Taft College Discrimination of Feminine Gender in Sports Discussion Discussion

Part 1

In the assigned article “Complicating Gender, Sport and Social Inclusion: The Case for Intersectionality”, the authors argue that sport and identity sport should be read intersectionally.

Intersectionality is defined as “the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.”

If we fail at the basic starting point of educating ourselves on all marginalised identities and the specific struggles they face in sport, then we’ll never be able to create a movement that’s truly inclusive for all regardless of race, class, economic status and gender.

Question: What do you think are the steps necessary to address the overlapping intersectionalities that create discrimination for women participating in sport? Do you agree or disagree that discrimination exists? Give examples.

Part 2

The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League required players to attend charm school, wear specific clothes for competition, and act in “ladylike” ways when not playing the sport. If women wanted to participate, society required women to maintain a high level of femininity.

Watch the following video and answer the following question: Why was femininity so important? Discuss the challenges faced by women if they did not meet this standard of appearance?