5 Chapter Five: Accessing Sport
Section one: The fundamentals
A)
Exercise 1: Notebook Prompt
Many of you are likely familiar with the concept of “ability inequity,” which the authors of this article define as “an unjust or unfair (a) ‘distribution of access to and protection from abilities generated through human interventions’ or (b) ‘judgment of abilities intrinsic to biological structures such as the human body’.”
However, they go on to identify the following “ability concepts” that are less familiar:
1) ability security (one is able to live a decent life with whatever set of abilities one has)
2) ability identity security (to be able to be at ease with ones abilities)
How prevalent are these forms of security among disabled people you know? Or, if you identify as a disabled person, would you say your social surroundings and community foster and support these kinds of security? Furthermore, while the focus of the article is on Kinesiology programs, it is also important to reflect on how academia in general accommodates for disability. If you feel comfortable answering this question, what has been your experience of postsecondary education to date?
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The authors also observe that “Ableism not only intersects with other forms of oppression, such as racism, sexism, ageism, and classism, but abilities are often used to justify such negative ‘isms’.”
What do you think this means? Provide an example.
| Arora and Wolbring (2022) argue that ableism discrimination against disabled individuals is not an isolated phenomenon. Instead, the way society defines, and value’s “ability” is often used to justify additional biases like racism, sexism, ageism, and classism. In other words, the notion of being “able” can serve as a yardstick to exclude or devalue people on multiple fronts. For example, imagine a disabled employee who is also part of a racial minority in a corporate setting. Even if the company meets legal standards for accessibility, the employee might still be routinely overlooked for promotions. Decision-makers could claim that the employee’s disability implies a lack of sufficient ability to handle higher responsibilities. At the same time, racial stereotypes might further taint perceptions of the employee’s competence. In this way, the concept of “ability” is used as a double-edged sword to justify both ableist and racist biases, effectively reinforcing systemic inequality (Arora & Wolbring, 2022).
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Exercise 2: Implicit Bias Test
Did anything surprise you about the results of the test? Please share if you’re comfortable OR comment on the usefulness of these kinds of tests more generally.
| I was surprised that my results showed a preference for abled people over disabled people because I didn’t think I had that bias. It made me reflect on how societal norms and messages might have shaped my subconscious thoughts without me even realizing it. In general, I think these kinds of tests can be useful for bringing hidden biases to light, but they don’t necessarily define a person’s values or actions. Just because someone has an implicit bias doesn’t mean they act on it consciously. However, knowing about these biases can help me be more aware and work toward being more inclusive in my daily lives.
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B) Keywords
Exercise 3:
Add the keyword you contributed to padlet and briefly (50 words max) explain its importance to you.
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B) On Disability
Exercise 4: Complete the Activities
Exercise 5: Notebook Prompt
What do Fitzgerald and Long identify as barriers to inclusion and how might these apply to sport in particular?
Fitzgerald and Long (2017) identify key barriers to inclusion in sport, including attitudinal barriers, where stereotypes and misconceptions lead to exclusion, impairment-specific needs, which require specialized support, and structural limitations, such as inaccessible facilities. They suggest that a mix of integration, reverse integration, and specialized programs can create more inclusive opportunities for disabled individuals in sport.
C) Inclusion, Integration, Separation
Exercise 6: Complete the Activities
Exercise 7: Notebook Prompt
Choose ONE of the three questions Fitzgerald and Long argue disability sport needs to address and record your thoughts in your Notebook.
- Should sport be grouped by ability or disability?
- Is sport for participation or competition?
- Should sport competitions be integrated?
| Should sport competitions be integrated?
Fitzgerald and Long (2017) discuss the complexities of integrating sport competitions, highlighting both the potential benefits and challenges. While integration can promote inclusivity and challenge societal perceptions of disability, it may also create unfair competition if differences in ability levels are not properly accounted for. Structural inequalities, such as access to resources, training, and support, can further disadvantage disabled athletes in integrated settings. To address this, they suggest a flexible approach, where integration is encouraged but accommodations are made to ensure fair competition. This could mean modifying rules, providing adaptive equipment, or maintaining some separate classifications to uphold both inclusivity and fairness.
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Part Two: Making Connections
A) Gender, Sport and Disability
Exercise 8: Complete the Activity
The paradox that sportswomen habitually face (as the authors observe, this isn’t confined to disabled sportswomen) involves the expectation they will be successful in a ‘masculine’ environment while complying with femininity norms in order to be recognized as a woman.
True or false?
Take a moment to reflect on this paradox below (optional).
| True
Richard, Joncheray, and Duquesne article argues that sports shape and reinforce gendered and ableist norms, but disability is often ignored in intersectional research. Disabled women in sports face unique struggles they’re often desexualized, deprived of opportunities, and caught between ableism and traditional gender expectations. Since sports are still seen as a male-dominated space, female athletes (disabled or not) are expected to succeed in a “masculine” environment while still fitting into society’s ideas of femininity. |
B) Masculinity, Disability, and Murderball
Exercise 9: Notebook/Padlet Prompt
Watch the film, Murderball and respond to the question in the padlet below (you will have an opportunity to return to the film at the end of this module).
The authors of “Cripping Sport and Physical Activity: An Intersectional Approach to Gender and Disability” observe that the “gendered performance of the wheelchair rugby players can…be interpreted as a form of resistance to marginalized masculinity” (332) but also point out that it may reinforce “ableist norms of masculinity.” After viewing the film, which argument do you agree with?
a) Murderball celebrates a kind of resistance to marginalized masculinity
| My answer is (d) Murderball does both.
