Where is my Capital? A Personal Reflection about Ability and the Access to Recognition for Inclusion in Physical Education

摘要

Ability is a social construction that influences the access to recognition of people in the field of physical activity and sports (PASS) and in PE in particular. However, the notion of ability is defined in a simplistic and traditional manner and, consequently, experiences of symbolic violence are visible for those with specific body and tastes that do not match the dominant normative and hegemonic discourses embedded in the field. This study focuses on the narration of my own experiences of symbolic violence and “capital-dependence” as an “able” woman in the field of PASS. Through the analysis of critical moments from a retrospective point of view, I try to explain the evolution of my way of understanding the notion of ability and the circumstances that have contributed to the transformation of my discourse based on the socio-cultural perspective. I conclude that it is necessary to promote reflective practice in preservice teacher education programs as a way to increase awareness of embodied discourses’ influence in and from the different fields of PASS towards the construction of more inclusive movement contexts.