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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).
| Intersectionality analyzes how overlapping social identities, which involve ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and gender, lead to diverse experiences of discrimination or privilege. It emphasizes that people are characterized not by a single component of their identity but by a variety of interconnected circumstances that impact their lives in various ways. In the context of sports, intersectionality helps explain how athletes, particularly women of colour, may confront multiple problems, such as racist sexism and stereotypes, that cannot be comprehended only through the lenses of race or gender. This framework advocates for a more sophisticated view of inequality and injustice in sports.
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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 brings into question the claim that Black players’ athleticism is naturally greater, which is rarely given to white athletes. For example, black sportsmen in sports such as basketball or football are generally regarded as naturally gifted, but white athletes are praised for skill development and work ethic. This predisposed perception promotes negative stereotypes and demonstrates how society can use race to limit or define people’s skills, frequently ignoring the larger socio-historical context that influences athletic achievement.
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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?
| Rajack and Joseph’s research focuses on how Black women athletes and those who support them may fight back against negative media representations by identifying several tactics for avoiding misogynoir. One important technique is to reclaim and reframe their narratives, focusing on Black women’s voices and experiences. This entails creating environments where Black women may relate their stories without being twisted or dominated by stereotypes. The authors also indicate the necessity of solidarity and collective action, in which Black women and those who support them oppose racist and sexist media images individually and as a whole. Furthermore, they argue that by critically engaging with mainstream media and challenging damaging portrayals, Black women might break stereotypes that perpetuate misogyny. Another technique is to embrace Black women’s identities as diverse and multidimensional rather than simplifying their experiences to fit racial or gender stereotypes. This includes supporting diversity, opposing racism, and celebrating cultural pride.
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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 your notebook.
I think that athletes have a special chance, though not necessarily an obligation, to use their platform for social change because of their huge impact. Sports activists throughout history have challenged systematic injustices that have been generated all over the world. Their efforts demonstrate that sports have a profound connection to society and its challenges. At the same time, I understand that not all athletes are comfortable or qualified to fill such positions. Speaking out may result in criticism, loss of endorsements, or even professional consequences. Some may argue that athletes should prioritize their sport over politics. However, given their reach and status, those who choose to participate in politics have the ability to effect meaningful change. Finally, I believe athletics is more than just amusement; it can be utilized for resistance, awareness, and growth.
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.)
| they call for a shift toward more critical feminist media narratives that question neoliberal feminism’s emphasis on individual empowerment. They advocate for journalism that emphasizes structural injustices, collective activism, and intersectional conflict, stressing systemic change over personal success within current patriarchal and capitalist structures.
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C) Corporate social justice
Exercise 6: Padlet Poll
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in favor: Sports leagues have a pressure to assist social justice movements such as BLM since they have tremendous cultural power. Athletes have traditionally utilized their positions to push for change, and neglecting social issues simply contributes to existing disparities. Given that many athletes and spectators come from various backgrounds, tackling systemic inequities is important.Sports leagues also benefit from the talent and effort of those directly came by these challenges. Supporting movements like the Black Lives Matter goes beyond symbolic gestures; it entails putting in place meaningful policies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Some say that sports should be kept distinct from politics, but the truth is that sports have always reflected larger societal issues. Using their platform to promote positive change is an important step toward justice and accountability. |
Section Three: Taking a shot
Module Assignment (submit as part of notebook and separately through Blackboard mini assignment #1 portal)
In the film, The Hate U Give (2018), the main character, Starr Carter, navigates her identity as a Black girl who becomes an activist after witnessing her friend Khalil’s police shooting. While Starr is not an athlete, the film strongly connects with athlete advocacy, particularly regarding how racialized individuals are supposed to keep silent in the face of injustice. Starr’s story exemplifies the difficulties that athletes like Colin Kaepernick endure when speaking out against systemic concerns, especially when scrutinizing and ridiculing their acts by the public and media. In the film, Starr utilizes her status as a witness to Khalil’s death to speak out against police violence and racial injustice. This reflects the techniques used by athletes who utilize their visibility to challenge social norms and oppressive structures. Starr’s advocacy, like Kaepernick’s, is perceived as disruptive and provocative by some, with harsh criticism thrown at her boldness. In The Hate U Give, the response to her advocacy criticizes the notion that people, particularly racialized people, should “stay in their lane” and avoid speaking up. This is a common subject in sports media, as athletes of colour, particularly Black athletes, are frequently required to separate their activism and athletics. The subject matter is related to the concepts of Critical Race Theory, which challenges general conceptions that place athletes and marginalized people outside political discourse. The film criticizes the racialized power structures that discourage activism, just as Hylton (2020) describes how CRT modifies racialized power relations in sports, demonstrating how activism in sports is frequently politicized when undertaken by coloured athletes. By focusing on Starr’s activism, the film speaks to the larger struggle Black players like Kaepernick face, who use their platform to advocate for change. These media representations question the assumption of silence, calling for a more profound recognition of how race, identity, and activism connect in the public domain.
Hylton, K. (2020). How a turn to critical race theory can contribute to our understanding of ‘race,’ racism and anti-racism in sport. Communication and Sport, 8(4–5), 692–711.
The Hate U Give. (2018). Directed by George Tillman Jr. Fox 2000 Pictures.
