1 Sports in Society: Issues & Controversies Class 2 The Sociology of Sport: What Is Sport and Why Study It Sociologically? 2 Sports Are Social Phenomena Sports only exist in social and cultural contexts But everything is, even the private, shameful, sociological assumption. Sports are important in our society, therefore Sports provide a window into culture and society 3 Sociology is a tool for studying sports in society Sociology provides useful Concepts Theories Research methods Sociology sees sports from the outside, as needing an explanation. As something that doesn't just happen But rather is made 4 Culture: a complicated, contested concept "Consists of the ways of life people create in a group or society" Culture is socially constructed Sports as cultural practices Basically saying something is cultural is saying that it is not biological That it can change Over time Across cultures 5 Sports and Culture Sports, as parts of Culture, have forms and meanings that vary from place to place and through history 6 Society: A complicated concept A collection of people Living in a defined geographical territory United through A political system A shared sense of self-identification that distinguishes them from other people Basically, the modern nation-state But more than the state (government) 7 Society: A contested concept 1
Do societies really exist today? Are we simply becoming a single, global society One world? One league? Is there a "shared sense of self-identification" in multi-cultural societies? What distinguishes societies today? Culture? Sports? 8 Sports and Society "Sports are social constructions" Text really means human constructions Different groups of people struggle over What is sport The meaning of sport Others mean constructed by: Society Capitalism 9 The Sociology of Sport A subdiscipline of sociology that studies sports as part of social life Therefore as culture Focuses primarily on "organized, competitive sports" I.e., sports in modern societies Asks critical questions about sports in society Because form not inevitable 10 Sociology vs. Psychology Psychologists study behavior in terms of attributes & processes that exist inside individuals The social world is a given Sociologists study behavior in terms of the social conditions and cultural contexts in which people live their lives The individual is a given 11 Critical thinking: about sports Identify & understand Social problems Social issues See sports as social phenomena Come to understand Sport participation The place of sports in our lives Transform sports? 12 Sociology will be controversial Sociological research Sociology assumes that social order is not given Sociology inherently questions a social order 2
Those who benefit from the status quo May be threatened by sociological research Because those in power always argue order is natural Sociologists argue social order is socially constructed 13 Sociology should be critical of all Not just of supporters of the status quo Social change is complicated Unforeseen consequences E.g., Title IX in U.S. Increased involvement of women in college sports But also decline in minor men's sports Gymnastics Wrestling 14 Sports: as contested activities Definitions What are sports? Women's boxing? Men's synchronized swimming What should sports be? Who should participate? The best and the brightest? Everyone? Who is an athlete? 15 Defining Sport Is Defined by some as activities that are: Physical Competitive Institutionalized Motivated by a combination of internal & external rewards 16 Institutionalization Occurs When Rules become standardized Official agencies enforce rules Organizational & technical aspects of the activity become important Learning game skills becomes formalized Rationalization Modern sport only? 17 Play vs. Dramatic Spectacle: what sport is not? Play: expressive activity done for its own sake; often spontaneous and guided by informal norms Does this fit your experience of play? Dramatic Spectacle: organized to entertain an audience to obtain rewards Professional sports? Veneer of amateurism? 18 An Alternative Definition of Sports 3
Determine what activities are treated as sports in a society Determine which sports count Resources Status Determine social function of definitions The power of naming 19 Why study sports as social phenomena? Sports are connected to major parts of society The material base of society, the economy The social consciousness of society Ideologies Identities Other major spheres of social life: family politics education religion 20 Ideologies "The sets of interrelated ideas that" To give meaning to the world To make sense of the world To identify what is Important - trivial Right - wrong Natural But more than just ideas, embodied, habitus 21 Ideologies the text: They are never established once and for all time They emerge as people struggle over the meaning and organization of social life They are complex and sometimes inconsistent They change as power relationships change in society They rarely are just one 22 Ideologies: other perspectives False consciousness How the powerful convince the powerless that the social order is inevitable, natural How the powerful distract the powerless "In America, it is sport that is the opiate of the masses" Russell Baker. How the powerless come to accept the system. 23 "The Dominant Ideology" Represents the perspectives and ideas favored by people who have power and influence in society 4
Dominant ideologies serve the interests of people with power and influence 24 Examples of Ideology 25 Dominant Gender ldeology: the prevailing notions of common sense about masculinity and femininity in society. What is desirable What is natural What is possible 26 Examples of Ideology 27 Dominant Racial Ideology prevailing ideas about the meanings of skin color and the characteristics of people classified in various racial categories. Natural aptitudes Biology as destiny 28 Examples of Ideology Dominant Class Ideology prevailing ideas about the meanings of work and the characteristics of people classified in various productive categories. E.g., manual vs. mental work Blue vs. white collar work. Shared by sociologists? 29 Disagreements in the Sociology of Sport Basic vs. applied research To describe the world Or to change it Max Weber vs. Karl Marx Professional experts vs. critical sociologists Just a question of which side you're on? The power of expertise 5