‘It’s a part of me’: an ethnographic exploration of becoming a disabled sporting cyborg following spinal cord injury

Journal article


Sparkes, A., Brighton, J. and Inckle, K. 2017. ‘It’s a part of me’: an ethnographic exploration of becoming a disabled sporting cyborg following spinal cord injury. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise & Health. 10. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2017.1389768
AuthorsSparkes, A., Brighton, J. and Inckle, K.
Abstract

In much research dealing with sport technologies and the process of cyborgification there is a significant lack of attention given to the experiences of athletes themselves. This is particularly so for disabled athletes. Against this backdrop of neglect, we draw on data generated from a 4-year ethnographic study that explored the experiences and meanings of disability sport for those who became involved in it following a spinal cord injury, and here we focus specifically on the process of becoming a disabled sporting cyborg.

Our analysis reveals the following phases in this process: from taken-for granted to techno-survival cyborgs; rehabilitation centres and becoming a technically competent cyborg; everyday life as an embodied cyborg; becoming a disabled sporting cyborg. The dynamics of each phase, how they relate to each other, and how they shape body-self-technology relationships over time are considered in detail. In closing we offer some reflections on the consequences of cyborgification and the implications of this process for constructions of ability and disability.

We also raise questions regarding the structural and ethical implications of cyborgification, particularly in terms of the validation of certain kinds of bodies at the expense of others and the role of technology in reproducing social inequalities.

KeywordsDisabled athletes; spinal cord injury; technology; body-self relationships; cyborgification
Year2017
JournalQualitative Research in Sport, Exercise & Health
Journal citation10
PublisherRoutledge
ISSN2159-676X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2017.1389768
Publication dates
Online23 Oct 2017
Publication process dates
Deposited14 Nov 2017
Accepted05 Oct 2017
Accepted author manuscript
Output statusPublished
Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/8865v/-it-s-a-part-of-me-an-ethnographic-exploration-of-becoming-a-disabled-sporting-cyborg-following-spinal-cord-injury

  • 82
    total views
  • 218
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

