SPORT, LEISURE, AND THE BODY
Kathleen Asbury*
Commmunity College of Philadelphia
Stephani Williams**
Northern Arizona University
Vision of a Just World
1. What is your vision of a just world in relation to your division's mission?
Our vision of a just world within the realm of sports and leisure encompasses many issues. One of the primary forms of justice is economic justice. Currently female athletes do not have financial equity for their athletic achievements, college sports do not fund, or market women’s sports in a way that allows for parity. Another issue of justice within athletics is that sexuality would not be a central focus, nor a means of ostracism. Women in athletics are presumed to be lesbians, and men are presumed to by hypersexual, heterosexuals. These presumptions affect interactions, and create a need to hide a part of one’s life. It is often assumed that if one’s sexuality is known, that the ability to be accepted by “mainstream” society will be affected. This can cause another form of economic injustice with the lack of endorsement opportunities. The LPGA has been a great deal of time and money marketing the heterosexual players, their family lives, etc. this promotes the idea of heterosexual normativity, creating further injustice.
2. What are one or two demonstration project, nations or states that have most effectively addressed your division's mission at any time in history and what are/were their important features?
One justice issue that made national news came when various American Indian tribes protested the continued use of American Indian names, imagery, and chants as part of both collegiate and professional sports. The movement was centered on educating non-Indian people about the offensiveness of many of the practices, and the origins of the names that were being used by teams. While the issue did receive national attention, little has changed in the decade since attempts to change the practices.
3. What are the key difficulties that you and others working toward your division's mission face in your work toward a better world?
As mentioned, trying to educate people about the inequalities present in most sports is a difficult challenge. Part of the resistance is that people utilize sports as a form of fun and recreation, perceiving sports to be outside the realm of political issues.
It has also been difficult to try to educate and convince many people that women’s sports are as interesting, competitive, and worthy of attention as male sports. Traditional stereotypes hinder many people’s abilities to see women as “true” athletes.porte
4. What are the five to ten key articles or books you would recommend to SSSP colleagues and their students who work outside of your Division's area but want to learn more about it?
No articles or book list provided.
*Co-Chair, Sport, Leisure, and the Body Division, 2008-2009
**Co-Chair, Sport, Leisure, and the Body Division, 2008-2009