SP#15 - "Final Reflections"

Prior to taking this course, my perception of US sport was one created and highly influenced by the media and those around me. I was never really interested in the social constructions and issues in the sports world and this course really brought insight on the realities of the sports world. Understanding the US sports culture has changed my views and opinions on sports dramatically changed through taking this class, mostly because I was not aware of the many different issues and injustices that take place in the sports world and how it affects not only the life of an athlete, but the team and the sport as a whole. I think as viewers/ fans, we often take for granted the life and performance of an athlete and construct ideas of how they should perform, but we cease to realize the severities of cases some athletes go through off the field. One of the most interesting topics we talked about this semester was the athlete identities, able bodies. It was very surprising to me to realize how little acknowledgement these athletes receive in the American culture, especially during Olympic events, I believe that as a country that offers equality for all, we should put more effort in being just and fair with all athletes. This course will definitely trigger me to ask more critical questions about the US sports world and I will be able to have deeper perspectives on many topics. I think that this class served as a close study to the social constructions of people in sports, being able to think critically and outside of the box will help me in my career in criminal justice as it will remind me to think of things from different angles. I would definitely recommend this class to a friend as it helps you develop and create critical thinking skills, and teaches you a lot about the sports world, knowledge that is very often overlooked.

Sports Pages #14: "Why the 'Mans Mans' Game is an Insult to Men"


After viewing the documentary, Training Rules and reading the article on Robbie Rogers: “Why coming out as gay meant I had to leave football” I came to the conclusion that although our society as a whole has become more inclusive and accepting of the LGBT population, in the sports world, this is something that is still under stigmas and oppression.

Something that truly struck me about the article on Rogers, was when he stated, “People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple. Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay." As many of us may know, today there are many resources and support/advocate groups for this population, but when exploring the setting of an athlete coming out, I don’t believe that sport is not a safe space for LGBT athletes for many reasons, the most obvious being, the pressures and strong criticisms of the public.

 The LGBT community is often stigmatized by that sole label, and it tends to over-ride any other label the athlete may possess, in this example: being an athlete. As if a preference or certain aspect of this athlete’s life could impact their performance out on the court or field.

The greatest improvement that society and sports fans could use to create a more inclusive culture in American sport is far more simple stated then placed into action. It’s one thing to accept how one identifies, but it’s another to truly understand the circumstance and see things in a positive progressive light, always acknowledging the skill of the athlete above all, and most importantly no longer seeing these identities with a negative connotation.

Sports Pages #13

     When we watch movies, films and documentaries such as Hoop Dreams, The Blind Side and Remember the Titans, African American athletes continually are depicted in the same manner. Constantly films as the above mentioned highlight lives of marginalized African American athletes living in inner cities with little to no resources. Sports act as the way out, “the path to righteousness” for these teens instead of their predestined paths to the streets and hustling. Constantly sports such as football and basketball in particular serve as “saviors” for these boys who would otherwise have no other way out. The problem with these portrayals is the very fact that young African American boys and girls are growing up taking in these messages, that somehow their culture is innately inferior, incompetent, and destined for destruction. Often times the African American culture is over exaggerated and presented in racial stereotypes.

     Let’s take for example the movie The Blind Side, where Sandra Bullock’s role in the movie is the savior of a poor abandoned black teen, Mike. In his character we can see both similarities, but I argue there are also a lot of differences that the boys in the documentary Hoop Dreams. Although all three boys come from limited families and backgrounds, both of the boys have their parents however Mike is shown alone, in despair and need of “salvation”. Hollywood portrayals of the African American athlete create damaging images for the Black communities in America, accepting and believing such portrayals will preserve the myth of race.

"Lingerie Football" Ad- Gendered Messages in Sports: Sports Pages #12

                                                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfkKjATCu4E

In the link I provided you can see how women are portrayed in the sport of football. This ad/commercial serves to explore gender identities and relations in the sports world, more specifically in the sport of football which is commonly associated with men. 

Football for the longest has been a sport that has excluded women and been the stage for men to perform their overly masculine roles in the sports world.  However, recently the creation of this "Legends Football League" has given women an "opportunity" to play football, but they must do so in the explicit attire shown in the picture above. Media messages and the promotions of things like lingerie football only further perpetuates the misogyny and oppression women have historically experienced. Not to mention that making women dress in this manner during a highly physical sport does not provide the optimal safety every athlete deserves while on the field. This sport in essence was created as a form of entertainment for the pleasure of the male dominant population.

Furthermore, exposing our younger generation to these type of messages will only transmit these overt messages to them and continue these cycles of oppression and misrepresentation for woman.