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Section One: The Fundamentals
A) Keywords
Exercise 1:
Briefly (in 100 words or less) define one of the keywords in the padlet (including one that you. may have added yourself).
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Intersectionality is a concept proposed by Kimberlé Crenshaw that explores how various aspects of a person’s identity, including race, gender, class, sexuality, and ability, intersect to shape their experiences. When applying it to the context of sports, this means that athletes may face unique challenges based on their combined identities. For example, a Black female athlete might experience both racial and gender-based discrimination, which may impact how she is treated in the media, by fans, and even by teammates. Similarly, a disabled athlete of color may encounter additional barriers related to both ability and race. Understanding intersectionality in sports helps highlight how these overlapping identities influence access, representation, and treatment in sports. |
B) Representing Race
Exercise 2: Notebook Prompt
In about 50-70 words, consider Joel Bervell’s question: why do we feel the need to extrapolate the athleticism of one Black athlete to all Black people when we do not do the same for white athletes?
Try to think of examples when this happens, making sure to reflect on your own positionality.
| Joel Bervell’s question highlights how racial stereotypes shape perceptions of athleticism, especially in sports like basketball where there are assumptions that black men are naturally good at basketball when in reality, the talent is a reflection of many other factors like time spent training and dedication to the sport, however, these are often not factored into people’s notion of talent. When a Black athlete excels, there’s often an assumption that their success reflects the abilities of all Black people, reinforcing the stereotype of “natural” athleticism. In contrast, white athletes’ achievements are viewed as individual talent or hard work, without racial assumptions. This disparity reflects a history of racial categorization, where Black bodies are reduced to physical traits, while white athletes are seen as unique individuals. Breaking down these preconceived stereotypes and assumptions will help to appreciate the talent of an athlete at an individual level rather than a superficial level of race and gender. |
C) Gender, Race & Sport
Exercise 3: Notebook Prompt
What are some strategies for resistance that Rajack and Joseph identify in their article as a means of pushing back against and resisting misogynoir?
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In “Misogynoir in Women’s Sport Media: Race, Nation, and Diaspora in the Representation of Naomi Osaka,” Rajack and Joseph identify several strategies for resistance against the misogynoir that Black women athletes face in the media. One key strategy they discussed is the creation of counter-narratives that challenge the stereotypical portrayals of Black women, elevating their accomplishments and complexities beyond the narrow, biased depictions typically found in mainstream sports coverage. Additionally, they discussed the importance of reclaiming agency, as athletes like Naomi Osaka are encouraged to control their own narratives, speaking for themselves rather than allowing others to impose limiting stereotypes. The authors also emphasize the importance of solidarity and collective action where Black athletes and allies work together to challenge systemic racism and sexism in sports media. Finally, embracing and celebrating the multiple identities of athletes—acknowledging their intersectional experiences of race, gender, nationality, and diaspora helps to defy the reductive views often imposed by mainstream media, creating a more inclusive and empowering representation of Black women in sports. These strategies promote a more equitable and level portrayal of athletes, pushing back against the harmful forces of misogynoir. |
Section Two: Making Connections
A) Athlete Activism
Exercise 3: Padlet Prompt
Do athletes have a responsibility to use their platform for social change? Why or why not? Please remember to record your response in both the padlet below and in your Notebook.
B) Athlete Activism & Feminism
Exercise 4: Complete the activities
Exercise 5: Notebook Prompt
What do the authors of the article call for as a way of challenging how mainstream sports journalism privileges neoliberal feminist concerns? (100 words max.)
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In this article, Cooky and Antunovic argue that mainstream sports journalism often centers on neoliberal feminist concerns, which emphasize individual achievement and market-driven empowerment, neglecting deeper systemic issues. To challenge this, the authors call for a focus on intersectionality in athlete activism, recognizing the interconnected struggles of race, gender, and class. They advocate for a shift toward collective feminist action that acknowledges the broader social structures athletes challenge, urging media to spotlight athletes who push for structural change rather than individual success. This would strive for and provide a more inclusive and transformative approach to feminist narratives in sports media. |
C) Corporate social justice
Exercise 6: Padlet Poll
| Based on this article, sports leagues have had varied responses to Black Lives Matter (BLM), with the NBA and NFL showing large differences. Overall, the he NBA has generally been more supportive, especially in 2020, where players were actively involved in marches and the league made clear pro-BLM statements. In contrast, the NFL initially resisted athlete activism, notably after Colin Kaepernick’s protests, and only responded after pressure from players. This delay in support highlights the NFL’s hesitance to prioritize social issues and athlete activism over financial considerations, while the NBA’s more collaborative culture, smaller league structure, and greater player influence allowed it to embrace activism more fully. While the NBA has held a strong representation in its support for BLM, the NFL has been slower to act and has struggled with balancing activism with commercial interests. This has also been seen in other sports like major league baseball (MLB). While MLB has a history of racial segregation and exclusion, recent years have seen some players, like Jackie Bradley Jr. who have spoken out on social justice issues. However, the league as a whole has often been criticized for a lack of clear action or support compared to the NBA. MLB’s response has been more passive, with little coordinated effort to amplify the message in a way that compares to the NBA’s proactive stance.
