My definition of Equity refers to fairness and justice in the world including resources, opportunities, and treatment. It involves ensuring that everyone has equal access to the same opportunities and benefits, while also addressing any imbalances or disadvantages that may exist amongst certain groups of people.

I would imagine that certain groups of people have significantly more opportunity to access sport especially high level and extensive opportunities through sport. For example people who experience certain social determinants such as people who are low income, people housing or job insecurity, people with disabilities (as discussed in earlier chapters), people with minorities such as gender, ethnic and cultural. Ultimately, these challenges can limit these groups of peoples access to sports facilities, programs, and resources (equipment, travel, ..) to engage in physical activities. Consequently, the privilege associated with financial stability, social status, and cultural inclusion plays a major role in determining who has the opportunity to fully participate in and benefit from sports, both recreationally and professionally.

I agree with Elizabeth Pike’s idea that aging has been “feminized,”. For example,especially as women tend to live longer than men and this trend is reflected in society ad Women are more likely to face age-related challenges and have higher rates of chronic illness, yet they also experience the societal pressures of maintaining beauty as they grow older. I work in healthcare and am often emersed in an environment of older and aging adults, and can clearly see the expectation for women to get up and look “pretty” for breakfast, and men do not often have the same expectations. Its expected for men to become angry and violent whereas if women exude this behavior it is just inappropriate. The “feminization” of aging also highlights the dominant role women often play in family caregiving, making their aging experiences more visible when they are unable to keep up with this role.

2)

In regard to the Bonnerworth Park pickleball issue, media seems to often depict older aged pickleball players as active, and enthusiastic participants in a sport that promotes health and well-being. They are portrayed as taking charge of their free time and adopting an active lifestyle. This is positive and challenges the stereotype that aging people are declining or inactive. However, I think ageism is evident still, especially in how the needs of older athletes are presented. For example, older adults would likely be benefiting from pickleball courts, however, this might be overlooked by a younger population of park users as they want to enjoy different types of recreation in their community park. Older advocates are sometimes seen as disruptive, or less worthy of pushing for changes that benefit them. This can subtly create divisions within sport based on age, where the older generation’s desires are seen as causing inconvenience.

Finally, the neoliberal agenda around aging and sport, particularly in the case of pickleball, focuses on the idea that older adults should remain active and productive to minimize their otherwise expected decline that would cause them to be reliance on social services and healthcare. By promoting pickleball as a way for older individuals to stay active and maintain social status, it shifts the responsibility for health and well-being onto the individuals responsibility. This reflects a broader neoliberal belief that individuals are responsible for their own health and well-being, and that older people should stay self-sufficient and maintain youth like attitudes, rather than eventually becoming passive and relying on society, which is a part natural aging process.