1 Intro Sportsoc

8/8/2019 1 Intro Sportsoc

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Sociology of SportSociology of SportHLTH 1014HLTH 1014


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INTRODUCTION TO

SPORT SOCIOLOGY/SPORT THEORIES

(Chapters 1 & 2 Coakely, 2004 8th ed)


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Sociology of SportSociology of SportWhat is it?What is it?

Why Study it?Why Study it?

It is a subdiscipline of sociology that studies sports asIt is a subdiscipline of sociology that studies sports as

a part of social and cultural lifea part of social and cultural life

However: What is Sport? What is Physical Activity?However: What is Sport? What is Physical Activity?What is Leisure? What is Recreation?What is Leisure? What is Recreation?

For the purposes of this class sports are:For the purposes of this class sports are: Physical activitiesPhysical activities

Competitive activitiesCompetitive activities


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We will mainly be concerned withWe will mainly be concerned with

organisedorganised institutionalisedinstitutionalisedsportingsportingactivitiesactivities (nationally, internationally and globally)(nationally, internationally and globally)


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What are institutionalised activities?What are institutionalised activities?

Institutionalisation is a sociological term referringInstitutionalisation is a sociological term referringto the process through which behaviours andto the process through which behaviours andorganisations become patterned or standardisedorganisations become patterned or standardisedover time from one situation to anotherover time from one situation to another(Coakely, 2004.(Coakely, 2004.8th ed)8th ed)

Institutionalised activities have formal rules andInstitutionalised activities have formal rules and

organisation structuresorganisation structures

Therefore cannot compare what goes on in beachTherefore cannot compare what goes on in beachcricket with grade, state or test cricketcricket with grade, state or test cricket( ie beach cricket has no formal rules, governing bodies, technical aspects,( ie beach cricket has no formal rules, governing bodies, technical aspects,

formalised game skills)formalised game skills)


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Using Sociology of SportUsing Sociology of Sport

Understanding sociological concepts/issues in sportUnderstanding sociological concepts/issues in sportcan provide us with an informed perspective withcan provide us with an informed perspective withrespect to:respect to:

Power (economic, political)Power (economic, political)

GlobalisationGlobalisation

MarginalisationMarginalisation

StigmatisationStigmatisation

RacismRacism

SexismSexism

HooliganismHooliganism

Drugs (etc)Drugs (etc)


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Sociology of Sport is aboutSociology of Sport is about

Thinking critically about sports to identify andThinking critically about sports to identify andunderstand social problems and social issuesunderstand social problems and social issuesassociated with sports in societyassociated with sports in society

Viewing sports not just in terms of physicalViewing sports not just in terms of physical

performance but also as a social phenomenaperformance but also as a social phenomenaconsidering peoples feelings, thoughts and livesconsidering peoples feelings, thoughts and lives

Learning about sports so that you can makeLearning about sports so that you can makeinformed choices about your sport or the sports ininformed choices about your sport or the sports in

your communityyour community

Thinking about how to challenge ways in whichThinking about how to challenge ways in whichsports disadvantage some categories of people andsports disadvantage some categories of people andprivilege othersprivilege others


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Sport sociology and making aSport sociology and making a

differencedifference The conclusions sport sociologists make canThe conclusions sport sociologists make can

sometimes create controversy because conclusionssometimes create controversy because conclusionsoften call for institutional changeoften call for institutional change

The conclusions often threaten people in positions ofThe conclusions often threaten people in positions ofpower and control and who believe that currentpower and control and who believe that currentorganisation of sport is right and naturalorganisation of sport is right and natural ieie

Racial vilification (AFL)Racial vilification (AFL)

Sledging (Cricket)Sledging (Cricket)

Women and sport participationWomen and sport participation


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Why study sports as a social phenomena?Why study sports as a social phenomena?

Sport is clearly a part of many cultures throughout the worldSport is clearly a part of many cultures throughout the world

Sport is a huge global economy pervading many facets of ourSport is a huge global economy pervading many facets of our

liveslives (TV, radio, newspaper, advertising)(TV, radio, newspaper, advertising)

Many sportspeople are more well known and revered thanMany sportspeople are more well known and revered thanother prominent people within some culturesother prominent people within some cultures( eg several Australians of the year( eg several Australians of the year-- Mark Taylor, Pat Rafter, Steve Waugh)Mark Taylor, Pat Rafter, Steve Waugh)

Sports talk can be a site for socialisationSports talk can be a site for socialisation (ie easy ice(ie easy ice--breaker)breaker)

Sports have become something around which individuals canSports have become something around which individuals cancreate an identitycreate an identity (for some more so than education, career, religion or family)(for some more so than education, career, religion or family)


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Also study sports as a social phenomenaAlso study sports as a social phenomena

Because many aspects of sport transcendBecause many aspects of sport transcendsocial spheressocial spheres

Sports and the familySports and the family

Sports and the economySports and the economy

Sports and the mediaSports and the media

Sports and politicsSports and politics

Sports and educationSports and education

Sports and religionSports and religion


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Overall, sports and sport images haveOverall, sports and sport images have

become a pervasive part of our everydaybecome a pervasive part of our everyday

lives, especially those of us living in countrieslives, especially those of us living in countrieswhere resources are relatively plentiful andwhere resources are relatively plentiful and

the media are widespread. For this reason,the media are widespread. For this reason,

sports are logical topics for the attention ofsports are logical topics for the attention ofsociologists and anyone else concerned withsociologists and anyone else concerned with

social life today.social life today. (Coakely, 2004 p.9)(Coakely, 2004 p.9)


