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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.
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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.
| My results implicit bias gravitates toward able-bodied people my unconscious mind as I am embarrassed to state that my results indicated that I had a strong automatic preference for abled people compared to disabled people. Although I do not believe this is fully accurate as I do have a best friend who is legally blind and I have personally been exposed to her challenges and do not treat her any differently then if she had 100% of her eyesight. Although she does not make it obvious that she is visually impaired she does use a walking stick to help guide her at night and despite this I have always viewed her as abled and has never let her disability define her. |
B) Keywords
Exercise 3:
Add the keyword you contributed to padlet and briefly (50 words max) explain its importance to you.
| Ableism:
This term is important to me because it looks at how people with a disability is viewed as less than and I believe no one should ever feel that way as a disability should never define you as I believe everyone is capable of greatness. It looks at those who are able-bodied as more worthy than those who have a disability and someone with a disability should never feel as if they are not capable of something. Because with or without a disability someone is still able to be successful and follow their dream.
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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?
They identity how stereotypes can be one of the main factors that cause exclusion as their disability does not make them qualify and or capable of participating in sport. This puts them at a disadvantage as it is mentioned how a lot of these athletes are limited to the proper resources made available to them which perpetuates existing barriers within these individuals not by choice but by the failure of programs provided. With the integration of personalized programs this can allow for barriers to be dismantled and opening the opportunity for inclusion in sport. For example making areas easier for those in wheelchairs to have adequate accessibility to courts and fields and or people to assist those who may need extra help just as simple as opening the door for someone in a wheelchair or someone who is visually impaired.
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?
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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).
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
| D) Murderball does both of these things as it reinforces ableist norms of masculinity as is it because although they are in wheelchairs they act tough and aggressive which display ableist masculinity behaviours. It conveys that although these players are disabled and are in wheelchairs it does not hinder their ability to fight back, show their strength and their ability to be a tough player. Oftentimes we see how being disabled can be perceived as being weak or unable to show toughness, this is a prime example of how being limited to certain abilities such as running, walking or jumping does not hinder sometimes ability to still perform at an athlete level. It is evident that you can still show both traits and throughout the film it was even evident that these players were stronger as they were coming at direct impact during games with one another, against metal chairs but they were almost ready for impact. Just as athletes train in the gym they did not hide their ability to train but showed their perseverance in the sport as they never backed down and always tried harder to do and be better.
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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 do agree with the critique of the “supercrip” narrative because it views those with a disability as this supernatural being that sometimes it can also be a negative thing because then in order for those with disabilities like in the film believed they had something to prove, they had to prove themselves and beat the odds in order to be looked at as capable. Those with a disability sometimes have to work harder to perform at a high level and within the film it emphasizes how much effort is put in to get positive results.
If we look at disabled athletes like Ashley Dyce, she is a powerlifter she has proved herself and pushed the odds and had become a successful athlete. She had never let her disability of Spina Bifida which makes it difficult for her to lift heavy weights stop her from pushing the limits as she had continued to prove herself that she is able to play a sport that might not be seen as a sport she’d be able to compete in. With this Ashley can be seen as someone who proved it to both herself and society that she can and is capable of achieving goals that may seem impossible to achieve.
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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)
| I think in certain aspects does fit into the narrative but it mainly challenges the supercrip narrative as well as these athletes are seen as achieving things that seem impossible to outsiders as they can be seen as unable with such disabilities. They push against the ideas that because they are in a wheelchair, they can’t perform the way they normally would if they weren’t confined to their seat. It is seen throughout the film to their determination to persevere and to give it their absolute all, they show their strength and fight during the game and one thing that stood out to me the most was when the players were fully bodychecking against the others players, I assumed right away they were going to get injured but nothing stopped them from pushing forward and doing what they had to do to win the game. I also noticed throughout the film which is why I think it challenges the supercrip narrative is the players are seen as just players and are not defined by their disability this is seen through their relationships with another and how they interact. I also observed throughout the film the players confidence within themselves on and off the court. They displayed many similar personalities, and attributes as players who are not declared physically disabled and come across as just regular kids who have a passion and love for the sport. They converse in “guy talk” and just act like as regular players would. They do not come across as guys who want sympathy or pity for having a disability they just want to be seen as a hard-working player and nothing else. If they receive pity, it automatically makes them seen as less then and would devalue the sport it itself. It is evident throughout the film how these players just want to be seen as players and not seen being confined to their chairs which challenges this supercrip narrative because they are not seen as doing something out of the ordinary but push even harder than those who are abled.
We see throughout the film many signs of masculinity and this is displayed throughout their actions of toughness, fight and aggression throughout the film and how they show these attributes in the sport. Gender is seen throughout the film as all the players are male and convey a very masculine demeanour as showing immense aggression which many would think because they are disabled, they’d be unable to show such behaviours. Throughout the film they are seen as real men as the signs of masculinity are evident such as how they work out, train and act off the court. We also see how some players lack the confidence that the other players have but the sport has helped to build their masculinity and to give them the confidence they deserve. Someone we see how being confined to a chair can get to one’s head but it is the perseverance that helps push through any signs of hesitation within themselves. The sport has always helped to create a positive narrative that if they show they are strong men no one can push them around, it is the confidence they have built throughout the sport that has allowed them to prove others wrong, that although they have a disability that they can still be seen as “real men” playing a “real man sport”, if anything we see how they push even harder to break those misconceptions. After reflecting on this idea, I think it is very inspirational coming from an outside perspective as it is easy to feel pity and sympathize with these boys who you think struggle to play the game but in reality they play at very intense levels without any hesitation. Although we see how masculinity is dominant in this sport it can create a narrative of in order to be good at the game you have to show masculine attributes.
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