chapters 12 & 13
African American athletes
*Some advances have been made against racism in sport* -In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke through the color barrier and was named MLB Rookie of the Year. -By the 1950s, black sport participation percentages mirrored the black population percentage. -Today, blacks are overrepresented in basketball and football but underrepresented in most sports - why? scholarships, road to improve, opportunity
race, ethnicity and sport
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history of women and sport
- Historically not allowed to be physically active outside of chores - Often excluded from participation or ridiculed for participation until mid-1800s - Participation in physical activity, individual sports slowly increased - Prohibited from modern Olympics until 1920 (women got the right to vote around this time) - Sport greats include Collett, Wills, Didrikson, Billie Jean King
how is sport ahead of its time?
- Jackie Robinson was before Brown vs - Colin kapernik kneeling: bringing a lot of attention (people who do not care about football, why is he kneeling) (this is an example of sport driving society)
Asian American athletes
- along with Latinos, fastest-growing U.S. minority population - different path from African American's and latinos-sport not used as a means to economic, social, or educational goals -different sporting choices due to culture & perhaps body type
discussion about sport and African American families
- are all black families likely to psh their children into sport? what is the effect of socioeconomic status? > socioeconomic status and role models > get college degree with money then you are able to "get out"
Discussion: mascots
- changing mascots from Native American themes to other themes - would such resistance arise regarding any other racist themes - difference if mascot representing an African American or asian individual - native Americans is such a small minority
exploitation of minority athletes
- educational shortcomings may be ignored - athletes may be promoted through grades regardless of performance -athletes may be pressured into "easy" majors - graduation rates are low -pro teams & colleges want athletes in school for reasons unrelated to athlete's best interests - African American women are exploited due to both race & gender - forest Gump: played football for 5 years: hinting that he was being used, for his speed - if they are great athlete but do not have the academics they do short-cuts
NCAA transitioning genders
- female transition to male: you are able to participate on the male team and they are able to compete for championship - male transitioning to female: you are able to participate on the female team but not able to compete for championships
Minorities as Sport Leaders
- few collegiate coaches are minorities (annual race report card from the University of Central Florida) -minority owners are even fewer - charts statistically show the inequality
perspectives on transitioning genders
- functionalist: they should be able to participate because that is how they identify - conflict: they are not giving that specific group the opportunity
discussion in lesbian on sport
- in what sport are athletes often assumed to be lesbian - why do such assumptions exist
reasons or myths for not participating
- lack of interest - harmful to health - only "ladylike" sports appropriate - underserving (quality inferior to men) - social stigma associated with presumed lesbianism - gender verification practices - social attitudes about gender roles
Racism and the Law
- law that states that different races cannot go to the same school
definitions
- race: genetic similarity - ethnicity: cultural heritage - racism: belief in superiority of one race over another - minority group: any group except white (in the US)
Stacking
- some unusual distribution of whites and blacks in certain sport positions cannot be explained by random distributions > whites in "thinking" and "outcome control" positions > black in speed positions - *chart* - certain degree of racism through positions - 3 years to last as a professional athlete (athletic career)
Sport as a Positive Force in Equality
- sport success is linked to self confidence - sport offers a way out of poverty for some (through scholarships) -integration is easier in sport - school based sport programs are free - unique travel possibilities raise awareness -sport encourages a healthy lifestyle - zoom out: how has sport acted like that catalyst in society?
discussion
- stacking can lead to differences in pay and career longevity. in what sports does stacking occur? -football, Quarterbacks (longer career, more money, healthier) - CTE?
Discussion
- supposed biological superiority to Kenyan athletes in long-distance running - why no talk about biological superiority of ski jump from Finland - geography/culture dictates a lot of running - more associated with culture
socioeconomics status and race? connect the two
- system was in place where people were in positions where they did not have access to the same things as others
racism in fact
- things that come off racist - it exists just not in law - so many things that you legislate away
Lesbian athletes
-Acceptance of lesbian athletes has grown the past 20 years -Still, athletes and coaches assumed to be lesbian face misunderstanding and discrimination
Native American athletes
-Account for 0.9% of U.S. population. -Poverty rate is 50% on reservations. -Stereotypical, dehumanizing images are used for names, mascots, and logos (now limited by the NCAA). -Native American Sports Council is part of the Olympic movement; North American Indigenous Games are now a big event.
racial differences in sport
-Biological reasons -Cultural and social reasons >emphasis on activities varies by culture >sport as means of social mobility >many athletic role models -Opportunity structures >facilities, resources (money, programs)
Ways to Promote Diversity in Sport
-Collect and report data -Require leaders to report racism -Spur major sport organizations to include minorities at all levels -Spur media to recruit minority journalists -Get government support for programs -Adopt nondiscrimination policies
Women and Sport After Title IX
-Collegiate females have fewer sport participation opportunities than males do -Females receive $183 million less than males in NCAA athletic scholarships -Females have less opportunity for careers as athletes, coaches, and administrators
discussion on media
-Do you think the media that cover the Olympic Games judge male and female athletes differently when deciding who to promote? Explain your reasoning.
social issues in women's sport: media and images
-Gender: conflict over orientation labels -Athletic apparel -Advances in sport bras (Chastain 1999 celebration) -Shoes not updated -Objectification of athletes -Female athletic body is now seen as sexy. -Females may be judged only on looks, not talent.
