an expanded understanding regarding how older adults participate in or are excluded from sport. These insights provide a strong framework for understanding the rapid rise of pickleball, particularly among older adults. Pickleball is often celebrated within the media for enabling older adults to remain physically active and socially engaged well into their later years. A common deception of older pickleball players is that they emphasize competitiveness and camaraderie. This differs from ageist assumptions about frailty and disengagement, instead aligning with the active aging discourse.
The “Great Peterborough Pickleball Debacle” refers to the controversy surrounding the City of Peterborough’s decision to implement 16 pickleball courts at Bonnerworth Park. In late 2023, Peterborough City Council approved a $4.4 million redevelopment plan for Bonnerworth Park, which included the construction of 16 pickleball courts, allocating almost half of the budget. Many residents, particularly those living near the park, have expressed concerns about the project by stating that there will be potential noise disturbances, increased traffic, and the loss of green space. Some residents even argued that the park’s redevelopment prioritizes pickleball over other community needs. In response, a group of residents formed the “Friends of Bonnerworth Park” and initiated a legal challenge to halt the redevelopment. The debate has led to tensions within the city council, as Councillor Joy Lachica proposed delaying the project to address community concerns. Despite the opposition, construction at Bonnerworth Park has commenced. The city has closed the park to the public, and a stop-work injunction hearing is scheduled to determine whether the redevelopment can proceed. Through media discussions of the issue, older pickleball athletes are represented disproportionately. In some coverage and online commentary, older pickleball players are framed as demanding or entitled, as many believe that they are lobbying for expensive public investments that benefit a narrow demographic. Critics of the project have questioned why millions are being spent on facilities primarily for retirees, especially in the context of other municipal priorities such as affordable housing or youth programs. This discourse exemplifies what Pike identifies as the “marginalization of older adults” within the cultural imagination of sport, where the aging body is often positioned as unproductive or even burdensome.
Davis, G., & Lothian, R. (2024, April 4). What’s all the racket? Residents oppose pickleball courts at park in Peterborough, Ont. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/10402091/whats-all-the-racket-residents-oppose-pickleball-courts-at-park-in-peterborough-ont/ Nielsen, K. (2024, August 31). Pickleball or housing? Debate in this Ontario city shows dilemma municipalities face. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/10726661/pickleball-debate-peterborough-housing-crisis/
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Extra Credit – The Great Peterborough Pickleball Debacle” Extra Credit Assignment (3 points possible): In addition to answering the question above, research the Peterborough Pickleball debates of 2024 and outline the issues as you understand them. Read this article for background and source two other media /social media pieces. Is agism a factor here in these debates? Why or why not? (300 words)
The Peterborough Pickleball debates of 2024 have centered on the redevelopment of Bonnerworth Park, which included plans to install 16 pickleball courts. The Peterborough Pickleball Association suggested that the courts would meet growing demand and boost the local economy by attracting tournaments. However, many residents, particularly those living near the park, have expressed concerns about the project by stating that there will be potential noise disturbances, increased traffic, and the loss of green space. Some residents even argued that the park’s redevelopment prioritizes pickleball over other community needs, such as affordable housing. The city has closed the park to the public, and a stop-work injunction hearing is scheduled to determine whether the redevelopment can proceed
Through media discussions of the issue, older pickleball athletes are represented disproportionately. Many stated that older pickleball players are framed as demanding or entitled, as many believe that they are lobbying for expensive public investments that benefit a narrow demographic. As for ageism directly, no evidence suggests that age discrimination was a factor in the decision-making process. The opposition was primarily based on environmental and quality-of-life issues, rather than age-related biases. However, the prominence of senior voices in the debate may have unintentionally highlighted age-related concerns, even if not explicitly framed as ageism.
Head, B. (2024). Peterborough city council approves Bonnerworth Park redevelopment with 16 pickleball courts | kawarthaNOW. KawarthaNOW. https://kawarthanow.com/2024/04/09/peterborough-city-council-approves-bonnerworth-park-redevelopment-with-16-pickleball-courts/
Throop, B. (2024). City Council doubles down on plan to add 16 pickleball courts to Bonnerworth Park after testy debate. Peterborough Currents. https://peterboroughcurrents.ca/sports/bonnerworth-redevelopment/
