5
Section one: The fundamentals
A)
Exercise 1: Notebook Prompt
Many of you are likely familiar with the concept of “ability inequity,” which the authors of this article define as “an unjust or unfair (a) ‘distribution of access to and protection from abilities generated through human interventions’ or (b) ‘judgment of abilities intrinsic to biological structures such as the human body’.”
However, they go on to identify the following “ability concepts” that are less familiar:
1) ability security (one is able to live a decent life with whatever set of abilities one has)
2) ability identity security (to be able to be at ease with ones abilities)
How prevalent are these forms of security among disabled people you know? Or, if you identify as a disabled person, would you say your social surroundings and community foster and support these kinds of security? Furthermore, while the focus of the article is on Kinesiology programs, it is also important to reflect on how academia in general accommodates for disability. If you feel comfortable answering this question, what has been your experience of postsecondary education to date?
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The authors also observe that “Ableism not only intersects with other forms of oppression, such as racism, sexism, ageism, and classism, but abilities are often used to justify such negative ‘isms’.”
What do you think this means? Provide an example.
| Ableism highly contributes to the idea of intersectionality. I learned intersectionality as an array of identities in one individual that can determine the level of discrimination and barriers that individual may face. Ableism is the direct discrimination towards disabled individuals, but now imagine an individual who faces ableism and sexism for being female, and additionally racism for being a coloured individual. Intersectionality is like labels that layer on top of one another to create more and more barriers for one individual. This question however aims to examine the abilities that are used to justify negative ‘isms’. Within society we created a “normal” that is used in every day lives through operating systems, planning the layout of buildings, understanding how society operates within jobs, and we can even closely examine the world of sports. This “norm” is set out to justify the negative ‘isms’ that are faced within Ableism, and other oppressions. When an individual does not automatically fit our “norm” we label them as something else. I find that just because an individual who is disabled does not fit the “norm” in society we automatically assume that they cannot do basic daily living activities. One example that I can think of is a disabled individual going with their parent to a doctors appointment, and the health care provider automatically assumes to speak to the guardian and not directly at the patient. Just because an individual presents as the “norm” the doctor will automatically assume that they will understand more than the patient who is disabled. I am thinking back to the video in the introduction of this module ‘were the superhumans’ that shows society just what people are capable of.
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Exercise 2: Implicit Bias Test
Did anything surprise you about the results of the test? Please share if you’re comfortable OR comment on the usefulness of these kinds of tests more generally.
| My response suggested that I have a moderate automatic preference for Physically Abled People over Physically Disabled People. This did surprise me, for I slightly did not understand how the tests operates and calculates this type of score. I did want to comment that being a nursing student and working within clinical placements you are automatically exposed to all type of patients who face challenges whether that be cognitive, emotional, or physical. I recall being nervous and sort of scared when I first would work with individuals, not because I purposely wanted to discriminate against them but because I was not exposed to the specific routines it took for each individual. I slowly learned there was nothing to be afraid of, it seems as society places this fear in individuals of either offending or not normalizing individuals who face disabilities. I now understand how grateful I am to be able to engage with a multitude of patients and understand them on a deeper level. I share this experience because I feel these tests are useful in understanding your personal bias and working towards understanding why you are feeling that way. It is important for society to acknowledge the barriers and ideas we implement on individuals that have hard ableist undertones. If we can do the first step of acknowledging and understanding the why, we can work towards a better version of our thoughts and beliefs, moving away from the bias.
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B) Keywords
Exercise 3:
Add the keyword you contributed to padlet and briefly (50 words max) explain its importance to you.
| Ableism is the direct discrimination against disabled individuals. It operates within daily life through systems, societal interactions, opportunities, and even things as niche as sports. Ableism is the harmful ideas that categorize individuals outside of the “norm” within society (which is socially and physically abled bodies), it diminishes the character and individuality of disabled individuals through harmful practices within society.
Importance: Growing up I have developed lots of meaningful relationships with individuals that have disabilities. As a kid it never occurred to me to look at my friends as “others” within society, however many kids do view that way. I recall significant bullying and even I got picked on for who my friends were. It holds a significant importance to me because of the things I have seen growing up around ableism, and the severe impacts it has on the individual and even loved ones. As I am older now I continue to have many friendships and even family members who have disabilities, and I try my best to advocate, defend, and understand the barriers that they face through daily life, things I have the privilege to not have to think about in my daily life. And lastly, especially as a nursing student who is navigating patients with disabilities it is important to hold these characteristics and aspirations, for I want to understand, help, and advocate for the people I care for.