‘My body was no longer a problem’: Electric mountain biking, disability, and the cultural politics of green exercise.
Cherrington, J. and Brighton, J. 2024. ‘My body was no longer a problem’: Electric mountain biking, disability, and the cultural politics of green exercise. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers. p. e12715. https://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12715
Trauma and spinal cord injury: Reflections from research into physical activity and sport
Brighton, J. and Williams, T. 2024. Trauma and spinal cord injury: Reflections from research into physical activity and sport. in: McMahon, J. and McGannon, K. R. (ed.) Trauma-Informed Research in Sport, Exercise, and Health Abingdon Routledge, Taylor and Francis.
Using sensory methods for researching disability in physical education.
Brighton, J., Powis, B. and Gubby, L. 2024. Using sensory methods for researching disability in physical education. in: Maher, A. J., Haegele, J. and Coates, J. (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Qualitative Methods for Researching Disability in Physical Education London Routledge, Taylor and Francis.
Who is “us” in “nothing about us without us”? Rethinking the politics of disability research
Inckle, K., Brighton, J. and Sparkes, A. C. 2023. Who is “us” in “nothing about us without us”? Rethinking the politics of disability research. Disability Studies Quarterly . 42 (3-4). https://doi.org/10.18061/dsq.v42i3-4.7947
Gym bodies: Exploring fitness cultures
Brighton, J., Wellard, I. and Clark, A. 2022. Gym bodies: Exploring fitness cultures. London Routledge, Taylor and Francis.
Moving beyond ‘models’: Theorizing physical disability in sport
Brighton, J., Townsend, R., Campbell, N. and Williams, T. 2021. Moving beyond ‘models’: Theorizing physical disability in sport . Sociology of Sport Journal. 38 (4), p. 386–398. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2020-0012
Growth and adversity in disability sport following spinal cord injury
Brighton, J. 2020. Growth and adversity in disability sport following spinal cord injury. in: Wadey, R., Day M. and Howells, K. (ed.) Growth Following Adversity in Sport: A Mechanism to Positive Change London Routledge, Taylor and Francis. pp. 174-188
‘I am proud of my back’: an ethnographic study of the motivations and meanings of body modification as identity work among athletes with spinal cord injury
Sparkes, A., Brighton, James and Inckle, Kay 2020. ‘I am proud of my back’: an ethnographic study of the motivations and meanings of body modification as identity work among athletes with spinal cord injury. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. 13 (3), pp. 407-425. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676x.2020.1756393
Autonomic dysreflexia and boosting in disability sport: exploring the subjective meanings, management strategies, moral justifications, and perceptions of risk among male, spinal cord injured, wheelchair athletes.
Sparkes, A. and Brighton, James 2019. Autonomic dysreflexia and boosting in disability sport: exploring the subjective meanings, management strategies, moral justifications, and perceptions of risk among male, spinal cord injured, wheelchair athletes. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. 12 (3), pp. 414-430. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676x.2019.1623298
Disability, spinal cord injury, and strength and conditioning: sociological considerations
Brighton, J. 2018. Disability, spinal cord injury, and strength and conditioning: sociological considerations. Strength and Conditioning Journal. 40 (6), pp. 29-39. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0000000000000419
Using interviews to explore experiences of disability in sport and physical activity
Brighton, J. and Williams, T. 2018. Using interviews to explore experiences of disability in sport and physical activity. in: Medcalf, R. and Mackintosh, C. (ed.) Researching Difference in Sport and Physical Activity Routledge.
Imperfect perfection and wheelchair bodybuilding: challenging ableism or reproducing normalcy?
Sparkes, A., Brighton, J. and Inckle, K. 2017. Imperfect perfection and wheelchair bodybuilding: challenging ableism or reproducing normalcy? Sociology. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038517737476
Gym Bodies (2): CrossFit
Brighton, J. 2015. Gym Bodies (2): CrossFit. Sport and Body Cultures Embodied Thought of the Month. 1, pp. 35-38.
Impaired sporting bodies and father-son relationships
Brighton, J. 2015. Impaired sporting bodies and father-son relationships. Sport and Body Cultures Embodied Thought of the Month. 1, pp. 21-24.
Embodied experiences within the context of disability
Brighton, J. 2015. Embodied experiences within the context of disability. Sport and Body Cultures Embodied Thought of the Month. 1, pp. 12-15.
Researching physical disability in sport: Reflections from an (able)bodied ethnographer
Brighton, J. 2015. Researching physical disability in sport: Reflections from an (able)bodied ethnographer. in: Wellard, I. (ed.) Researching Embodied Sport: Exploring Movement Cultures Routledge.
(Dis)ability sport as an opportunity for empowerment or a reproduction of gender stereotypes? A life history of a female Paralympian
Brighton, J. and Sparkes, A. 2014. (Dis)ability sport as an opportunity for empowerment or a reproduction of gender stereotypes? A life history of a female Paralympian.
(Dis)ability by design: Narratives of bodily perfectionism
Brighton, J. and Sparkes, A. 2014. (Dis)ability by design: Narratives of bodily perfectionism.
(Dis)abled athletes as the “Ambassadors of transhumanism”
Brighton, J. and Sparkes, A. 2014. (Dis)abled athletes as the “Ambassadors of transhumanism”.
Disabled sporting bodies as sexual beings: Reflections and challenges
Sparkes, A., Brighton, J. and Inckle, K. 2014. Disabled sporting bodies as sexual beings: Reflections and challenges. in: Hargreaves, J. and Anderson, E. (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Sport, Gender and Sexuality Abingdon, Oxon Routledge. pp. 179-188
(Dis)ability by design: Narratives of bodily perfectionism amongst wheelchair athletes
Brighton, J. and Sparkes, A. 2014. (Dis)ability by design: Narratives of bodily perfectionism amongst wheelchair athletes.