1. Lesson 4: Perspective taking and the beauty, body, and perception
“I do have some friends and family members that because I am in a wheelchair don’t believe that I can ever be an athlete… If I was an NHL hockey goalie, it still wouldn’t matter, I’d still be, you know, the girl in the wheelchair and wouldn’t be an athlete to them” (Spencer-Cavaliere, Peers, as cited in Martin, 2018, p. 129)
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2. Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is to examine the difference of beauty that we place on athletes with physical impairments rather than athletes with no impairments. The purpose is to create cognitive dissonance and inspire the reader to think about how we view the beauty of the body and our perceptions of what an athlete should look like.
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3. Beauty: The Greeks
Historically the notion of beauty started with the Greeks. Spivey explains how the Greeks viewed beauty, the body, and people who were differently abled. The Greeks believed one had to work to make their bodies beautiful and by being athletic and having muscle meant that one was beautiful. They believed that beauty begins with the body and the body had to be”…toned, [with] definition, and [have] symmetry” (Spivey, 2004). Spivey explains that if one were beautiful then one would also be morally good. “The beauty was invested with morality; that to look good was necessarily also to be good” (Spivey, 2004).
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4. The body: The Greeks
Furthermore, “Men were not born beautiful. They made themselves that way- in the gymnasium” (Spivey). The gymnasium was a way for men to be social and have shared interests. The Greek perception of beauty and good was intertwined through the body.
Now what does this mean for people who are differently abled? It meant that people who are differently abled were not seen as beautiful nor morally good because their bodies were not beautiful. People who were differently abled were either killed in the Greek time period or hidden away.
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5. Beauty: Today’s Society
Are we like the Greeks in our perception of beauty?
We have many competitions which are based on how beautiful the body is. For example, body building, Miss USA, and swim suit competitions. We are always trying to obtain the most beautiful body in the gymnasiums.
Are athletes with para-abilities trying to obtain the ideal body just like athletes without para-abilities?
One author in para- ability sport would say yes athletes with physical impairments are searching for the ideal body. She writes that athletes with para-abilities are on the “Quest for ideal body” DePauw (2012). All of while can be interpreted to mean athletes with physical impairments are no different than athletes without physical disabilities.
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6. The Body
4.1- In today's society do we still have the same beliefs as the Greeks about the body? 4.1 What do you think? Link into Qualtrics… write a few sentences.
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7. Are they beautiful?
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8. Are they beautiful?
4.2 When you looked at the pictures what is your visual focus, In other words what do you see first? Body, face, muscles, hair, and or other? Link into Qualtrics
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9. Are they beautiful?
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10. Now are they still beautiful?
4.3 What was the point of reference to your focus? What did you see first? 4.4 Was it different from the last picture? 4.5 Why? 4.6 What did you learn about yourself and your focus? Link into Qualtrics-
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11. Perception
Picture one- Perception is important.. These individuals are beautiful as they have symmetry in their faces and bodies. They are toned and fit. According to the Greeks they are beautiful.
The next set of pictures just add more to the picture. Are they considered more or less beautiful? They are the same person no matter how you perceive them. Beauty should not be based on whether you have an impairment or not. Just like Oliver said, being legless should be irrelevant.
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12. Perspective taking and how it is affected…
If we are like the Greeks and pair beauty with the body. People with physical impairments would not participate. As one would think that the person is not capable of participating nor is beautiful while moving. Thusly, if we take the time to perspective take then we will place ourselves in the participant’s perspective, every individual, every child of every ability should be appreciated for their own beauty- not how beautiful they are as they move.
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13. Disability and beauty
How can differently abled be beautiful? It can be beautiful in many ways and one way is realizing that athletes with physical disabilities are just athletes and people. The athletes build their self image and self concept through sport and movement. Another aspect is the acceptance of their bodies and the capabilities of their bodies. One must remember that many people will see athletes with physical disabilities as different. However, that should not change how we should see them or their capabilities.
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14. Conclusion
The point of the lesson was is to examine the difference of beauty that we place on athletes with physical impairments compared to athletes with no impairments. The purpose was to create cognitive dissonance and to challenge us to think about how we view beauty of the body and our perceptions of what an athlete should look like. Furthermore, we discussed how perspective taking can and should affect how one views another in a positive way.
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15. Questions of Right Choice
Link into Qualtrics-
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16. Questions of Right Choice
4.7 What is the right thing to do?
4.7 All athletes should be treated the same- even though accommodations might be different.
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17. Questions of Right Choice
4.8 Why is it the right thing to do?
4.8 All athletes are people and all people deserve dignity.
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18. Questions of Right Choice
4.9 What are the social moral perspectives to support the answer?
4.9 If what this lesson is arguing is correct- We have a duty to do the right thing and treat all people with dignity.
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19. Final reflection and at least one lesson learned
Please link here to give at least one thing or concept you learned from this particular lesson. If you have any questions please add here as well.
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