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B) On Disability
Exercise 4: Complete the Activities
Exercise 5: Notebook Prompt
What do Fitzgerald and Long identify as barriers to inclusion and how might these apply to sport in particular?
Fitzgerald and Long identify 4 barriers to inclusion, and they all significantly intertwine and play a part in the functionality of sports. The first is inaccessible transport that plays an important role in opportunity and accessibility for individuals to play sport. Certain individuals with disabilities may find it more difficult to find efficient transport that will accommodate them and their needs, for example an individual who is a wheel chair user. If a wheelchair user does not have a car to meet their needs, they need to resort to public transport that can be unreliable and un-accommodating in general for many individuals even without needing a wheel chair. Without proper transport it makes it difficult for individuals to get to tournaments, and even sports team practices. The second is buildings and amenities which is in relation to accommodating individuals who may need proper direction, braille if they have visual impairments, wheelchair ramps, elevators, and more. If buildings do not have proper amenities that accommodate athletes this makes it harder for individuals to be apart of teams and feel properly accommodated. The third barrier is lack of opportunity which basically constitutes to all of these other barriers, for the lead to lack of opportunities for individuals, and if there is lack of opportunity there is lack of representation. Each athlete on a sports team should have equal opportunity, but unfortunately this is not what it is true within our society. Lastly there is prejudicial attitudes which can lead to avoidance of sports from individuals with disabilities, for this can be a direct form of ableism and unwelcoming to many athletes.
Reference:
Fitzgerald, H., Long, J. 2017, Sport, Leisure and Social Justice. Routledge, 2017.
C) Inclusion, Integration, Separation
Exercise 6: Complete the Activities
Exercise 7: Notebook Prompt
Choose ONE of the three questions Fitzgerald and Long argue disability sport needs to address and record your thoughts in your Notebook.
- Should sport be grouped by ability or disability?
- Is sport for participation or competition?
- Should sport competitions be integrated?
| 3. Is sport for participation or competition?
This question makes one reflect on the meaning behind the world of sports, and what it exactly offers to us as society. The idea of sports is in general a competition, for we compete to declare a winner as that is the most common objective of every professional sport. However, I feel that participation is the most important aspect of sports in general. Without equal access to participation and holding it as a core value within the game, competition becomes skewed, unfair, and in a sense “rigged”. Each individual regardless of gender, sexuality, race, abilities, and more should all have equal access and opportunity to the participation within sports, and only then can competition be talked about and integrated within sports. |
Part Two: Making Connections
A) Gender, Sport and Disability
Exercise 8: Complete the Activity
The paradox that sportswomen habitually face (as the authors observe, this isn’t confined to disabled sportswomen) involves the expectation they will be successful in a ‘masculine’ environment while complying with femininity norms in order to be recognized as a woman.
True or false?
Take a moment to reflect on this paradox below (optional).
| This paradox is true. When speaking about certain sports we can examine that some have more ‘masculine’ personas than others. Society loves to categorize the “gender” of some sports, these being divided into more feminine or masculine, I recall doing an activity on a padlet voting poll earlier within this course in chapter two (playing with gender). Some more traditional ‘feminine’ sports are dance, figure skating, gymnastics, etc. Some more traditional ‘masculine’ sports are boxing, weight lifting, hockey, soccer, etc. It is also common for women who participate in more ‘masculine’ sports to be questioned upon their sexuality due to appearing more “masculine”. It seems that women need to prove themselves successful in a ‘masculine’ led sport, however they cannot do this “too well”. Looking back at the boxer Imane Khelif who was participating in the more ‘masculine’ sport and environment of boxing and accused of her femininity and gender. This is just one example that adheres to the paradox that is examined within this question. |
B) Masculinity, Disability, and Murderball
Exercise 9: Notebook/Padlet Prompt
Watch the film, Murderball and respond to the question in the padlet below (you will have an opportunity to return to the film at the end of this module).
