Gender, Sexuality, and Sports

Catalog description

In this course, we will examine the interrelations between gender, race, and sports. We will view sports through a sociological lens and consider how sports are shaped by and in turn shape social interaction. We will focus on how sports influence our definitions of masculinity and femininity, the opportunities and obstacles sports provide for members of different racial/ethnic and gender groups, and the images associated with race, gender, and sports. We consider social constructions of race and gender in sport, the experiences of LGBTQ athletes, exclusion from youth sports, Title IX and issues of gender segregation, college athletics, sport activism, fantasy sports, media portrayals, the lack of female coaches and BIPOC coaches, and potential changes to make sports (and society) more inclusive. Satisfies Gender and Sexuality Studies Major and Minor requirement. Satisfies Africana Studies Major and Minor requirement. Satisfies a major or interdisciplinary minor requirement in Communication Studies. Satisfies Social Scientific Thought requirement. Satisfies the Justice, Equality, and Community requirement.