Sports & Society: Contemporary Issues in American Sports

3 units

Athletes like Colin Kaepernick, Ally Raisman, LeBron James, and Megan Rapinoe leave no doubt: sporting spaces are powerful platforms for political and social activism. In this era of division and social unrest, sports cannot be stuck to. But what to make of the various messages these athletes espouse, and how can we understand the intersectional influence of sporting cultures on American politics, economics, and culture? In this class students will examine major contemporary issues in American sports by examining scholarship, fan behavior, and narratives provided by athletes themselves. Among the topics students will consider are: racism and sexism in coaching, LGBTQ and Trans athlete identity, amateurism and athletic labor, mascots, traumatic brain injuries, and social media.