Athlete Activism: Contemporary Perspectives

Description

This book takes a close look at the phenomenon of athlete activism, across all levels of sport from elite and international sport to collegiate and semi-pro, and asks what this tells us about the relationship between sport and wider society.   With contributions from scholars around the world, the book presents a series of fascinating case studies, including the activism of world-famous athletes such as Serena Williams, Megan Rapinoe, and Raheem Sterling. Covering a broad range of sports, from the NFL and Australian Rules to fencing and the Olympic Games, the book sheds important light on some of the most important themes in the study of sport, including gender, power, racism, intersectionality and the rise of digital media. It also considers the financial impact on athletes when they take a stand, and the psychological impact of activism and how that might relate to sports performance.   It has never been the case that ‘sport and politics don’t mix’, and now, more than ever, the opposite is true. This is essential reading for anybody with an interest in the politics or sociology of sport, the politics of protest, social movements, or media studies. Cover Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Acknowledgements Contributors Introduction Athlete Activism: Contemporary Perspectives Outline of the Book Chapter Outline References Chapter 1 Athlete Activism and the Olympic Games: A Dialectic of Resistance and Restriction Introduction IOC and Political Dissent Olympian Dissent Conclusion Notes References Chapter 2 Educated Activism: A Focus Group Study of High School Athletes’ Perceptions of Athlete Activism Introduction Stakeholder Theory Identity Methods Results and Discussion (Semi)educated Activism Agency, Inspiration, and LeBron Hopeful for Change Implications and Conclusion References Chapter 3 “It’s Our Duty to Utilize the Platform That We Have”: Motivations for Activism Among U.S. Collegiate Athletes Who Becomes a Collegiate Athlete Activist? A Profile of the Participants Why Do Collegiate Athletes Become Activists? Motivations for Activism What’s Next? Implications for Empowering Collegiate Athlete Activists Notes References Chapter 4 Financial Implications for Athlete Activists: The Cost of Taking a Stance Introduction The 2016 NFL Protests Colin Kaepernick’s Protest Colin Kaepernick’s Activism Off the Field Gwen Berry Corporations Conclusion References Chapter 5 The Changing Face of Black Athlete Activism Introduction Race and Resistance: Black Athlete Activism Black Power and the Struggle for Civil Rights: The 1968 Summer Olympics Quieter Times, But Not Silent: Black Athlete Activism in the 1980s and 1990s Say It Loud! I’m Black and I’m Proud: Contemporary Black Athlete Activists Concluding Thoughts: Pariah Today, Hero Tomorrow? The Changing Face of Black Athlete Activism References Chapter 6 Disability, Sport and Social Activism: Para Athlete Activism Introduction Disability Activism and Parasport: A Story With Two Sides Para-athlete Activism for Parasport Improvement Para-athlete Activism for Broader Social Good Promoting Para-Athlete Activism Some Future Directions: Expanding Research On Disability, Sport and Activism Notes References Chapter 7 Disabled Athlete Activism: Using an Emancipatory Theological Approach to Promote the Use of Disabled Athletes in ... Introduction Theology and the Relationship Between Disability and Sport Why Theology? Theology and the Sociological Study of Disability Aligning Freire and Gutiérrez With Oliver’s Work On the Emancipation of Disabled People An Emancipatory Theological Analysis of the Relationship Between the U.K.-Based DPM and the IPC Conclusion References Chapter 8 Revising Trans-Exclusionary Narratives in Women’s Sports Activism: Who Are the “Women” of Women’s Athletics? Introduction Sex Segregation as the Sole Instrument of Fairness Woman as a Stable Category Women’s Sport as Ever-Precarious Conclusion Notes References Chapter 9 Doddie Weir and the Activism of Health, Nationhood and Storytelling Introduction Sports Activism A Strong Media Presence Nationhood and Tartan The Power of “Activist” Storytelling Conclusion References Chapter 10 Elite Athlete Activism for Gender Equality in Sport: Women’s Football in Spain Literature Review and Theoretical Considerations Selection of the Empirical Case Elite Female Footballers Mobilizing for Better Pay and Working Conditions in Spain Economic Goals Nonconfrontational and Confrontational Tactics The Main Achievement: An Agreement On Professional Women’s Football Conclusion Notes Acknowledgments References Chapter 11 Athlete Activism Relative to Clothing: A Case Study of Ibtihaj Muhammad and the Sport Hijab Introduction Theoretical Approach: Gendered Critical Discourse Analysis The Literature On Clothing and Activism Considerations About Clothing and Activism Cultural Considerations Religious Considerations Sporting Considerations Financial Considerations Considerations About Clothing Per Se Ibtihaj Muhammad Concluding Thoughts About Athlete Activism and Clothing Note References Chapter 12 Braids, Beads, Catsuits and Tutus: Serena Williams’ Intersectional Resistance Through Fashion Introduction Background Cosmetically Contested Terrain: Fashion as Resistance in Sport Data and Methods Self-adornment as Self-Preservation The Politics of Professionalism and Black Hair Clothing Black Womanhood and Black Motherhood The Significance of Self-Definition and Self-Valuation Conclusion Notes References Chapter 13 “I’m Not Going to the F***ing White House”: Fan Discourse About Megan Rapinoe During the 2019 FIFA Women’s ... Introduction Literature Review Methodology Results Discrediting Resistance Patriotism General Support Discussion References Chapter 14 Across Field and Classroom: The Activism of Adam Goodes and the Role of Australian Teachers in Tackling Racism The Final Quarter “Post-racial” Australia Race and Australian Education Constructing Racism Discussion and Conclusion Notes References Chapter 15 “Best Way to Silence the Haters?”: Raheem Sterling’s Use of Social Media and Selective Press Interviews in the ... Introduction Race, Nationality and Media Framing Methods Findings and Discussion Sterling’s Self-Representation Conclusion References Chapter 16 Online Activism and Athlete Advocacy in Professional Women’s Golf Risk Or Reward? Introduction Digital Media and Female Athletes Professional Women’s Golf Meghan MacLaren Perspectives Activism and Advocacy to this Point Methodological Approach Meghan MacLaren’s Response: October 2020 The Risks and Rewards of Athlete Activism Conclusion Acknowledgement References Chapter 17 Psychological Benefits for the Athlete Activist Introduction Resilience and Minority Stress Psychological Benefits of Activism Resilience and Athlete Activism A Call to Action Note References Index