Capstone Project Proposal Draft

Name of student: Zoey Laird

Date: October 4, 2023
Teacher: Ms. Lacroix
Capstone strand I have chosen is Product
Proposed title for my project: Leveling the Playing Field: Empowering Women in Sports

What is your inquiry question that interests you for further research? It should be a question that
connects with a purpose, passion or personalized area of interest for you. This is a question that
you cannot just google an answer for. Please see examples from your Capstone booklet.
My inquiry question is:

How does a persons’ gender affect their opportunities in sports?

Rationale/context: Detail your reasons for choosing this inquiry question. Explain WHY you are
choosing to investigate this topic as a major area of focus. How does this area of inquiry connect
to your passion(s), purpose? Why is it of personal interest to you?

I am choosing to investigate how someone’s gender affects the opportunities they are
presented with because as a female athlete, this topic is something I have experienced first-
hand. I also feel that it affects so many people and more attention must to be brought to the
topic.

Background: What background knowledge/connections/prior learning do you have in this

area of inquiry?

I played soccer from ages 4-17. It has had such a big impact on my life and taught me so
much. There are so many strong women I look up to and I see the struggles that they all go
through. I have also experienced it firsthand. Gender Inequality in sports is a very real thing
and it is important that there is information spread about it.

Career connections: What is your intended career area at this point in time? What
connections does this inquiry question have to your life, academic and/ or career goals?

I want to have a career based around kinesiology and sports medicine. Being knowledgeable
about what is going on in the world of sports will help me to build relationships and
connections with the people that I will be working around and with.

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Interdisciplinary and core competencies connections: What subject areas and core
competencies will be connected with your project? Outline and explain the connections.

Core Competency Reflection

Personal Awareness and Responsibility:

Strengths
1. I am responsible, self-motivated, and can advocate for myself.
I get my work done on time and I can hold myself accountable for making sure I do so to the best of my ability. I
always will try to push myself an don’t need anyone else to do so for me. I hold myself to a high standard.
2. I take personal responsibility for my choices and actions.
If I make a mistake or make an irresponsible decision, I know that it is no ones’ fault but my own. I will always do
my best to acknowledge that, and make sure I do my best to deal with the situation and try to fix it if need be.
Weakness:
1. I use a variety of strategies to manage my personal well-being.
Sometimes I don’t always take care of myself the best I can. I often overload myself with work knowing deep
down it will negatively affect me and I created anxiety and stress for myself. When I feel this stress, I don’t
always handle it properly and I tend to bottle up these feelings until I get so burnt out that I have a mental
breakdown. I definitely need better strategies for taking care of my mental state.

Social Responsibility:
Strengths
1. I can identify and appreciate different perspectives on issues and evaluate strategies to resolve
problems.
I understand that everyone has different worldviews and therefor different opinions about certain topics. That is
how the world works and there are no two people that will ever think exactly alike. Due to this, it’s extremely
important to find ways to slow down and resolve problems. Thinking of pros and cons and keeping to majority I
mind has proven to be a good way to do so, as well as compromising to make everyone get something that work
for them.
2. I value diversity, defend human rights, advocate for others, and act ethically in all my interactions,
including online.
If there is ever someone being put down or harassed in anyway, I feel it is extremely important to intervene.
Being a bystander is just as bad as being the abuser sometimes. I will proudly defend those who are treated
unjustly because I feel it is so important that everyone fee valued and respected.
Weakness:
1. I have positive peer and intergenerational relationships.
Although I have many positive relationships with people, I tend to not come out of my shell much in
environments that make me uncomfortable. I tend to go quiet and not make the effort to build a relationship
with someone when I don’t feel 100% confident. This is definitely something that I need to work on as these
relationships can be important to my success in certain areas.
Critical Thinking:
Strengths:
1. I can analyze and make defensible judgments, draw conclusions and consider a variety of perspectives.
I can understand that people have different upbringings and that no two people will look at the same situation in
the same way. This means that it is very important to analyze multiple perspectives and think of the reasons
behind these perspectives. This will help to better connect with people, which will help with understanding them
better.
2. I can ask good quality questions, gather relevant information, and come up with well-developed
conclusions.
I know how important it is to gather all the information needed before coming to a conclusion. I always now
what information I need for my conclusion and I understand the differences between relevant and irrelevant

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information. I will not conclude anything until there is enough data to prove said conclusion.
Weakness:
1. I can explore and create new ways to represent my learning around variety of problems,
events, issues and needs.
I find myself struggling at times to find creative ways to demonstrate my learning and would rather be told
how to do so. I overthink any ideas I come up with and overanalyze them. I put the ideas down and never
believe anything is truly good enough. Again, I prefer being given clear, strict instruction rather than such
open-ended tasks.

