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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.
| I decided to define the term Third Age because I had never really heard of this concept before reading Pike’s article for this module. At first, I did not realize the aging process could be divided into two distinct parts, but after analyzing Pike’s breakdown it became clear and made a lot more sense. This concept helped me understand aging in a more nuanced and structured way and I was especially drawn to this concept because Pike notes at the beginning of the article that there is a growing number of third age societies today (Pike, 2015). This statement made me realize that the concept has broad relevance and is worth exploring in further detail. So, according to Pike , the third age refers to one of two main stages in the aging process. This stage typically begins during the retirement stage of life which oftentimes occurs anytime after someone’s late fifties. Due to several factors a large population of people are now living past the age of 70 and this stage is in fact called the third age. In this phase of life individuals often withdraw from full-time paid employment but actually continue to lead active, engaged, and healthy lifestyles. It is seen as a time of opportunity, self-discovery, and personal growth because people have the freedom of not having to attend work everyday. I found this perspective on aging to be very eye-opening because it challenges the stereotype that aging is only about loss and decline and instead highlights how retirement can be a fulfilling and enjoyable chapter in one’s life. Defining the third age helped me appreciate the diversity of experiences within the aging process and helped me understand why it is becoming such an important topic in both research and society.
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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.
https://www.istockphoto.com/illustrations/frail-elderly-man The image I chose is just a cartoon photo of an older man with a walker with a woman beside him, giving him assistance. This photo portrays one very popular and prominent representation of old age. This representation is the idea that older people are frail, a burden, and in need of assistance. These stereotypes can lead society to believe that all older people are frail, can’t walk on their own, and in need of assistance. This idea can reinforce the popular shared opinion that older people are a burden to society. This image and the messages it portrays definitely contributes to ageist attitudes because it overlooks the diversity and capability of the older population. It is important to mention however that these negative depictions of older adults are changing to more positive ones but it is happening at a very slow rate. I think it is important for society to speed up this process so that older people can live an equal fulfilling life.
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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.
| From my prior knowledge about older adults in sport, I feel like this statement means that sport allows older individuals to both adapt and challenge the way they age.
Older people can use sport as a way to accept aging by learning to understand and respond to their changing bodies. This may involve modifying how they stay active to best suit their bodies needs, this may include changing the types of sports they play, or changing the amount of exercise they do weekly. These simple changes show how older people are accepting their naturally aging bodies.
https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise/activeolderadults/ This is an image of older adults participating in a modified form of yoga known as chair yoga. This image represents how sport can help older individuals accept the aging process. It highlights the way people are adapting physical activity to suit their changing bodies, while still staying active and focussing on their health. Rather than giving up on physical activity altogether, these individuals are engaging in exercises that are appropriate for their physical needs which shows that aging doesn’t mean stopping exercise it just means adapting exercise. Older people can also use sport to resist the aging process. This can happen when older adults choose to continue to participate in sport that are typically suited for younger more agile individuals. On the other hand, sport can also be a way for older adults to resist the aging process. By continuing to participate in sports that are typically seen as activities for younger people. Participating in such sports help older people resist the aging process because they challenge dominant narratives, stereotypes, and stigmas that suggest that aging means someone is frail or unable to participate in athletics anymore. https://www.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1301639
I chose this image of the over-80 men’s USA hockey team, who still compete at a high competitive level. I selected this image because it powerfully demonstrates how older adults can use sport to resist the aging process. These men are actively participating in a sport that is typically seen as fast-paced, intense, and dominated by athletes almost always under 40 years old. By continuing to play hockey well into their 80s, these men are challenging common stereotypes and social stigmas that portray older people as frail, weak, or incapable of engaging in tough physical activity. This image sends a strong message by explaining that aging does not automatically mean athletic decline and it proves how older adults can continue to lead athletic and fulfilling lives. |
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)
| It has become crystal clear that there are several groups within society that are less likely to have extensive opportunities to take part in sport throughout their life course and this is unfortunate to witness. The groups that Pike mentions specifically however are almost always groups that are not white, rich, or able-bodied. Pike explains that people with disabilities, the very frail, some minority ethnic groups, those confined to care facilities, and those living in rural areas are all people who are less likely to have opportunities to partake in sports of any kind. She also backs this up by explaining that most sports research is on white middle-class people often leaving out any type of marginalized population (Pike, 2015).
