Activism for intersectional justice in sport sociology: Using intersectionality in research and in the classroom

Calow, Emma

doi:10.3389/fspor.2022.920806

Cited by 10Sports, Gender, and SocietyFeminist Theory and Gender StudiesPhysical Education and Sports Studies

Activism for intersectional justice in sport sociology: Using intersectionality in research and in the classroom

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Calow, Emma·2022·Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

DOI 10.3389/fspor.2022.920806PMC PMC9622950

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Abstract

This perspective paper considers what scholars and teachers of sport sociology can (un)learn by applying the concept of intersectionality in research and in the classroom. I focus on contemporary forms of activism in the context of sport in the United States (U.S.) and demonstrate intersectionality's utility through three examples of athlete activism from the past 10 years led by sports people. Although each example is focused on a particular axis of difference and domination, such as sexual harassment (read: gender) and Black Lives Matter (read: race), I show that the cause at stake is always already intersectional. This has consequences for the field of sport studies/sport sociology; in engaging in intersectional research, sport sociologists and researchers alike can inform policymakers in sport in the decision-making process. In the final part of the paper, I offer insight from my positionality as a graduate student through reflection on how I—and my colleagues—might understand our role within the “matrix of domination” that characterizes both our subject and our field. As novice sport scholars, graduate students can translate the theoretical meanings and purpose of intersectionality into lived reality by being intentional in what and how we teach and research. In this case, I suggest that intersectional justice in sport does not just mean on the track/field/court; it can also mean in the classroom, thereby expanding our notion of what activism “in sport” is and looks like.

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The application of athletic activism can be broadened to inform and shape sociological inquiries into relationships between sports, culture, society, and identity.
“While athletic activism has traditionally centered on the pursuit of social change within sports, we propose that its application can be broadened to inform and shape sociological inquiries that delve into the intricate relationships between sports, culture, society, and identity (Calow, 2022).”
From Indigenizing Sport Research: Analyzing Protective Factors of Exercising Sovereignty in North America (2023) · cites this paper as Calow, 2022

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“While athletic activism has traditionally centered on the pursuit of social change within sports, we propose that its application can be broadened to inform and shape sociological inquiries that delve into the intricate relationships between sports, culture, society, and identity (Calow, 2022).”
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Authors: Calow, E.
Affiliations: Bowling Green State University (US)
Corresponding author: Calow, Emma
ORCID: Calow, Emma
Venue: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Published: 2022-10-18
Volume: 4
Pages: 920806-920806
ISSN: 2624-9367 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2022.920806
PMC: PMC9622950
OpenAlex: W4306672647
Cited by: 10
References: 53
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3
FWCI: 3.11
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: gold
doi.org
Licence: cc-by
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (vor)
Locations: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics: Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sports, Gender, and Society
Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Feminist Theory and Gender Studies
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Physical Education and Sports Studies
Keywords: intersectionality, athlete activism, sociology of sport, intersectional justice, sexual harassment in sport, Black Lives Matter, race, gender, matrix of domination, sports policy

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Activism for intersectional justice in sport sociology: Using intersectionality in research and in the classroom

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