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Sociology of Sport TheoriesSociology of Sport Theories We use social and cultural theories to helpWe use social and cultural theories to help

us study, and change, sportsus study, and change, sports

The best sociology of sport theories:The best sociology of sport theories: Help us ask questions and seek information that enable usHelp us ask questions and seek information that enable us

to see sports in new waysto see sports in new ways Understand the relationship between sports and social lifeUnderstand the relationship between sports and social life

Make informed decisions about sports and sportsMake informed decisions about sports and sports

participation in our lives, families, communities andparticipation in our lives, families, communities and

societiessocieties


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Theories used in Sport SociologyTheories used in Sport Sociology

Six major theoriesSix major theories

Functionalist theoryFunctionalist theory

Conflict theoryConflict theory

Interactionist theoryInteractionist theory

Critical theoriesCritical theories Feminist theoriesFeminist theories

& Figurational theory& Figurational theory


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Functionalist TheoryFunctionalist Theory Takes on the notion that everything is inherentlyTakes on the notion that everything is inherently

good in sportsgood in sports

That sports positively change lives, communitiesThat sports positively change lives, communitiesand social settingsand social settings

That sport is a natural environment in whichThat sport is a natural environment in whichparticipants interact smoothly and efficientlyparticipants interact smoothly and efficiently

These are viewpoints that many students will haveThese are viewpoints that many students will have

at the beginning of their undergraduate careerat the beginning of their undergraduate career


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Conflict TheoryConflict Theory

Based on ideas of Karl MarxBased on ideas of Karl Marx

Assumes social life revolves around money, wealth andAssumes social life revolves around money, wealth andeconomic forceseconomic forces

Conflict theorists assume that major forms of sport inConflict theorists assume that major forms of sport in

society promote the interests of people with money andsociety promote the interests of people with money andeconomic powereconomic power

Conflict theorists see sport as diminishing the power ofConflict theorists see sport as diminishing the power ofthose without money whilst enhancing the power andthose without money whilst enhancing the power and

privilege of those who control wealth and the economyprivilege of those who control wealth and the economy

However,However,

Conflict theory inspires research and discussion on howConflict theory inspires research and discussion on howsports perpetuate power and privilege of elite groups insports perpetuate power and privilege of elite groups in

society and serve as tools of exploitation and oppressionsociety and serve as tools of exploitation and oppression


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Interactionist TheoryInteractionist Theory Focuses on meaning, identity, social relationshipsFocuses on meaning, identity, social relationships

and subcultures in sportsand subcultures in sports

Inspires discussion and research about theInspires discussion and research about the

experiences of athletes and how the athletes defineexperiences of athletes and how the athletes define

and make sense out of their participation in sportsand make sense out of their participation in sports

Participant observations and inParticipant observations and in--depth interviewsdepth interviews

are the most appropriate forms of researchare the most appropriate forms of research

methodologiesmethodologies


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Critical TheoriesCritical Theories

Most widely used theories for those who studyMost widely used theories for those who studysports in societysports in society

Take many forms in focusing on explanations ofTake many forms in focusing on explanations ofculture, power and social relationsculture, power and social relations

Whereas functionalist and conflict theorists sayWhereas functionalist and conflict theorists saysport is a reflection of society critical theoristssport is a reflection of society critical theoristsexplain that sport is much more and that sports areexplain that sport is much more and that sports aresites in which culture is produced and reproducedsites in which culture is produced and reproduced(therefore more important)(therefore more important)


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Feminist TheoriesFeminist Theories Based on the assumption that sports are genderedBased on the assumption that sports are gendered

activitiesactivities

Critical feminist theorists are concerned with powerCritical feminist theorists are concerned with powerrelations and gender dynamics that privilege menrelations and gender dynamics that privilege menover womenover women

Assume that the meaning, organisation andAssume that the meaning, organisation andpurpose of sports are grounded in the values andpurpose of sports are grounded in the values andexperiences of men and celebrate notions ofexperiences of men and celebrate notions ofmasculinitymasculinity


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Figurational TheoryFigurational Theory

Has its roots in history based intellectual traditionsHas its roots in history based intellectual traditions

in Europein Europe (Not well known in US and Australia)(Not well known in US and Australia)

Those who use this theory focus on historicalThose who use this theory focus on historicalprocessesprocesses

Figurational theory has inspired a good deal ofFigurational theory has inspired a good deal of

research on the global impact of sports in terms ofresearch on the global impact of sports in terms of

global economy, global mediaglobal economy, global media--sport complex,sport complex,

global sport and politicsglobal sport and politics (How these have emerged over time)(How these have emerged over time)


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What theories are best?What theories are best?

Theories areTheories are tools that help us ask questions, collect andtools that help us ask questions, collect and

analyse information, and interpret the implications of theanalyse information, and interpret the implications of the

analyses.analyses.

Our choice of theories is influenced by our goals and politicalOur choice of theories is influenced by our goals and political

agendas.agendas.

The best theories are those that help us find ways to make theThe best theories are those that help us find ways to make the

world more democratic and humane. Arent they?world more democratic and humane. Arent they?

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