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Section One: The Fundamentals
A) Keywords
Exercise 1:
Provide a brief definition of one of the padlet keywords for this week.
| The Third Age refers to the stage of life that follows retirement and the end of full-time work, typically beginning at the age of 60 or 65. The Third Age is viewed as a period of potential, progress, and fulfillment, in contrast to past views of aging that primarily focused on deterioration. At this stage, people frequently experience improved health, longer life expectancy, and more free time, which enables them to engage in community service, volunteer work, hobbies, travel, and lifelong learning. It is seen as a productive and significant stage of life. |
B) The Social Significance of Aging in Sport
Exercise 2: Notebook Prompt
How is old age popularly represented today? Find an image online that you think exemplifies one defining attitude towards old age and paste in your notebook below with a brief explanation of what this image means to you.
This picture, which shows elderly people having fun in a park, is a perfect example of “active aging.” By portraying seniors as lively, involved, and physically active, it challenges conventional preconceptions about aging. To overcome ageism and promote a more inclusive view of aging, images like these are essential. The image demonstrates how elderly individuals are now more positively portrayed in the media as being more active. Society is encouraged to acknowledge the diverse and unpredictable realities of aging through this evolving narrative. |
Exercise 3: Notebook Prompt
What does the article (referencing another study by Dionigi) mean by its statement that sport can help aging people to simultaneously “accept and resist the ageing process” (572)? Respond by audio or text and paste two images sourced online into your notebook showing how sport might help aging people to both accept and resist the aging process.
| The claim made in Pike’s (2015) paper that sports help older folks in “accepting and resisting the ageing process” relates to the complex and well-rounded ways in which many elderly people use physical activity as a coping mechanism. Accepting the aging process involves recognizing and adapting to typical changes in the body that occur with age, such as weaker muscles or slower movement. A realistic and considerate approach to aging is demonstrated by the large number of older adults who opt for less demanding or lower-impact sports that align with their existing capabilities. However, resisting aging involves fighting back against negative perceptions of elderly people as being helpless, indifferent, or unable to cope. Elderly people demonstrate that they can remain strong, active, and completely involved in life by continuing to be physically active, participating in sports, or challenging themselves. They are able to preserve their independence, identity, and feeling of purpose because of this resistance. Exercise becomes a means of enjoying the body’s remaining capabilities while also acknowledging its limitations. Sport helps elderly people feel empowered and maintain a connection to their bodies and society by maintaining this balance between acceptance and challenge. |
Exercise 4: Notebook Prompt
Who are the groups less likely to have extensive opportunities to take part in sports, according to Pike? How does privilege factor into aging and sport? (200 words max)
| Pike (2015) argues that women, people with disabilities, people who belong to ethnic minorities, and those from socioeconomic disadvantage are among the categories that are less likely to have many chances to engage in sports. These groups frequently encounter obstacles, including restricted access to resources, financial limitations, or time restraints resulting from caregiving or employment obligations. Because people with more resources—such as money, education, and social support—have easier access to sports programs and environments that promote active aging, privilege plays a significant role in both aging and sport. They have more time to participate in regular activities and are more likely to be able to buy equipment and memberships. On the other hand, marginalized groups could experience exclusion or distress. Sport can promote healthy aging, as Pike emphasizes, but not everyone can benefit equally from it due to unequal access.
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Exercise 5: Padlet Discussion
Why do you think age discrimination is “reported more than any form of prejudice” with older people presented as a threat to social values and interests? Feel welcome to use video in your responses. Paste your comments (or transcript of your video) below!
| Because age discrimination is common and frequently accepted as usual, it is reported more frequently than other forms. Jokes regarding memory loss or the idea that older people are “too old” to learn or work may be ageist, even if the person making the joke is unaware of its ageist implications. Sometimes, elderly people are portrayed in the media as being frail, dated, or using excessive amounts of healthcare or pension funds. As a result, younger people may perceive them as a burden or an issue. As such, older people may be perceived by society as wasting resources intended for future generations or as holding back development. These biased beliefs make it more challenging to recognize the knowledge and worth that come with growing older, and they cause a divide between younger and older people.