My response to the Padlet Poll was that I was in favour of sports leagues bearing a responsibility to support social justice movements like BLM. I say this because I believe sports leagues have a responsibility to support social justice movements like BLM, as they play a significant role in shaping public opinion and culture. Supporting equality and inclusiveness is essential for the progression of sports, ensuring that athletes of all backgrounds feel valued and empowered while inspiring broader societal change. |
Section Three: Taking a shot
Module Assignment (submit as part of notebook and separately through Blackboard mini assignment #1 portal)
Mini Assignment: Module 3
In the film Cool Runnings (1993), the representation of the Jamaican bobsled team offers a unique view on the racialized athlete, showing how athletes can use their platform to challenge both societal expectations and racialized perceptions of sports. The team, composed of Black athletes from a non-winter sports nation, challenges the notion that only certain races or nations are suited for specific athletic endeavors. The film portrays them as underdogs who must confront both external racial prejudices and internal doubts about their ability to succeed in an elite, predominantly white sport like bobsledding.
One of the key strategies the athletes use to speak out is through resilience and determination. They push against the stereotypes that Black athletes are only suited for specific types of sports, like sprinting, and the notion that sports accomplishments are determined by race and gender and not by hard work and dedication, and instead excel in a sport traditionally dominated by white, wealthy nations. Their persistence challenges the racialized expectations that restrict their access to opportunities in sports. For example, after initial mockery, they prove their worth through their hard work and performance, earning respect even from their opponents. This acts as a resistance to the conventional portrayal of Black athletes and the sports that they are stereotypically limited to like basketball or soccer.
The commentary on athletes using their voices in Cool Runnings reflects a critique of the narrow, race-based views of sports, as the Jamaican team not only competes but also defies racial and cultural barriers. Their journey highlights that athletes can be agents of change, using their platform to challenge racial hierarchies and expectations after a hard transition from traditional track and field events to the foreign sport of bobsledding. The film also suggests that success in sports is not solely about physical superiority but also about perseverance, teamwork, and belief in one’s identity, irrespective of race, similar to the question proposed by Joe Bervell (2024), “why do we feel the need to extrapolate the athleticism of one Black athlete to all Black people when we do not do the same for white athletes? The movie defies this stereotype by taking a sport that they were not traditionally accustomed to and putting in hard, long hours to defy the racial biases.
This film also connects to the article by Cooky and Antunovic (2020), who argue that mainstream sports media often reduces athlete activism to individual acts, failing to address the structural inequalities athletes confront. The Jamaican bobsled team’s success, not through mainstream racialized channels, challenges this, showing that athleticism transcends the limiting narratives of race. By centering an underrepresented group in a sport seen as “white,” the movie pushes viewers to reconsider how sports are framed, whose bodies are deemed appropriate for success in particular arenas and what truly defines an “athlete”.
Similarly, the article by Khabbaz (2021) on athlete activism also sheds light on the power of athletes using their platforms for social change, aligning with the message of Cool Runnings. Khabbaz (2021) emphasizes how athletes often become symbols for larger social movements and challenge traditional dynamics within both sports and society. In the case of the Jamaican bobsledding team, their very presence in the bobsledding arena serves as a form of protest against exclusion and stereotypes, similar to how other athletes like Colin Kaepernick used their platforms to resist oppression, despite the alternate opinions formed by the media and society. Ultimately, the film shows how sports, as a public platform, can offer athletes the space to challenge societal norms and fight for racial equality while also showing that race should not and does not have to be the limiting factor between pursuing a sport or not.
References
Bervell, J. [@joelbervell]. (2024, July 31). Are black people naturally more athletic than other races: episode 1.[Video]. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@joelbervell/video/7397992856012541214?lang=en
Khaabaz, R. (2021, January 28). Sports and social justice: How athletes, leagues, and fans are transforming the game. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2021/01/sports-and-social-justice
Razack, S. & Joseph, J. (2020). Misogynoir in women’s sport media: race, nation, and diaspora in the representation of Naomi Osaka. Journal of Media, Culture & Society, 43(2), 291–308. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443720960919
