SRL 503 Final Project Kylie bartel

What are the main takeaways from the content that you have come away with during the course?

Over the course of the semester, I have become more familiar with many important concepts in the world of sports and recreation. One of the most significant of these is the idea that sports and recreation should be spaces where diversity thrives. These are places where individuals of all races, ages, religions, and genders can come together to build relationships and strengthen social connections. However, there are still groups who are not treated equitably within these environments. This can stem from a variety factors such as discrimination, lack of accessibility, or systemic barriers. This course has not only discussed these challenges but has also encouraged a call to action to address and improve them.

GENDER AND SPORTS

During the week focused on sports and gender, I learned about the various challenges women have faced in the world of sports and recreation. The textbook introduced the concept of gender ideology, which suggests that men are perceived as superior to women in nearly every trait, while women are seen as inferior to men in all areas except their ability to nurture (Coakley, 2025). Because this belief was so deeply rooted in society, sports became a male-dominated space. When women began participating, they were often viewed as invaders who threatened traditional norms. Because of this, they faced significant marginalization and discrimination, and had limited opportunities and minimal support to compete and succeed.

Although women continue to face challenges in sports and recreation, society took an important step forward with the implementation of Title IX under President Richard Nixon. This law prohibits discrimination based on sex, leading to a large increase in the number of women participating in sports. However, adversity is still present. While female athletes now have greater opportunities to compete, they remain widely underrepresented, especially in media coverage. When women do receive media attention, it often focuses on their appearance rather than their athletic achievements.

For example, the documentary Playing Unfair: The Media Image of the Female Athlete, highlights the case of Brandi Chastain, a soccer player who gained massive media attention after removing her shirt in celebration following a victory. Instead of focusing on her athletic performance, the media sensationalized her appearance. Similarly, many female athletes are remembered more for how they look or dress rather than their performance. While some argue that this portrayal empowers women, I believe it undermines their credibility and takes away the respect they deserve as athletes.

Women in leadership roles within the sports and recreation field continue to be significantly underrepresented. According to the TIDES 2022 Report, "women held only 42.0 percent of the head coaching jobs of women's teams in Division I, 35.6 percent in Division II, and 43.8 percent in Division III" (Lapchick, 2023). This means that less than half of women’s collegiate sports teams are coached by women. The numbers are even lower for women in other leadership positions, such as athletic directors, and women coaching men’s teams is nearly nonexistent. These disparities show that there are still ongoing barriers based on gender ideology which prevent women from having the opportunities to hold leadership roles in sports and recreation.

LGBTQ+ Community and SPorts

Continuing the discussion on inclusivity, this course has also informed me of the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals and the lack of accessibility and acceptance they face in sport and recreation. Many LGBTQ+ athletes are discouraged from participating due to unwelcoming or unsafe environments. According to GLSEN, which discusses the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth athletes in schools, "40.2% of LGBTQ students, 59.4% of trans students, and 41.2% of nonbinary students avoid gym class because they feel unsafe or uncomfortable" (GLSEN, 2021). This discomfort often stems from a lack of safe spaces, inclusive policies, and accessible facilities.

In addition to these barriers, members of the LGBTQ+ community frequently experience harassment, which further discourages participation. Stereotypes and misconceptions about LGBTQ+ individuals contribute to this, which often results in a lack of accommodation and support. These issues highlight the need for more inclusive practices in sport and recreation to ensure that everyone, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, feels safe and welcome.

Despite the many challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces, there have been significant strides toward inclusion and positive change in sports and recreation. One organization that stands out to me as a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights is the WNBA. The league has many athletes who are open about their sexual orientation and who serve as powerful role models within the community. These players actively support LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance, both on and off the court.

The WNBA also promotes inclusivity through initiatives such as Pride Night games, which are held during Pride Month in June. These events celebrate LGBTQ+ identities, empower players, and encourage more inclusive and supportive environments for fans and athletes. The league’s advocacy demonstrates how professional sports organizations can play a meaningful role in advancing equity and acceptance.

RACE ANd sports

During the week focused on racial and ethnic groups, I learned that many minority communities face harmful stereotypes and cultural appropriation within the world of sports and recreation. For example, a study by Harrison and Lawrence (2004) found that Black individuals are often stereotyped as being “physically superior and intellectually inferior compared to Whites.” Despite having no factual basis, this stereotype continues to influence perceptions, possibly due to the visibility of Black athletes in professional sports compared to their underrepresentation in leadership roles. As a result, society tends to associate Black excellence primarily with physical ability rather than their intellect.

