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Section One: The Fundamentals
A) What do we know about sport? What are common assumptions we make about sport and society?
character
social mobility
teamwork and unity
values and social
politics
universal language
individual merit
| Sports can build character and resilience, but in some cases, it can have the opposite effect. In overly competitive or toxic environments, the pressure to win can harm an athlete’s well-being, causing stress, anxiety, or feelings of failure instead of growth. When winning is prioritized above all else, mental health and personal development can be overlooked, which can lead to unhealthy behaviours and development. From personal experience, I have seen many friends go through typical behaviours that were the opposite of character building. I’ve seen them become obsessed with winning and not enjoying the sport. I was surprised to see some of my classmates also note that they have been through the same thing with themselves and how they had a sense of anxiety and pressure always to succeed. Although that’s always the goal, I don’t think anyone should have that much pressure on themselves as it leads to many issues and can worsen anxiety and stress.
The statement ‘sports promotes teamwork and unity” can be untrue for some people, as in some cases, many people are just on the team just to be there, but also not giving it their best shot. This can cause teamwork disruption. Being a team means working all together and putting all strengths together to achieve the goal. When all players are not blending or working together, it affects everyone because it can cause other players to pick up the slack, which can strain everyone and cause burnout for other players and sometimes resentment. |
Exercise 3: Notebook prompt
What are some other metanarratives about sport that you are familiar with? Find an image or video clip or draw something yourself that captures this idea…
So what? Why does any of this matter? Does it matter? As something we grow up with – live with – play through – we don’t often interrogate the meanings of sport, and perhaps we don’t want to.
But being aware of these assumptions and metanarratives is especially important, I would argue, because of the centrality of sport to our everyday lives, the role that sport plays in shaping our childhood and worldviews and….. [finish that thought]
A metanarrative about sports I’m familiar with is Gender Norms in Sports. The assumption that certain sports are “masculine” (e.g., football, hockey) and others are “feminine” (e.g., gymnastics and dance) reinforces stereotypes about gender roles. For example, many male gymnasts, including Stephen Nedoroscik, compete in the Olympics. Many people think gymnastics is a feminine sport, but in reality, it’s just a competitive sport with no gender. I would argue, because of the centrality of sport to our everyday lives, the role that sport plays in shaping our childhood and worldviews.. has an essential influence on how we understand the world because it reflects more significant ideas of identity, accomplishment, and equality. For instance, it’s generally believed that anyone can succeed in sports if they put in the necessary effort. However, factors like inequality, income, and opportunities frequently have a significant impact. Sports also perpetuate gender stereotypes, such as the belief that some sports are exclusively for men or women, which excludes others. We can better understand how sports shape our lives and ensure that sports are more equitable and inclusive for all.
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B) What is social justice?
Exercise 4: Padlet Prompt
Think back to the last section and try to look at some of the ideas we discussed differently. How might sport and social justice actually co-exist?
Record any images, video clips, or gifs you added to the padlet and identify a point of intersection between sport and social justice (can be an issue or a barrier or a debate or something you would like to explore in more depth in this course) . Screenshot or paste in your response below.
Equal Pay in Women’s Sports: The fight for fair pay by female athletes, such as the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team and athletes in the WNBA, highlights gender discrimination in sports.
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C) Social Justice Reading
(note: this activity is optional!)
D) KINESIOLOGY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Exercise 5:
Exercise 6:
What are the implications of bodies-at-risk discourse and the refusal to understand the health gap from a social justice perspective, according to the authors of this article?
| The authors argue that ignoring social justice and viewing certain bodies as “at risk” is harmful. Instead of addressing more significant issues like racism, poverty, and lack of access to healthcare or education, this mindset places the blame for health problems on individuals. It overlooks the unequal structures that contribute to health disparities and reinforces stereotypes. Furthermore, it fosters inequality by emphasizing personal accountability, which makes addressing these issues more challenging. By approaching health from a social justice perspective, we could develop more equitable structures and improved resources for everyone, especially those who face the greatest challenges and barriers.
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Section Two: Sport Feminism
Exercise 7: Notebook Prompt
What is feminism? What does it mean to you? Choose one of the images below and explain how it captures your understanding of feminism (or find one that does speak to you and paste this into your pressbook with an explanation of why it matters to you.
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I chose the ‘We Can Do It!’ photo. This photo represents that feminism is a movement that advocates for gender equality, challenges systemic oppression, and addresses social, political, and economic disparities among men, women, and other individuals. It involves dismantling patriarchal thinking and actions that restrict opportunities, rights, and freedoms based on gender. To me, feminism means empowerment, equity, and the recognition of diverse experiences. It is about ensuring that all individuals, regardless of gender, have the freedom and support to accomplish their dreams without discrimination.
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Exercise 8: Notes Prompt (optional)
NB: Cornell notes is a great resource that teaches effective notetaking. Unfortunately, our system can’t save notes taken in the H5P app, so this is fully optional.
Exercise 9: Crossword Activity
Exercise 10: Padlet Prompt
| Feminism, patriarchy, gender, rights, sexuality, sports, inclusivity, equality, women, men, pay, athlete.
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| I most certainly do think more people care about women’s sports. The image of the women’s basketball eclipsing the men’s ball shows how women’s sports, especially basketball, are gaining more attention and excitement. Athletes like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have brought in huge audiences, broken records, and inspired many fans. While there’s still progress to be made in areas like equal pay and media coverage, the growing support shows that this isn’t just a trend—it’s a real shift in how people view and value women’s sports. I do have to say I’ve been more invested in women’s basketball because of Angel Reese and Caitilin Clark, and the way they have just changed the game for so many people watching.
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