Race, Gender and Sport

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

The aim of this course is to examine the relationships between sport, society and identity. The sport will be considered in a broader socio-cultural, political and economic context and analysed as a site of social control, reproduction of social inequalities, and resistance. The course will engage theoretical frameworks from social sciences, including gender and queer studies, feminist theories, critical race theory, discourse studies and critical sports studies.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Appropriate English language skills and an interest in the subject.

Syllabus

1. Race, gender and sport: mapping the field
2. Intersectionality, diversity, and inclusion
3. The sporting body
4. Race, whiteness and sport
5. Dominant discourses about race in sport media
6. Media representation of female athletes
7. Muslim women in sport
8. Gender verification of female athletes
9. Transgender athletes in sex-segregated sports competitions
10. Gender conformity and its challenges
11. Masculinities in sport
12. LGBTQ issues in sport
13. Sexual harassment and abuse in sport
14. Athletes’ activism
15. Sport and empowerment

Reading list

Anderson, E. and A. Travers. 2017. Transgender Athletes in Competitive Sport. London, New York: Routledge. 

Carrington, B. 2010. Race, Sport and Politics. The Sporting Black Diaspora. London: Sage Publications.

Cooky, Ch. and M. A. Messner. 2018. No Slam Dunk. Gender, Sport and the Unevenness of Social Change. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press.  

Entine, J. 2000. Taboo: Why Black Athletes Dominate Sports and Why We Are Afraid to Talk About It. New York: Public Affairs.

Hargreaves, J. and E. Anderson (eds.) 2014. Routledge Handbook of Sport, Gender and Sexuality. London, New York: Routledge. 

Hartmann-Tews, I. 2022. Sport, Identity and Inclusion in Europe. The experiences of LGBTQ People in Sport. London, New York: Routledge. 

Hylton, K. 2017. Contesting ‘Race’ and Sport. Shaming the Colour Line. London: Routledge.

Leonard, D.J. 2017. Playing While White. Privilege and Power on and off the Field. Washington: the University of Washington Press.

Liston, K. and P. Dolan. 2015. Sport, Race and Ethnicity. The Scope of Belonging. London, New York: Routledge. 

Magrath, R. 2022. Athletes Activism. Contemporary Perspective. London, New York: Routledge. 

Magrath, R., Cleland, J. and E. Anderson (eds.). 2020.  The Palgrave Handbook of Masculinity and Sport. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Messner, M.A. 2007. Out of play: Critical essays on gender and sport. Albany: State University of New York Press.

Molnar, G. and R. Bullingham (eds.). 2022. Routledge Handbook of Gender Politics in Sport and Physical Activity. London, New York: Routledge. 

Nauright, J. and David K. Wiggins (eds.). 2017. Routledge Handbook of Sport, Race, and Ethnicity.  London, New York: Routledge. 

Ratna, A. and S.F. Samie (eds.). 2018. Race, Gender and Sport. The Politic of Ethnic ‘Other’ Girls and Women. London, New York: Routledge.