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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.
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The third age according to elizabeth pike is the part of life where they are post retirement but they are still generally lving a healthy, mobile, independent self fufilling life. This period of time is associated with times of personal growth and reflection, and even potentially the engagemnt of different activities like volunteering, sport, travel etc. This view is typically aimed towards those who are middle class, able bodied and have a productive image of later life.
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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.
I feel this image represents how age should be represented today. This image challenges societal stereotypes and norms, surrounding the idea that elderly people are often not as active, unhappy, potentially prejudice, and are incapable of being active due to age and health decline. This image shows a diverse group of individuals who seems to have just completed an activity or sport. They are showing signs of happiness, unison and completion as they all stand together with their thumbs up.
This is an image of an elderly individual who seems to be being aided in walking by what looks like a nurse. I believe this represents what we typically would expect of an elderly individual, the stereotypical idea is that the elderly are in seniors homes, in declining health and often are lonely or unhappy. I don’t believe this is how the elderly should be represented because they are still capable human beings and still have the ability to live a fulfilling life in old age. |
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 find paste two images sourced online into your notebook showing how sport might help aging people to both accept and resist the aging process.
I believe that this statement is referring to the fact that sports can help aging individuals accept aging because as they age and continue to be active it can instill confidence by proving to themselves that they are still capable of doing sports and active activities. it also can give a sense of support, unity, community and self fulfillment. As we age, it often can feel like a lonely process, and watching your body change can be frightening, so joining a sport can aid in those feelings as you will be surrounding by others who may be experiencing the same feelings. This can aid in accepting aging through support and self fulfillment. Sports can also help to resist aging because it can be empowering to watch your body do incredible things even as we age. It can not only instill confidence but make you feel stronger physically and mentally. This is an image of an individual who is resisting age they are actively training and bettering themselves. this is an image of what I beleive is someone who is accepting age. |
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)
| According to pike those who are less likely to have opportunities would be women, those who have disabilities, those who are from come from lower income backgrounds, and ethnic minorities.
It is often that these groups will have less access to facilities, have financial constraints and a lack of inclusive programming all of which stems from systemic barriers. Playing sports is typically associated with privilege’s such as those who have access to better healthcare, social support and better financial resources, as as these individuals age who have better access to these things are more likely to remain in sports. On the other hand those who may not have access to these resources may be subject to faster age decline, limited mobility, social isolation and restrictions in their ability to participate in tasks.
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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!
| I think the reason why age discrimination is more reported than any other from of prejudice because aging is a greater societal fear, its something we cannot control that all individuals will experience. In society often older individuals will be associated with burden and youth are idealized, we often see this with jobs and who gets hired. As people age they are often viewed as outdated or as a economic burden.
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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.
| I believe the first one is more inclusive, the ad by Nike, they represented all bodies and all religions and races. I believe this is so important because all women and individuals all come in different sizes, background and different communal groups. I don’t believe that the second ad did a sufficient job at portraying women in in sports, I felt the add sexualized women a lot, the beginning of the add was of a women’s chest and bum. I don’t believe that either ad did a sufficient job at representing the elderly in sports, or people that are aging. There was no sign of an older individual, which does not represent the aging group well in sports. I feel like there could have been a small clip of an elderly person in the gym, going for a walk, playing some kind of sport or engaging in an active activity. The ads align with stereotypes and societal constructs that elderly people are not actives or incapable.
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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.
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I would say i agree that aging is definitely feminized in some ways, particularly that women live longer than men and when you hear of an aging process we often think of aging through the lens of a woman because of this narrative. I believe there is also an emphasis on the fact that older women should age more gracefully, maintain their appearance and stay fit This represents how there are different expectations for different genders and the pressure that is put on older women and how they should conform to more youthful ideologies. You dont typically see the same pressures for men as they age making this a more gendered experience.
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Section Three: Module Mini Assignment
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The controversy surrounding the redevelopment of Bonnerworth park for 16 pickleball courts reveals the true social tension in peterborough about aging, public space and municipal priorities. Often we will praise or applaud older/aging adults for being active and enganging in physcial activity, but there is blacklash against the proposed 16 pickleball courts and paving a part of the park for parking. when reading the article by elaine and upon research and seeing other social media posts, it seems that the public is frustrated and believes that there is some procevied entitlement. In articles like Elaines, the Narwhal describes the potential concerns surrounding the project such as concerns over the amount of noise from the development, environmental impacts, and a lack of communication with the surrounding community. Although the community may be frustrated, mayer Jeff supportrs the development and beleives that it will bring the people together and promote wellbeing. When reading platforms like Reddit, and other opinion pieces like Trent Arthur, speak apon the aging community in a negative manner stating that they are retired boomers, dominating recreational planning. In Elizabeth pikes article she discusses ageism, in particular feminisation of aging, where aging women are expected to age more gracefully and maintain a youthful figure and apperance. In addition, when older individuals are taking care of their health independently through sport they are praised but when there is any kind of communal cost involved they are no longer praised. these veiws align with neoliberal aging aendas. Overall while sports are important and support social engagment and health, older individuls are judged through narrow lens. Aging is often only accepted when its a quiet process and done independently, but upon it becoming publically visibile it is controverisal. Anselmi, E. (2024, April 8). Is a park still a park if it’s paved? The Narwhal. https://thenarwhal.ca/opinion-peterborough-pickleball-paves-park/ Pike, E. (2011). Assessing the sociology of sport: On age and ability. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 46(4), 491–496. There goes Bonnerworth: My pickleball nightmare. (2024, April 4). Trent Arthur. https://www.trentarthur.ca/news/there-goes-bonnerworth–my-pickleball-nightmare Reddit. (2024, March). Peterborough pickleball courts are wrecking the park—who even asked for this? r/ontario. https://www.reddit.com/r/ontario/ |