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B) Older Women and Sport
Exercise 6: Notebook Prompt
What differences do you see in these ads? Which one is more inclusive? How is age represented or not represented in each? Answer these questions in your notebook.
| Nike’s “You Can’t Stop Us” and This Girl Can’s “Me Again” advertisements both support diversity, but they do so in different ways. A dramatic split-screen montage is used in Nike’s advertisement to showcase athletes of diverse genders, races, and skill levels competing in various sports. The visual aesthetic highlights solidarity and community power, particularly in the face of worldwide issues like the pandemic. Although age is mentioned in passing, it is not the primary focus. By demonstrating how athletics connects people from all areas of life, the advertisement is meant to inspire. This Girl Can’s “Me Again,” on the other hand, focuses especially on regular women getting back into the habit of exercising. It is notable for showing age, physical diversity, and daily life in a more straightforward manner. The commercial breaks down common hurdles that prevent women from exercising, such as fear of being judged or feeling out of place, and emphasizes the importance of exercising for older women. Sports are for everyone, regardless of age, shape, or level of fitness, according to the upbeat and empowering tone. All things considered, This Girl Can is more inclusive in terms of age representation and everyday relatability, making it especially effective for older audiences, even though Nike’s advertisement is more inclusive and visually appealing. |
Exercise 7: Notebook Prompt
In her article, “Assessing the sociology of sport: On age and ability,” Elizabeth Pike references a “trend towards a ‘feminisation of ageing’, with many women living longer than men” (573). Do you agree that aging has been “feminized” in this way? How? Answer these questions in your notebook.
| Yes, I agree that, as Elizabeth Pike explains, aging has been “feminized” in specific ways. Women typically make up the majority of older populations because they typically live longer than men. This has influenced the way society perceives aging, frequently associating it with femininity and the difficulties that women encounter as they age. For instance, while elderly males are either less visible or are shown as intelligent and active, older women are more likely to be represented in the media as caregivers, widows, or in need of assistance. Additionally, women are under more pressure to seem younger than men, and aging is frequently viewed negatively by women than by men. The way that aging is perceived, experienced, and portrayed is impacted by this “feminization of ageing,” which frequently reinforces stereotypes rather than challenges them.
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Section Three: Module Mini Assignment
“The Great Peterborough Pickleball Debacle” Case Study
Using the Pike article in Section One as a reference, analyze popular depictions/discussions/critiques of pickleball as a “sport trend” that has proved enormously appealing to older segments of the population.
1) Describe the problem as you understand it. Read this article for background and source two other media /social media pieces.
2) Leaving aside the clear issues with process and priorities, consider how the older pickleball athletes/advocates are represented in the media/social media discussions of the issue. Is ageism a factor in these representations? Where do you see a neoliberal agenda around aging at work in these stories (provide examples and refer back to the Pike article for guidance). Include any images you think may be relevant? (300 words)
Worth: 5%
Due: April 15th along with module work
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1) Describe the problem as you understand it. Read this article for background and source two other media /social media pieces.
The City of Peterborough aims to transform Bonnerworth Park into a space featuring 16 pickleball courts, a bike path, and additional parking. This would mean removing baseball and tennis areas. Many people are upset because they weren’t asked adequately for their opinions. They worry about noise, losing green space, and the city focusing on one group over others. This has evolved into a larger debate about who has the right to use public parks and how decisions are made.
2) Leaving aside the clear issues with process and priorities, consider how the older pickleball athletes/advocates are represented in the media/social media discussions of the issue. Is ageism a factor in these representations? Where do you see a neoliberal agenda around aging at work in these stories (provide examples and refer back to the Pike article for guidance). Include any images you think may be relevant? (300 words)
Older pickleball players are often portrayed in a positive light on social media and traditional media platforms as socially active, healthy, and engaged. This supports Pike’s (2015) analysis of the growing connection between aging and personal commitment and activity. Although they can also support a limited definition of “successful aging” based on neoliberal concepts, these representations challenge the perception of aging as a process of deterioration. This includes the notion that, to avoid being perceived as a burden, elderly people should continue to be active and productive. Although it isn’t clearly shown in most of these portrayals, ageism is nonetheless evident in subtle ways, especially in the presumptions that older individuals are all the same and that they want (or can afford) to play trendy sports like pickleball. Furthermore, voices that oppose the redevelopment—such as those of young or differently-abled residents—are occasionally portrayed as “anti-senior,” which reduces the range of viewpoints among age groups. Pickleball’s positioning as a tourism attraction and a means of promoting healthy aging, rather than as an integral part of a more comprehensive, inclusive public space concept, is indicative of the neoliberal agenda.
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