Creative Thinking:
Strengths:
1. I can persevere and understand that failure can be productive.
I know that making mistakes is important because it gives you room and help to improve. I know what not to do
and when given feedback from said mistakes, I know exactly what I have to do to make my work better and not
repeat my mistakes. I know that without failure, there cannot be growth.
2. I can take my ideas evaluate, develop, and refine them and make something productive out of them.
When I have an idea for something, I can think deep into it and think of all the possible outcomes of that idea.
When I think of these things, I can help myself to make the best possible version of the idea I have. I can tweak
the details as I go and learn from the mistakes I make on the way. Sometimes, I can even get feedbacks from the
mistakes to help improve even more.
Weakness:
1. I can use the environment around me, including others, and my unconscious mind to generate new
ideas.
Generating brand new ideas is a challenge for me. I have a hard time coming up with ideas solei from inspiration.
I typically need suggestions or some sort of idea already there to build off of, rather than coming up with
something completely by scratch.
Communication:
Strengths:
1. I can reflect on the processes of learning and share what I have learned.
When I learn something, I make sure I have learned it thoroughgoingly. I have been told you have mastered
something when you can teach that thing to somebody else. I always try to learn new things exactly like that.
This definitely gives me the ability to share what I have learned to others because I truly understand what I am
talking about.
2. I can listen, learn to contribute meaningfully to discussions and debate, consider different perspectives,
and build consensus.
I stay engaged during any type of discussion and analyze everything that is said for when it is needed for me to
contribute. I want to have the correct information before I contribute to the discussion and if I feel I don’t have
that information, I will not become involved. I believe it would be counter-productive for me to offer my
thoughts if I did not fully understand the topic of discussion.
Weakness:
1. I can work with other students to plan, inquire, and solve problems.
I sometimes find myself feel self-conscious about speaking when I am placed with students, I am not familiar
with. This leads to me not always working well with these students and asking the correct questions due to
feeling shy to speak up. Without these skills, it is hard to complete tasks in unfamiliar group settings.
Personal and Cultural Identity:
Strengths:
1. I know my strengths and what makes me new unique.
I know what I am good at and what I am bad at. I understand what makes me, me. I know my personal identity is
unique just like everyone else. I know that I like and dislike and am not afraid to speak up when my boundaries
are crossed. I know myself.
2. I understand what is important to me.
I know my values and I know that having values is an important thing. I understand what makes me happy and
what makes me uncomfortable. I also know that being able to identify all this is key to understanding myself and
the way I present myself to others.
Weakness:
1. I can define myself in terms of my relationship to others and the world.

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 I don’t believe I can understand myself by only looking at the relationships I have. I don’t feel it says anything
very useful to defining myself because all of my relationships are not the same and I am not as venerable in
certain relationships compared to others. I fake my personality at times which won’t show we I really am in that
relationship.

Capstone Presentation medium: select one or more project mediums you wish to use to
present your project. Outline and give details about how you will present your project once
completed. You may use a combination of mediums.
o Electronic portfolio: Prezi or PPT
o Physical portfolio
o Website
o iMovie presentation
o YouTube channel

For my capstone project I will be creating a documentary including interviews with people who
have relevant experiences to share. I will add clips from interviews, news articles, and other
evidence to support my facts.

Description of my Capstone project. Specific Project Details of the Capstone Project: what
will you research, create, study, produce, solve, investigate? What product will be produced
at the end of this project for evaluation. Write a one-page description outlining your
proposal.

In my captivating documentary, I embark on a heartfelt journey to

shed light on the untold stories and experiences of the incredible
girls I had the privilege of playing soccer with for over 13 years.
Through intimate and thought-provoking interviews, I aim to uncover
the deep-rooted struggles these talented athletes faced in the face of
gender inequality and limited opportunities in the world of sports.