Girls and Sport After Title IX
-Girls still have fewer opportunities than boys -Girls still generally get inferior facilities, equipment, coaching, and publicity -Less than 2/3 of African American and Hispanic girls play a sport, whereas more than 3/4 Caucasian girls do
Latino and hispanic athletes
-Hispanic: all people whose ethnic heritage is traced to a -Spanish-speaking country -Latino or Latina: person of Latin American heritage -Great diversity among Latino groups -Most male Latino and Hispanic athletes recognized for baseball and soccer - maybe theyre not biologically tall so they cannot play basketball so they look to other sports - certain racism can drive them to another sport
discussion: women leadership
-How might we increase the number of women in sport leadership? -Think not only of coaching and AD positions but also of officiating, marketing, and the media. -Also, think beyond just the major college and professional ranks.
women as sport leaders
-In 1980, 90% of women's teams were coached by women; in 2012, 43% (near all-time low). -Only 20% of college ADs are women. -Only 37% of the USOC are women.
spending in college sport
-In 2012, men's athletics accounted for 74% of overall expenses at D-I FBS schools. -These schools spent more on football than on all women's teams combined. -In 2012, spending on D-I women's teams averaged less than half that on men's teams.
What is Title IX
-No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance - prohibits discrimination in federally supported education programs - public schools and some private - relate to sport: a lot of schools supply sport so that is associated
global status of women in sport
-Not all countries are progressive (e.g., female participation is still often prohibited in Arab countries) -White, middle class athletes are the most supported in developed nations.
equal pay for equal play
-Only recently have all four tennis Grand Slams offered gender-equal prize money. -LPGA purses lag far behind PGA purses (and tennis and golf are success stories!). -Per Forbes, only one woman (Maria Sharapova) ranked among the top 50 highest-paid athletes in 2014. -Women give same endorsements for less pay.
media coverage of women's sport
-Prime-time Winter Olympics coverage in 2014 was nearly even: 45% focused on males, 41% on females (new high for women). -Newsroom coverage of women's sport still lags behind that of men's sport (accounts for less than 10%).
Minority population and sport participation
-U.S. Latino population is no longer concentrated in few states (southern states: Florida) -African American population is growing in most of the South - D1: football 43% white, - NCAA: females: depends on the sport - shifted towards white, even split when we looked at football, more African Americans playing basketball, more white in baseball - many factors: preferences in groups
discussion: revenue and title IX
-We know that revenue is not a factor in Title IX enforcement. -Why, then, should football not be removed from the equation? -Remember, Title IX is about educational opportunities—not the number of athletic teams.
Jim Thorpe
-one of America's greatest athletes - football and baseball - 2 olympic medals - if given the same equality (1912) he would have been named the greatest athlete
Title IX
-passed as part of the US education Amendments of 1972 - before title IX, participation rates and financial support were lopsided > in sport 3.7 million boys vs .3 million girls > for every US dollar spent on programs, 99 cents for boys and 1 cent for girls - confusion arose but was resolved by lawsuits and official clarification
appropriate sports for woman to participate (to society)
-swimming -figure skating - cheer - swimming - gymnastics - tennis - field hockey (US) (remember the dress code)
Title IX Test of Compliance: 3 Prongs
1.Are participant numbers proportional to enrollment? uIf yes, you are in compliance. uIf no, go to the next prong. 2.Does the school show a history of progress? uIf yes, you are in compliance. uIf no, go to the next prong. 3.Does the school accommodate students' interest in sport? uIf there are athletes who wish for a sport, the school may not be in compliance.
Billie Jean King
American tennis star, has been an advocate against sexism (wanted equal pay for women and men) in sports and society. She is known for the "The Battle of the Sexes" in 1973, in which she defeated 55-year-old Bobby Riggs, a former Wimbledon men's singles champion.
Sport as Negative Force in Equality
Pro sport is an unrealistic career goal. College graduation rate for black male athletes in 2013 was 52%, which was less than in 2009. Black female athletes graduated at a 63% rate in 2013, which was less than in 2009. Black families are eight times more likely than whites to pressure children into sport.
Brown vs. Board of Education (1954)
Supreme Court decision that overturned the Plessy vs. Ferguson decision (1896); led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, the Court ruled that "separate but equal" schools for blacks were inherently unequal and thus unconstitutional. The decision energized the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s.
optimas, optimates
the best, most noble; those of high social standing
Women and Sport
victorian attitudes, physical concerns, popular sports
Title IX Challenges
•Colleges and universities cutting men's teams—unintended consequences •Football dominance in colleges and universities—85 scholarships for 22 positions
barriers to participation K-college
•Girls starting sport participation later than boys and dropping out sooner. -Girls of color and those from low-income families typically end their participation in organized sport sooner than peers who are white or from middle- or higher-income families.
social issues in women's sport: physical activity benefits
•Increased self-esteem •Decreased drug use •Decreased chance of unwanted pregnancy •Increased graduation rate •Sport was a helpful experience for four out of five women executives.