Wrapping up Sport and Society from Matt’s Point of View

As the end of the semester is drawing frightfully close and numerous projects are beginning to weigh on my mind and time, I think it is an appropriate time to reflect back on this semester and wrap this ol' blog up.

 

As I mentioned in my introduction, I had taken a course similar to this one in my undergrad at the University of Illinois (I tried to look up the course or instructor and was unsuccessful), and that the course had drastically influenced my life. However, the minutia and details of that course had fled memory and had only left an impression in my mind. Therefore, I was excited to have the opportunity to relearn and refresh some of those memories. Over the course of this semester I was surprised by how much I was able to recall. It reemphasized how much of sport is a reflection of our society's ideals and perceptions. Sometimes sport reflects an ugly truth (racism, bigotry, sexism, etc.) and other times it shows unity and progress in a way that is inspiring. In my opinion, sport is one of the best mediums to study in order to understand the culture of a society.

 

I think what I enjoyed this semester was the epiphanies. Learning about that style of writing and then being able to employ it for an experience in my own life was one of the more valuable assignments I have completed in my grad work. I now have a very poignant memory encapsulated in a way that I can relive and share with my family for the rest of my life.

 

On top of enjoying the epiphany section, I also enjoyed keeping a blog and seeing how we as a class were interpreting the issues and readings differently. It kept me actively learning and applying the principles and topics we were discussing in class. By writing and employing what we learned, it helped me to solidify the knowledge that have learned. Because of this, I would say that the blogs were an essential part of the class that will have a lasting effect on my life.

 

In the end, I think that from this class I gained an open mindedness towards others beliefs and plights in life. During one class, someone offered a quote that was something along the lines of "You can't understand what it is to be marginalized or hated for something until you have experienced it in your own life." It caused me to have my own private epiphany. As I thought of an area in my life where I am marginalized and judged negatively, I was able to understand more deeply what those of other minorities (be they gender, sexual orientation, race, or religion) face in their lives. It helped me to understand a truth, rather than just know about that truth.

 

Thanks for a great course Dr. Spencer!

Homosexuality vs. Masculinity in Modern Sport

"That's gay." How often have we heard (or even said) this phrase as slang to express disdain for something. It is a saying that is commonly used as a euphemism for something derogatory in nature. I remember in high school, some 11 years ago, when I used this phrase as a euphemism and was appropriately chewed out by a friend for saying it. I also remember that I bristled at being chastised for what I thought was a relatively minor infraction. Yet today, when I hear (or read on Facebook) someone use that phrase, I cringe and think to myself, "Did they just say that?!?!" The thought of using this phrase has become so foreign to me that I would not dream of saying something so vile. So something has changed within me during those 11 years, but what?

As I reflect on the influences during my high school years that led me to believe that saying such a thing was acceptable and even expected, and realize that most of those influences originated from athletics. It was as if I was in a bubble, keeping me from reality. When I graduated high school, and continued with college athletics, the bubble still existed. I remember the taunting and teasing of guys that the team perceived as gay. I never participated, but I took notice. I actually think the majority of the team would have been receptive if a teammate came out as gay and would not have harassed that teammate for it. However, the ones they perceived as "closet cases," were mocked incessantly for it. I think noticing this disparity was the first step to moving beyond such thinking. If you would accept a person for being gay, why would you mock someone that you suspect is gay? It just does not make any sense. As I began to progress beyond that sophomoric mindset, I stopped using that term. As I made friends, met associates and worked with people who were openly gay, the thought of using the term "gay" as a derogatory term eventually fled my consciousness.

Today, that is why I am so surprised when I hear someone use the expletive "That's gay;" I figure that we have moved beyond such things. The results of Kian and Anderson's article (2009) also suggest that we as Americans, and our athletes, are moving beyond such homophobic remarks. They also suggest that Americans are in the process of losing their homophobic sentiment, not that they have lost it. So it is a process, but at least it appears to be moving in a better, and more tolerant, direction.