With each personal narrative shared, the documentary becomes a

powerful testament to the resilience, determination, and unwavering
spirit of these remarkable girls. Their stories serve as a rallying cry
for change, igniting a flame of awareness and inspiring action within
the sports community and beyond.

As the camera pans across the soccer fields where dreams were
born, and as each girl's voice echoes through the lens, viewers will
be captivated by the raw emotions and unfiltered truths that emerge.
From the early years of navigating societal expectations and
breaking down stereotypes, to the challenges of securing equal
access to resources, training, and opportunities, this documentary
will explore the multifaceted layers of inequality that exist in the
realm of sports.

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 But this documentary is not just about highlighting the struggles. It is
also a celebration of the triumphs, the victories, and the moments of
sheer joy that these girls experienced on the field. It is a testament
to their unwavering passion, their unyielding dedication, and their
refusal to be silenced.

Through the power of storytelling, this project seeks to spark

conversations, challenge perceptions, and foster a more inclusive
and equitable sports landscape for future generations. It is a call to
action, urging individuals, communities, and organizations to come
together and create meaningful change.

By sharing this documentary with the world, I hope to inspire young

girls to dream big, to pursue their passions fearlessly, and to believe
in their own limitless potential. I aim to empower them with the
knowledge that their voices matter, their dreams are valid, and their
rightful place in the world of sports is waiting to be claimed.

Resources/ Technology/Skills: Make an assessment of the resources, technology and

skills you will need to be able to complete this project. What is your plan to be able to
access/learn all of the resources necessary to achieve completion of this project? Detail
your plans.

I need to have access to a camera as well as a microphone for good quality video and audio
as well as a laptop to edit the clips together. I know that cameras as well as mics can be
rented for projects like these and I will be paying for an editing soft wear that I know how to
use. I used this specific editing soft wear in my video production class/

Mentors/Community Connections: What types of mentor(s)/community connections will

you need to help you complete your capstone project? How will your mentor(s) help you?
What is your plan to access the mentorship/community connections necessary for this
project?

I have several people that have coached me throughout the 13 years I was playing soccer that
would be great mentors to help me complete my project. They will help me to give personal
input into the area of focus and help me to feel confident in myself with this project.

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Project limitations: What are some project limitations and potential obstacles that you foresee
that might affect progress with your Capstone Project?

The availability of the people and mentors I need for input into my project may be hard to
coordinate.

Other considerations: List and detail any other related information/ considerations about
your project that you feel should be included in your project proposal.

I need to make sure I have access to a quality camera for filming and also editing soft wear. I
also need to ensure I don’t speak off of my personal bias but simply state facts.

References:

Attach a REFERENCE LIST. Your list should be written using correct APA formatting.
An example is provided on page 21 of your Capstone booklet.

References

Zapico, B., Tuero, C., Espartero, J., & González-Boto, R. (2014). The socialisation process

gender inequality in school sports. Science & Sports, 29, S20.

Hindman, L. C., & Paulsen, R. J. (2022). Racial and gender inequality regimes in sport:

occupational segregation and wage gaps in the US spectator sports industry. European

Sport Management Quarterly, 1-21.

Trolan, E. J. (2013). The impact of the media on gender inequality within sport. Procedia-

Social and Behavioral Sciences, 91, 215-227.

Burt, A. R. (2021). Same Work but Different Pay: Gender Inequality in the Professional Sports

Industry. Culture, Society, and Praxis, 13(1), 3.

Chukwurah, L. N., Malete, L., & Nji, G. C. (2022). Gender inequity in media coverage and

athletes’ welfare in Nigerian sports: impact of the Nigeria sports policy and African

union agenda 2063. Sport in Society, 25(8), 1438-1449.

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Mazur, Z., Organista, N., & Dziubiński, Z. (2018). Gender inequality in sports press coverage:

Based on the example of Gazeta Wyborcza in the years 2010–2013. Central European

Journal of Communication, 11(1 (20)), 81-101.

Play, F. I. F. (2017). FAIR PLAY AND HAPPINESS THROUGH SPORTS.

Chalabaev, A., Sarrazin, P., Fontayne, P., Boiché, J., & Clément-Guillotin, C. (2013). The

influence of sex stereotypes and gender roles on participation and performance in sport

and exercise: Review and future directions. Psychology of sport and exercise, 14(2),

136-144.

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