Chapter One

Exercise 1:

Exercise 2: Padlet Response

Sport is a universal language. This can be true in many instances but there are also reasons as to why this could not true from certain perspectives. Not all societies engage in sport as much as others or don’t engage at all in it and prioritize other activities out of necessity. Also isn’t available to everyone and there can be socioeconomic factors which limit people’s ability to play limiting access and making it less universal for underprivileged groups. There are also physical barriers which can limit people’s ability to play sports such as those with disabilities or who have no interest it can be alienated as claiming that sport is a universal language and your not participating in it it can have negative effects. Sport shouldn’t be viewed as a universal language but one that has the power to reach many as having multiple dialects having it be accessible to some but also foreign and inaccessible to others.

Exercise 3: Notebook Prompt

Another metanarratives about spot is that sport as a political stage because sport even though many claim it has nothing to do with politics and is apolitical, sport is deeply intertwined with politics with athletes activism and social justice movements becoming more prevalant politics in sport is here to stay. What does any of this matter is because sport has become so much a part of a lot of people’s lives and it often goes unquestioned. There must be critical examination of narratives to help us understand better how sport can influence us and touch topics such as gender, race, identity and much more. It can help for us to challenge this ideas and promote greater inclusion in sport and create those meaningful changes.

This picture shows players kneeling during the NBA bubble in which the players were protesting while the national anthem was played to show support for the black lives matter movements happening across the country in wake of a black man being killed unjustly. It shows sports and politics coming together to get a message across and after that they continued with the game.

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 it way in which it can create the values in which we hold. Sport shapes how we see ourselves and others, often subconsciously.

Exercise 4: Padlet Response

Sport and social justice can co-exist as they sport is a stage in which can be used for good and promoting activism. Sport has continued to see a shift from the traditional politics stays away from games and to where there are platforms being created to combat and get the word across to what is happening in the world and the injustices occurring. Athletes have been always been using their platform to reach out and challenge injustices they feel and are able to leverage the power they hold to raise awareness for and begin dialogue amongst people about these issues. Sports can also do a better job of having better representation for marginalized groups in which there is more diversity to how the world looks and to dismantle long-standing barriers for these underserved communities. As sport is a microcosm of society it is inly right that it can reflect the values in which we hold. Sport and social justice can and should be able to co-exist creating a more inclusive sporting world where it’s a space for all and not just the privileged few.

Exercise 6:

Some of the implications of the bodies-at-risk discourse is that there is a neglect of structural factors as it emphasizes individual risk overlooking how social determinants can result in health inequalites and having this very narrow way of looking at it could result in failing to address the causes in which to why there is poor health in marginalized communities. Also by focusing on the individual risk factors I can seem as there is a finger being pointed at the personal failings of people rather than looking at the overall failings occurring in which with systemic inequalities happening. I can result in victims being blamed for stuff they couldn’t control and divert attention from those who should be blamed and punished for the health disparities occurring.

Exercise 7: Notebook Prompt

Feminism is seeking political, social, economic equality for all genders and in the hopes of there being recognition of the inequalities occurring and addressing how woman have been marginalized, being pushed down society made to seem lesser than men. To me it means about choice and choice we have to play our part in dismantling barriers put up that limit people strictly on their gender. It is not only about women’s rights but getting gender out of mind to where it shouldn’t nor never determine one’s ability to opportunites, safety and respect. The “we can do it” is an iconic symbol of feminism as it was used during WW2 to encourage women to join the effort. It represents women’s strength and ability to jump into these predomiantly male roles and serve their country proud. The poster challenges gender roles and showcases women’s capabilities in labour and the industry. 

Exercise 10: Word Cloud