Researchers argue dodgeball is oppressive, used to 'dehumanize' others

Dodgeball has been a staple of physical education classes for decades, but a group of Canadian professors believes the popular game is having a negative impact on children.

During a presentation at the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences in Vancouver, British Columbia, last week, professors from three Canadian universities argued that dodgeball is being used as a tool of "oppression" to "dehumanize" peers, according to Jacob Bogage of the Washington Post.

"When you're setting up the environment for students to learn, and you introduce the idea that it's okay to slam the ball at whomever you like, even if it's with a soft ball, the intention is there," Joy Butler, a professor who studies pedagogy and curriculum development at University of British Columbia, said.

Researchers noted that while interviewing middle school-age students about physical education courses, they were repeatedly told by the children that they hated dodgeball. Researchers also observed that the more athletic and authoritative students would create their own teams and establish rules that allowed them to gang up on others.

"The message is that it's okay to hurt or dehumanize the 'other,'" Butler continued. "The competition is about annihilating one's opponent, and the true definition of competition is between two evenly matched teams. Well, kids stack their teams, and they really enjoy beating the other team. What's the enjoyment of that?"

In response to Butler, Dodgeball Canada published a rebuttal that focused on the merits of the sport. In the piece, the organization stated: "Dodgeball is a sport built on the foundation of teamwork, inclusiveness, and trust, and is a far cry from the memories of schoolyard bullies throwing hard rubber balls at other children."

A paper on the subject is set to be published by the group of professors in the European Physical Education Review.