- (Required) The Role of Gender in Sports. During the first few weeks of class, we examined the role of women in sports, historical consideration, as well as stereotypes. Through class discussions, TED Talks, peer reviewed journal articles and current events, we can agree that gender rights have certainly been a pressing topic throughout the years. For example, according to Dayna B. Danielss article You Throw Like a Girl: Sport and Misogyny on the Silver Screen In 1968, the International Olympic Committee began a practice of femininity testing on all women entered in the Olympics to prove they were females. The practice spread to other competitions such as world championships -as women began to shatter world records set by men. It wasnt until the year 2000 that the practice of sex testing or gender verification came under strong censure and the International Olympic Committee finally curtailed the practice for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. While women in sports continue to face an uphill battle in being respected on the same level as men, the controversy around transgender athletes has brought the debate to the forefront, and at times, in a different light. With the increase in the number of transgender athletes, many debates focus on the best way in which to support transgender athletes and if providing such supports could potentially lead to providing an athletic advantage over others.
In reading over the New Times Article, as well as the Sports Illustrated article (see attached word document for article links), do you believe that professional and amateur sporting bodies should create a policy for sex-segregated sports that requires making a choice: either exclude these athletes, or allow them to complete and as some would claim- with potential advantages?
2. While there is no direct translation for the term arte and kleos, there are various words or phrases within the English language that exemplifies the meaning of both terms. Therefore, in your own words, explain the concept of arte and kleos and choose either an athlete that is currently playing (or may have retired) or even from an example discussed in class, such as Diane Nyad from Breaking the Waves or Odysseus from The Odyssey to exemplify the meaning. If you choose to select a current athlete or one that has retired, you will be expected to use outside sources to defend your position and you will need to provide your source.
3. Using the film Race as a starting point, explain how and why the Olympics can be viewed as a political event more than as a sporting event from its inception to today. Provide a strong thesis and use more than just the movie Race to prove your claims.
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