I think learning about these certain groups being discriminated against made me truly open my eyes to the reality of privilege. It has become evident that privilege plays a huge role in who gets to access or participate in sports, especially in later life when other barriers arise like income instability, mobility issues, and access to inclusive programming. Those with privilege often have the resources and money to remain active, whereas marginalized populations often face systemic obstacles that limit their abilities to participate in sport.
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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 that age discrimination is reported more than any other form of prejudice because it has been normalized by dominant society. Ageism often stems from the idea that older people are taking more than they can give from society and I think this causes prejudice between older and younger generations making this type of prejudice widely common and accepted. Unlike socially unacceptable forms of prejudice such as racism, sexism, homophobia and more, ageism towards older adults is often accepted because society does not yet realize how harmful it truly is. Ageism is often hidden in the form of policies, plans, and humor which often makes it hard to see, therefore hard to fight back against. When I think of these subtle policies, plans, and humorous statements I am thinking of things such as an employer refusing to hire someone over a certain age or a person explaining that an older person is “too old to understand how to do a job”. Personally, I’ve seen these types of ageism play out in several different situations both on social media and in my day to day life. My grandparents for example, are incredibly sharp and still very active people even though they are well into their 80’s, but they have been treated like they don’t have anything valuable to contribute to society. Recently when I was at a grocery store with my Nanny she was signing up for a new rewards card and the cashier told her that she wouldn’t be able to sign up because she probably wouldn’t be able to figure out the app on her phone. This frustrated me to a new extent as I know she is very capable of completing that task, but this proved to me that ageism is actually a very common type of prejudice. Overall, these reasons are why ageism is reported more than any type of prejudice. I think that aging should be seen as a phase of life where different kinds of contributions should be valued and not frowned upon.
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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.
| After watching these two ads I discovered that they are both very good ads promoting inclusivity and sport but they have some very key differences. The Nike you can’t stop us (2020) add is very professional and shows a range of different athletes competing in sports. It presents both women and men and does a good job at describing unity in the sports world. This ad includes all different types of athletes including ones that are disabled, part of the LGBTQ2S+ community, from different religious groups, and from different races. This ad is very inclusive in that way however, this ad does not represent aging very well. It focuses on younger professional level athletes which reinforces the false narrative that only young people can be successful in sports.
In comparison the This Girl Can: Me Again ad is more relatable and inclusive. It focuses on womanhood and the realities of it, and it presents women of different ages, body types, abilities, and backgrounds engaging in physical activity in a variety of ways. To me this ad felt a lot more inclusive because I resonated with it a little more than the Nike ad. This ad made me feel included and made me feel like I am also capable of participating in any physical activity that I want to. This ad doesn’t make me feel like I need to be a professional athlete like the Nike ad did. I really like how this ad celebrated older women and mothers participating in sport. It showed that they are still capable and challenged any negative stereotypes about older women in sport.
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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.
| I really liked hearing this statement in Pike’s article because as a woman I have always dreamt to hear that things are becoming feminized but I think that the feminization of aging is both a positive and negative thing.