On one hand, the documentary shows how wheelchair rugby players push back against the stereotype that disability equals weakness. They use intense, aggressive play and camaraderie to claim their space in a sport that’s typically dominated by able-bodied ideals. This performance can be seen as a powerful form of resistance demonstrating that masculinity isn’t diminished by disability, but can be expressed in diverse, dynamic ways. At the same time, the documentary doesn’t completely break away from traditional, even ableist, ideas of what it means to be masculine. By emphasizing physical toughness, aggression, and a competitive spirit, Murderball sometimes reinforces the notion that being a “real man” means showing hyper-masculine traits, even for disabled athletes. This creates a double dilemma: while these athletes are challenging certain stereotypes, they’re also caught up in norms that value strength and dominance above all else. In short, Murderball both celebrates a resistance to marginalized masculinity and, in some ways, reinforces ableist norms.
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Section Three: Taking a Shot
A) Resistance
B) Calling out Supercrip
Exercise 10: Mini Assignment (worth 5% in addition to the module grade)
1) Do you agree with the critique of the “supercrip” narrative in this video? Why or why not? Find an example of the “supercrip” Paralympian in the 2024 Paris Paralympics or Special Olympics coverage and explain how it works.
| I agree with the critique of the “supercrip” narrative as presented in the video and related discussions. While the upbeat energy of the trailer full of chants like “Yes, I can” indeed inspires and celebrates the strength of Paralympians, it also oversimplifies the disabled experience. The supercrip narrative suggests that every achievement is miraculous simply because someone is disabled. This framing can be problematic because it reduces a person’s identity to their ability to “overcome” disability. Instead of acknowledging the full spectrum of their lived experience including the everyday struggles, systemic barriers, and the need for support it places an enormous expectation on individuals to perform at superhuman levels.
For example, in the 2024 Paris Paralympics coverage, consider the portrayal of wheelchair racer Marcel Hug. The media often describes him in hyperbolic terms as a “machine” or someone who “defies gravity.” While there is no doubt that Hug is exceptionally talented and determined, such language can create an unrealistic standard. It implies that being disabled means one must always excel in extraordinary ways to be considered admirable. This not only reinforces ableist norms by suggesting that only those who achieve exceptional feats are worthy of admiration, but it also risks marginalizing those whose stories are more nuanced and less “spectacular.” In essence, while celebrating individual achievement is important, the supercrip narrative can obscure broader issues such as accessibility, inclusion, and the everyday challenges faced by many with disabilities. It’s crucial to balance inspiration with a realistic understanding of the systemic supports and barriers that shape the lives of disabled individuals.
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2) Does the film Murderball play into the supercrip narrative in your opinion? How does gender inform supercrip (read this blog for some ideas)?
(300 words for each response)
| In my view, Murderball both challenges and reinforces the supercrip narrative, especially when considering gender. The film is a raw, unfiltered look at the lives of wheelchair rugby players. On one hand, it powerfully documents their determination, aggression, and resilience. These athletes refuse to be defined solely by their disabilities; instead, they reclaim their masculinity by engaging in a sport that is physically intense and competitive. This defiant display challenges the stereotype that disability equals weakness. Their performances serve as a form of resistance demonstrating that having a disability does not diminish one’s capacity for strength, competitiveness, or camaraderie.
However, the film also reinforces traditional ableist norms of masculinity. Murderball is steeped in hyper-masculine imagery, where success is measured by physical toughness, aggression, and an almost stoic demeanor. This narrow focus on rugged, physical strength aligns closely with conventional ideals of male athleticism. It creates a double bind: on one side, the athletes are celebrated for defying expectations and displaying remarkable physical ability; on the other, the emphasis on hyper-masculine traits suggests that to be successful, a disabled man must mirror able-bodied standards of strength and dominance. Gender plays a critical role in this narrative. The film’s focus on rugged, aggressive performances marginalizes alternative expressions of masculinity, such as vulnerability, empathy, or cooperative strength. In doing so, it limits the understanding of what it means to be strong or successful, confining the narrative to one that is very much in line with traditional, ableist ideals. Thus, while Murderball opens a door for disabled athletes to be seen as formidable competitors, it also perpetuates a narrow, gendered definition of the supercrip ideal.
Extra Credit Option: Answer the questions above and write an additional 300 words in response to the following question:
3) How does the film model resistance to both disability and gender norms, and in what ways do the athletes redefine or subvert societal expectations of strength, independence, and masculinity?
The film Murderball challenges both disability and gender norms by showcasing wheelchair rugby athletes who defy traditional perceptions of disability as weakness or dependence. Rather than portraying the athletes as passive or in need of pity, the film highlights their aggression, competitiveness, and physical strength, reinforcing their identities as elite athletes rather than as “inspirational” figures. This subverts the supercrip narrative, which often frames disabled individuals as overcoming their impairments in ways that reinforce ableist ideas. Instead, the athletes in Murderball reject pity and demand to be seen as equals, redefining strength through their physicality, resilience, and camaraderie. Additionally, the film resists traditional gender norms by challenging narrow definitions of masculinity. The athletes demonstrate toughness, confidence, and independence, traits often associated with able-bodied men, but they do so in ways that reject societal expectations of the “ideal” male body. By embracing their identities as athletes with disabilities, they redefine masculinity to include adaptability, determination, and community. In this way, Murderball resists both disability stigma and restrictive gender norms, offering a more nuanced representation of strength and identity. |
