Download Social class and Sport

Social class and Sport
Learning objectives:
To be able to describe what is
meant by the term ‘social class’
To list ways in which Leisure
Providers can target the
unemployed to become more
involved in sport
Is class still a determining factor in the
activities in which I participate and in my
likelihood of developing my performance?
Social class and sport:
What is social class?
The term used to define social inequalities,
that is, that certain groups have greater
access to wealth, income and power than
others.
Also factors such as a person's family
background, education and income contribute
to social class.
One of the most significant factors
determining the opportunities people have to
participate in sport is their social class
background.
The following table identifies socioeconomic group by
employment type. It can be seen that people in
`higher‘ socioeconomic positions have more
opportunities to participate.
GROUP
% PARTICIPATION
Professional
Managers
Semi-skilled
Unskilled
Full-time students
1987
78
68
51
42
89
1990
79
71
55
46
91
Those people higher up the socioeconomic scale are
more likely to have access to resources e.g. higher
disposable income. more time and more equipment
This can help to increase standards of
performance e.g. better
equipment/facilities, better
coaching/training/practice time.
They also have better attitudes
towards and better awareness of, the
benefits of sport e.g. character
building, health enhancing, socially
desirable.
They have also been socialised into
sport by the influence of schools,
parents and peers.
List ways to help the unemployed
become involved in sport:
Extend opening hours
Reduce costs, special rates
Reduced equipment hire costs
Special sessions
Organised activities
Employment advice in leisure centres
Daytime use
Better/increased facility provision in
areas of high unemployment
Direct publicity
Encourage unemployed to become
volunteer coaches/staff after being
trained
Sport tends to have social class associations:
Upper Class
POLO
GOLF
Middle Class Working
Class
RUGBY
RUGBY
UNION
LEAGUE
CROQUET
RACKET
SPORTS
HUNTING
HOCKEY
DARTS
SNOOKER
FISHING
Some sports cross all boundaries
e.g. football and cricket.
There are also regional and
national identities of sport within
the UK e.g. English cricket, Welsh
rugby. Scottish curling, (Irish)
Gaelic football
However, these class and
sub-culture boundaries are
becoming increasingly less
evident.
Social class and sporting involvement in
an historical context:
By the late 19th century, as a long-term
result of the industrial revolution, the
working classes had more time and money
to pursue leisure activities.
Working week decreased initially to 54
hours, by 1920 to 48 hours - half day on
Saturdays and Wednesdays given.
Between 1875 and 1900 - wages
increased by one third.
Factory sports created and sponsored teams
established.
• Development of railways - allowing better travel.
• 1870's = improvement of provision of public
leisure facilities... parks etc.
Park provision aimed to:
• Improve health
• Discourage crime
• Distract from social deviance (drinking etc)
• 1870’s sport become more commercialised.. ..
attendance at football and horse riding events
increased
• 1900's - by now there was a large involvement of
working class sporting activity.
•
However.... despite the increase
involvement of the working
class, sport was still controlled
by the middle class in terms of
ownership and management. e.g.
those in public schools were
being prepared for leadership
roles through team games, the
working classes were given drill
and therapeutic gymnastics to
provide discipline and improve
health.
Task:
Complete the work sheets