The authors of “Cripping Sport and Physical Activity: An Intersectional Approach to Gender and Disability” observe that the “gendered performance of the wheelchair rugby players can…be interpreted as a form of resistance to marginalized masculinity” (332) but also point out that it may reinforce “ableist norms of masculinity.” After viewing the film, which argument do you agree with?
a) Murderball celebrates a kind of resistance to marginalized masculinity
| I feel that this film aims to complete both prompt a) and b) within its viewing. Murderball which follows the U.S. Rugby team and their triumphs, accurately depicts and celebrates a kind of resistance to marginalized masculinity. The film does this through showing that these athletes were able to reclaim their identity, that having the ability to walk does not define any sort of their masculinity in regards to identity, they were able to create new forms through the wheelchair rugby sport they play. Additionally we identify these resistances through the “toughness” of competition and rivalry, a very hegemonic masculine idea of what it means to be a man. This point is where i shift into how it reinforces norms of masculinity, we can view this through the traditional idea of “what it means to be masculine”. These are “tough” rugby players in competition with one another, which radiates a masculine aura that they can still find themselves in even through ableist ideals.
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Chapter 5 Longer Prompt (additional to my assignment on chapter 6)
1) Do you agree with the critique of the “supercrip” narrative in this video? Why or why not? Find an example of the “supercrip” Paralympian in the 2024 Paris Paralympics or Special Olympics coverage and explain how it works.
“Supercrip” aims to reject a “traditional” medical model and begins to move into a model that challenges societal norms, this stating that we need to create accessible adaptive spaces that celebrate bodily differences (McGuire, 2025). This video accurately depicts the aims of supercrip stating that these athletes are more than capable enough to participate within olympics, and we need to continue to give them a platform and space that makes it accessible enough for them to preform to their very best, this being the complete opposite of what the medical model has to offer. Tracy Otto, a Paralympian in the 2024 paralympics states “When you’re not really given a choice, you have to keep going”. She is competes as an archery athlete. Her story is compelling despite her difficult story. Tracy was stabbed and shot with a pellet gun which left her paralyzed from the chest down. She was able to turn to archery and move towards her goals. “It does not define you what you go through, but it can help you and prepare you into a direction you never thought was imaginable” (Tracy Otto). Her exact words is what displays the “supercrip” narrative, she is not just a victim who needs to be defined by her disability, she was able to take this part of her life and turn it into something that she states is unimaginable. Her story is truly inspiring (10 Tampa Bay, 2024).
10 Tampa Bay . (2024). Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Paralympian Tracy Otto shares empowering story. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydjiT9RvXbE
2) Does the film Murderball play into the supercrip narrative in your opinion? How does gender inform supercrip (read this blog for some ideas)?
I feel like in the state of looking at murderball as a sort of film that reinforces ableist norms of masculinity, one can argue that Murderball may fail to play into the supercrip narrative. As discussed earlier we view that within Murderball these athletes find their identity through their hegemonic masculinity within the sport of rugby and competition with opponents, this sort of “macho” persona that does not leave despite having a disability. While reading this blog by Ben Mattlin he brings in a good point to the argument, stating “Society’s preference for disabled people who are able to, in a sense, impersonate nondisabled people, or otherwise fit nondisabled expectations, has a long history”. It as if Mattlin is trying to explain that these individuals begin to move away from ableist ideals, but they do it in a way that society has a preference for it, for they are still fitting this “masculine” expectation (Mattlin, 2022). I feel this statement is also saying what does this leave to say about individuals who are disabled and fail to meet this “persona” of masculinity that is displayed within the film murderball. It is interesting to examine both sides of the argument, for I understand how murderball does play into the supercrip narrative, however if you dive just a little bit deeper you start to discover these exact points of societies expectations once again, this brought on by Mattlin’s blog.
Mattlin, B. (2022, September 3). I am not your SUPERCRIP. Facing Disability. https://facingdisability.com/blog/i-am-not-your-supercrip
Section Three: Taking a Shot
A) Resistance
B) Calling out Supercrip
Exercise 10: Mini Assignment (worth 5% in addition to the module grade)
1) Do you agree with the critique of the “supercrip” narrative in this video? Why or why not? Find an example of the “supercrip” Paralympian in the 2024 Paris Paralympics or Special Olympics coverage and explain how it works.
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2) Does the film Murderball play into the supercrip narrative in your opinion? How does gender inform supercrip (read this blog for some ideas)?
(300 words for each response)
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Feedback/Errata