A Site to Resist and Persist: Diversity, Social Justice, and the Unique Nature of Sport

Abstract

Scholarly debate on the unique characteristics of sport management continues, with much of the dialogue focusing on the sport product, the relationship between sport and external stakeholders (e.g. fans, government, leagues), as well as the unique role that fans and winning play in the delivery of sport. In offering a new lens from which to approach the academic argument, the authors suggest that sport is unique because it serves as a site for coaches and athletes to resist and persist through their activist efforts. To support this position, they (a) articulate the significance of sport in society for fans and non-fans, alike; (b) demonstrate how, because of the relevance of sport in society, coaches and athletes have taken on celebrity status, and as a result, are likely to engage in activism and resistance; and (c) propose these activities then result in societal change. Noting the importance of moderators, the authors also suggest that coach and athlete demographics, their social justice orientation, and the context in which they operate are all likely to influence the relationship between celebrity status and activism and resistance. The effectiveness of their message is likely to vary based on their credibility and the involvement and demographics of the message receiver. The authors offer theoretical and practical implications.

坚持和抵抗的场所：多样性、社会正义和体育的独特性质

关于体育管理独特特征的学术讨论仍在继续, 很多讨论都集中于体育产品、体育和外部利益相关者（例如粉丝、政府和联盟）之间的关系以及粉丝和冠军球队在体育交付中所扮演的独特角色。作者们为处理此类学术争论提供了崭新的视角, 他们认为体育之所以独特, 是因为它是一个供教练和运动员通过自身积极的努力去坚持和抵抗的场所。为了支撑自身观点, 作者们(a)明确地表达了社会体育对粉丝和非粉丝的重要性; (b)论证了如何去做, 因为体育与社会之间具有相关性, 所以教练和运动员身上会带有名人身份, 因此他们很可能参与行动主义和抵抗；(c)提出这些活动之后会导致社会变革。作者们注意到了调解人的重要性, 他们还认为教练和运动员人口统计、其社会正义取向及工作背景都有可能影响名人身份、行动主义和抵抗之间的关系。基于这些人的可信度与信息接收方的参与度和人口统计, 他们所传达信息的有效性可能会有所不同。作者们给出了理论和实际上的意义。

Keywords:

• Activism
• resistance
• protest
• athlete
• sport

关键词:

• 行动主义
• 抵抗
• 抗议
• 运动员
• 体育运动

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

George B. Cunningham

George B. Cunningham (Ph.D., The Ohio State University, US) is a Professor of Sport Management at Texas A&M University, where he also serves as the Senior Assistant Provost for Graduate and Professional Studies at the university. He has published over 190 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, has authored an award-winning book (Diversity in Sport Organizations), has co-edited an award-winning book (Routledge Handbook of Theory in Sport Management), and has received funding from a variety of entities to support his research. Cunningham is the former president of both the North American Society for Sport Management and Aggie Allies. He is a member of the National Academy of Kinesiology.

Marlene A. Dixon

Marlene A. Dixon (Ph.D., The Ohio State University, US) is a Professor in Sport Management in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at Texas A&M University. She received a B.A. from Trinity University, an M.Ed. in Sport Administration from The University of Texas at Austin, and a Ph.D. in Sport Management from The Ohio State University. Dr. Dixon is a Research Fellow in the North American Society for Sport Management. Her research, which has been published and presented both nationally and internationally, focuses on developing sport that enhances life quality for those who participate and work in sport. Active in scholarship, she serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Sport Management and on several sport management journal review boards

John N. Singer

John N. Singer (Ph.D., Ohio State University) is associate professor of sport management and associate dean for diversity and inclusion in the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas USA. His research interests are in two primary and interrelated areas: diversity, equity, and inclusion; and intersections of race, gender, sport, and education. He has a forthcoming book with Harvard Education Press that is tentatively entitled, Black Male Athletes’ Education Matters: What’s College Sport Got To Do With It?

Kristi F. Oshiro

Kristi F. Oshiro is a doctoral student and graduate teaching assistant in the Division of Sport Management in the Department of Health and Kinesiology at Texas A&M University. She received a B.S. in Sport Studies and an M.S. in Sport Management from East Carolina University. Her research interests include diversity and social justice with a focus on race, gender, and the lived experiences of marginalized populations in and through sport

Na Young Ahn

Na Young Ahn (M.S., Seoul National University, Korea) is a doctoral student and graduate assistant in the Division of Sport Management in the Department of Health and Kinesiology at Texas A&M University. She also works in the Laboratory for Diversity in Sport. Her research interests include cultural diversity, with specific focus on gender, national, and ethnic equity, and inclusion in sport governance and leadership

Anthony Weems

Anthony Weems (M.S., Texas A&M University, US) is a Ph.D. Candidate and Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Division of Sport Management within the Department of Health and Kinesiology at Texas A&M University. His research interests broadly revolve around social structure in and through sport organizations. Has he work appearing in the International Journal of Exercise Science, multiple book chapters, and several new media outlets