So yes I do think that aging has been feminized in the way that Pike explains in her article. When I think about older people I realize that most older people I know are women like grandmothers, great aunts, cousins etc… and when I think about them I come to realize that a lot of their husbands are no longer around or have passed away several years ago. These women in my life have taken on caregiver roles as they have gotten older because nobody else is around to help out. I find that these women in my life are often the one’s taking care of family members, organizing events, and constantly cleaning up. This shows proof that aging has become a feminized thing. I also noticed that society seems to put a lot of pressure on aging women. They often force anti-aging remedies on them and put them under constant pressure to look younger than their true age. These expectations are unfair but truly do show how aging has become feminized because aging men in society are almost never mentioned when it comes to these topics. I really think that the feminization of aging could be a good thing if society supported it in the correct ways but as of right now societal expectations are only discriminating against and harming older women.
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Section Three: Module Mini Assignment
| The relatively new sport of pickleball has definitely exploded in popularity within the last couple years and it has caused uproar within the City of Peterborough Ontario. There have been several problems spoken about in popular media sources that allude to the unwantedness of pickleball courts to take over Bonnerworth park in Peterborough’s west end. There have also been several articles explaining the unwantedness of these courts across North America. The cost of these pickleball courts in Peterborough is going to be over 4.4 million dollars which is a huge issue in itself but there are several other issues highlighted by several new articles. It is stated in articles by The Narwhal, The Arthur, and New York times that many residents who live in the vicinity of pickleball courts are are upset about noise and light pollution, possible flooding and heat from the concrete, and the loss of green space used by walkers, kite flyers, kids, and other casual users for leisure (Anselmi, 2024; Cullingham, 2025). It is stated that People are especially upset that the area will no longer be open for everyone, like the “neighbourhood kids who currently have free rein of the grassy expanse” (Anselmi, 2024). People feel that these courts are taking away something good and replacing it with something inconsiderate and useless.
It is evident that ageism plays a significant role in the discourse surrounding pickleball courts in Peterborough. Older pickleball players are often criticized for disrupting public spaces, and there is often a failure in the media to consider the positive impacts of pickleball for this population. In many media discussions, older pickleball players are seen as a disturbance rather than individuals benefiting from staying active (Anselmi, 2024; Keh, 2024). This is very ageist because instead of acknowledging the benefits of the sport for older adults, people view players as a problem and instead focus only on the needs of younger, more “valuable” populations. One author states that neighborhood kids will no longer be able to freely play in this space (Anselmi,2024). Another author adds to this by explaining that younger people can no longer cross-country ski in the area (Cullingham,2025). These are examples of ageist viewpoints that marginalize older individuals and portray them as selfish for using public spaces for their own benefit. Not only do these articles present ageist viewpoints they also reflect a neoliberal agenda which prioritizes active and productive aging. As Pike mentions, society tends to value older individuals based on their ability to remain physically and economically productive (Pike, 2015). Pickleball is often seen as a sport that encourages older adults to stay productive and healthy which reinforces the idea that aging is only valuable if someone remains active and independent. This neoliberal idea of putting in pickleball courts to keep older adults productive and valuable is completely neoliberal and in fact ageist. As Culllingham notes in their article, these pickle ball courts will not serve low-income seniors or those who chose to be less physically active (Cullingham, 2025). This shows how the neoliberal ideas behind these courts are very ageist as they don’t consider other older populations that just wish to enjoy the park for their greenery and surroundings. This shows how neoliberal society always prioritises who they believe to be valuable without considering the lives of anyone else. References Anselmi, E. (2024). Plan to pave a Peterborough Park for pickleball faces pushback. The Narwhal. https://thenarwhal.ca/opinion-peterborough-pickleball-paves-park/ Cullingham, J. (2025). There goes bonnerworth-my pickleball nightmare. There Goes Bonnerworth-My Pickleball Nightmare. https://www.trentarthur.ca/news/there-goes-bonnerworth–my-pickleball-nightmare Keh, A. (2023). Shattered nerves, sleepless nights: Pickleball noise is driving everyone nuts. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/30/sports/pickleball-noise-complaints-lawsuits.html Pike, E. C. (2015). Assessing the sociology of sport: On age and ability. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 50(4–5), 570–574. https://doi.org/10.1177/1012690214550009
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Feedback/Errata