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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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Intersectional Feminism from “This Isn’t Just About Us”: Articulations of Feminism in Media Narratives of Athlete Activism By: Cheryl Cooky and Dunja Antunovic Intersectional feminism is a concept that recognizes power dynamics and addresses systemic inequalities. It investigates what Patricia Hill Collins refers to as the “matrix of domination” in which structure and culture overlay interconnecting social locations, such as race, gender, social class, sexuality, etc., so that domination and subordination, privilege and oppression work concurrently. It targets structural sources of inequality rather than just excluding women from social institutions.
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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.
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Considering Joel Bervell’s question, media and cultural stereotypes commonly portray Black athletes as naturally talented, whereas white players’ success is ascribed to hard work, strategy, and discipline. Serena Williams’ dominance in tennis has always been attributed to her physical force and genetics, but Maria Sharapova’s success has generally been credited to her discipline, strategy, and mental fortitude. This action perpetuates harmful beliefs that diminish the enthusiasm and work of Black athletes. As someone who was involved in dance and volleyball, I’ve witnessed how these biases influence expectations. Black athletes are sometimes stereotyped as being inherently powerful or quick, whereas white athletes are recognized for their skill and strategic thought. I think that this perspective ignores the years of work that go into any sports successes, and it unfairly limits how Black athletes’ success is recognized.
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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?
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Razack and Joseph’s paper outlines numerous techniques for addressing misogynoir, particularly in the context of sports media coverage of Black female athletes such as Naomi Osaka. Such as, athletes may utilize channels like social media to challenge prevalent narratives and provide alternative images of themselves. This involves using social media to express their own opinions, celebrate ancestral roots, and interact with supporters. For example, Osaka has used social media to showcase her Haitian roots and reply to discriminatory remarks. Athletes who consciously avoid being restricted to basic categories such as “Japanese” or “American” can emphasize the unique characteristics of their identities and push back against media that attempts to erase aspects of their history. Osaka, for example, has frequently underlined her Black Haitian ethnicity, challenging the mainstream media’s predisposition to depict her purely as Japanese. Fans may also help combat misogynoir by producing counter-narratives, identifying the suppression of Blackness in mainstream culture, and celebrating relationships to oppressed groups. Fan reaction to racial representations of Osaka has led corporations to delete harmful material.
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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 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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The authors of the paper advocate for a new approach to feminist sports media study, one that questions the prevalent narratives of conventional sports journalism, which frequently prioritize neoliberal feminist concerns. They claim that conventional sports media, with its concentration on the “center of sports” that is male-dominated, frequently obscures the activism of sportswomen, particularly women of colour. Instead of restricting the scope to conventional sports channels and journalists, they recommend viewing any media output concerning sport, regardless of the source or intended audience, as being within the domain of sports media. The authors recommend starting with athlete activism in women’s sports to find narratives in social media posts, formal comments from players, and online news media coverage. The authors suggest for a strategy that recognizes how certain activisms propagate through the media and gain popularity. This argument also contributes to addressing the invisibility of sportswomen’s activism by examining media coverage of a variety of athletes supporting social movements, including women, rather than only comparing it to men’s activism.
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C) Corporate social justice
Exercise 6: Padlet Poll
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In Favour I believe that sports leagues should assist social justice movements, such as Black Lives Matter. Sports leagues have a huge influence and impact on others. Supporting groups like the BLM enables them to raise the voices of their players, many of whom have been personally affected by racial injustice. Leagues such as the NBA enable athletes to express their opinions on social justice issues, promoting greater social consciousness. According to the book, leagues like the NBA are dedicated to corporate social justice. The NBA, for example, has included BLM themes into its games, proving how organizations may promote social justice while doing business. This suggests that sports leagues are more than just business organizations; they also have social duties. Players such as Colin Kaepernick have utilized their platforms to raise awareness about social concerns. The NBA has acknowledged and encouraged the effect of players such as LeBron James. Leagues may enable players to speak up on social concerns, rather than censoring their opinions. However, it is critical to remember that leagues are still for-profit businesses and cannot completely ignore their financial duties. The NBA was cautious to support the Hong Kong demonstrators for fear of hurting its Chinese commercial partnerships. This event shows that there are limitations to what leagues can do to promote social justice. Nonetheless, the NBA’s handling of the BLM movement has demonstrated that promoting social justice can be beneficial to business, especially when the league aligns with the ideals of its players and viewership.
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Section Three: Taking a shot
Module Assignment (submit as part of notebook and separately through Blackboard mini assignment #1 portal)
Module 3 Mini Assignment
By: Natalie Radulovich – 0724510
Why is it that in society, it is expected for athletes to strive for excellence on the field while keeping silent when presented with instances of injustice? This is shown in the film 42, which portrays Jackie Robinson as a racialized athlete activist, focusing on the strategies he employs to overcome systemic racism, the interplay of race and gender in his representation, and the film’s critique of athletes’ participation in social justice movements. The film revolves around Jackie Robinson’s identity as a Black man competing in a predominantly white sport, baseball. His activism is informed by his experiences with racism, both overt slurs from fans and players and systemic segregation in hotels and stadiums. The movie stresses how racial identity intersects with athletic identity, transforming Robinson’s achievement into a political message. Jackie Robinson’s primary strategy in 42 is silent resistance. Branch Rickey, the Brooklyn Dodgers’ general manager, tells him not to respond to racist slurs. This strategy is not passive but rather involves purposeful activity. When looking at the reading “Shut up and dribble!”?Athletes activism in the age of twittersphere: The Case of LeBron James” by Yair Galily, we can see both Robinson and Lebron James face repercussions for their activism, but the context of the response reflects influencing race and media dynamics. Robinson’s opponents were openly racist, whereas James’ critics typically employed language about athletes “staying in their lane.” This difference illustrates the persistent opposition to athlete activism, even if the methods of resistance differ. The film is critical of the assumption that athletes, particularly those of colour, should remain politically neutral. Robinson’s silence is portrayed as a burden, a necessary sacrifice to pave the way for future generations. The film states that athletes, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are regularly forced to stifle their voices to endure severe conditions. However, it also underlines the transformative power of their actions, even when their voices are muffled. While looking at the article “ This Isn’t Just About Us”: Articulations of Feminism in Media Narratives of Athlete Activism by Cheryl Cooky1 and Dunja Antunovic, highlights the importance of intersectionality in understanding athlete activism, particularly among women of colour who face several forms of oppression. Their findings show how media narratives typically fail to capture the nuances of these athletes’ lives and advocating, which is what we see in 42, this exploration of how multiple identities overlap to shape athletes’ experiences and activism. The portrayal of Jackie Robinson in 42 elevates baseball beyond just a game, making it an example of society’s concerns. The film shows how sports can reflect and challenge societal norms. Robinson’s entry into the MLB is more than just an athletic achievement; it is also a civil rights victory, illustrating how sports can be utilized to promote social change.