In addition to stereotypes, cultural appropriation remains a major issue. In the documentary In Whose Honor?, I learned about the University of Illinois' former mascot and how it negatively impacted the Native American community. Charlene Teters, the main advocate in the film, explains how mascots like these are extremely disrespectful. They inaccurately depict Native cultures and reduce sacred traditions to mere entertainment. While supporters of these mascots often claim they are honoring Native communities, they lack a genuine understanding of the culture and end up reinforcing harmful misconceptions. Although Teters was successful to eliminate the discriminatory mascot, there are still sports teams today that have their own, such as the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Chiefs.

disability in Sports

Another group that faces discrimination and accessibility issues in sport and recreation are individuals with disabilities or impairments. In our Week 6 PowerPoint, a quote from Joshua Rothman really stood out to me. He said, “...age, disease, and accident mean that all able-bodiedness is a temporary state. Even able-bodied people can ‘die in the woods’ alone—they, too, are dependent upon society” (Stipek, 2025). I liked this quote because it challenges the idea behind ableism, which is the belief that people with disabilities are inferior or incapable of participating fully in certain activities (Stipek, 2025).

Although ableism still exists, there have been positive movements toward inclusivity. For example, the Paralympics gives disabled athletes the chance to compete in athletics at the highest level. I also learned that many college institutions, including the University of Arizona, have adaptive athletics programs that allow students with disabilities to participate in sports. Programs like these are an important step toward making sports and recreation more inclusive and accessible for everyone.

How does this study intersect with the topics we have covered during the course?

This study intersects with topics from our course in several ways. I had the opportunity to meet with three individuals who are leaders in this field, each with diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, and levels of experience. As I listened to their stories and thoughts, I recognized many concepts from our coursework playing out in real-life. For example, the challenges of being a woman coach in a predominantly male-led industry and the financial barriers that limit access to sports and recreation. Having these discussions about equity and justice with these leaders gave me insight into the many changes that are still needed to promote inclusivity and equality in the field.

GENeration X Interview

For my generation X interview, I met with my former head coach, Sonia Morales-Jones. She has been a volleyball coach at a variety of levels for the past 25 years. From club to college, she has worked with young women across all different types of skill levels and backgrounds, helping them develop their athletic and personal abilities. She is currently coaching at the DII level at Western Colorado University.

When asked about her definition of inclusivity, she replied, "inclusivity for me has to do with our attitudes and values towards human beings". She continues by talking about how diversity brings strength to group settings, which I completely agree with. Encouraging different perspectives within a team creates opportunities to learn from each other and to lean on other’s strengths where we might fall short. This is something that I believe sports and recreation is based on, along with being able to freely learn and grow. Reflecting on this and everything I’ve taken from the course, I believe that sameness can actually hold a group back. Real growth and strength come from embracing inclusivity. In the video clip below, Morales-Jones shares her thoughts about inclusivity.

When discussing the lack of equity and equality in athletics, Morales-Jones brings up the experiences of female athletes. She says, “It wasn't too long ago that women's professional sports only existed overseas… and there's a question I asked for many, many years, and it's like, ‘How can Italy figure it out but we can't? And how come Spain can figure it out but we can't?’ Why are our women's basketball and volleyball players going overseas and making a career in another country rather than doing it right here on our own soil?”

While I do believe there have been important strides in creating professional opportunities for women in sports in the U.S., such as the WNBA and emerging pro volleyball leagues, there’s still a improvements to be made to visibility and representation. One area to continue to focus on is media coverage. These games and athletes deserve more accessible and consistent media exposure so their talent and dedication can reach more individuals.

millennial interview

For my millennial interview, I met with current club director and coach Robert Esser. Esser has involved in sports throughout his entire life. He grew up playing volleyball and through hard work and dedication, he eventually competed collegiately. Along with playing the sport, Esser has many years of experience coaching men’s and women’s volleyball at a variety of skill sets and levels. He has coached college, high school, youth, and disabled volleyball.

During our interview, he provided many personal insights into the world of athletics. We discussed challenges that he has seen as a coach and club director and what he thought was the best way to address these situations. His perspective and answer to the question, “What are the reasons you think youth participation in sports is currently declining” stood out to me during the interview and below is a video of his response.

Esser does a great job highlighting an area of struggle that I don’t think gets talked about enough, finances. Youth activities are becoming increasingly expensive, and with the rising cost of everyday needs, many families struggle to afford the extra costs that come with sports participation. In response to another question, he mentions that organizations like the Boys and Girls Club help bridge this gap by offering recreational opportunities to kids in need. Later in the interview, Esser shares additional ways sports and recreation can become more equitable, along with why equal access is so important for all youth. Below are his thoughts on the topic.

Generation Z Interview

For my Generation Z interview, I spoke with a former teammate of mine, Hailey White. She recently graduated from college and is now working as an assistant women’s volleyball coach at a Division II university. Being an athlete for most of her life, Hailey brings experience and deep knowledge of the game to her coaching. As one of the hardest workers I know, I thought she would be great to interview about these topics.

When asked how sports and recreation can become more equitable for everyone, White suggests that “to become more equitable, we need to remove barriers… and have more opportunities and solutions for helping those that are less fortunate.” She talks about the financial burden many families face and how that can limit access to sports. By providing support for these athletes and their families, we can help open doors to opportunities they might not have had otherwise. One idea she shared was offering sponsorships or creating fundraising opportunities to help support teams and their players. In the clip below, she shares her full thoughts on the question.