White Men Cant Jump Looking at racial differences in sport performance
Quick Quiz How many Black athletes have won gold medals in swimming at the Olympics? Of the 500 fastest 100m sprint times, how many belong to white athletes? What percentage of NBA athletes are Black? %
Brainstorm Looking at these questions you have just answered, come up with a list in small groups of possible reasons for why we see differences like this in sport.
What do we see? We see over representation and under representation in different sporting codes of different ethnicities. We see different sports dominated by certain athletes
But WHY?!
Why do we see this? There are two explanations for why we see differences sport and race: Biological Factors Environmental Factors
Biological Factors These are the things that one is born with and cannot be changed Bone structural differences Muscle differences Body fat composition Hormone levels
Biological Factors (examples) African American What sports? What biological factors? Maori / Pacific Island What sports? What biological factors? White / European What sports? What biological factors?
Environmental Factors These are the factors that occur as a result of social situations Money Social factors Geographic's / location Recurring stereotypes
Environmental Factors (examples) African American What sports? What environmental factors? Maori / Pacific Island What sports? What environmental factors? White / European What sports? What environmental factors?
Most people believe it is a combination of these factors that cause such large diversities in certain races in certain sports
Exemptions to the rules This information is based on generalities, it is not 100% conclusive and there are people who do not fit this mould: Venus and Serena Williams Tiger Woods Michael Campbell
What does all this mean? SELFOTHERSSOCIETY Makes me aware of the stereotypes in sports and makes me want to challenge this My Pakeha friends have accepted that my Maori friend has achieved well at league, and they dont feel like they can do the same Society tends to reproduce these stereotypes, and people are encouraged to participate in sports that they would be successful in based on their race How does this knowledge affect me, others and society?
What could change? Brainstorm what things you would like to change and how society could achieve this