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KIN 385: Sociological Foundations of Physical Activity The Sociology of Sport: What Is It and Why Study It? Week Fall, 2014 Daniel Frankl, Ph.D. I Overview of Chapter 1 (Coakley, 2007, pp. 2-29) Professor of Kinesiology California State University, Los Angeles http://www.snoopy.com/comics/peanuts/meet_the_gang/meet_charlie_brown.html Why study sports as social phenomena? Sports activities and images are part of people’s lives Sports are closely tied to cultural ideology in society i.e., “everyday logic” people use to guide their ideas, behaviors, & relationships Sports are connected with major spheres of social life such as: family, economy, media, politics, education, & religion Coakley, J. (2009). Sport in society: Issues and controversies (10th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw Hill. Now that sports business is a massive arm of the international entertainment industry...there’s no way we can escape its economic, social and environmental footprints...[T]he growing involvement of big business, of the media and of advertisers has helped reshape the rules of many games—and, in the process, fuelled new forms of exclusion. John Elkington, Environmentalist, president of SustainAbility (2004) (Cited in Coakley, 2007. p. 3) Our text, according to Coakley (2007, p. 15) was written to assist a reader in accomplishing the following: Required Text John Elkington, Environmentalist, president of SustainAbility Jay Coakley Think critically about sports so that you can identify and understand social problems and social issues associated with sports in society. Look beyond issues of physical performance and records to see sports as social constructions that influence how people feel, think, and live their lives. 1 Course Objectives Our Text According to Coakley: Knowledge about sports makes it possible to make informed choices about your sport participation and the place of sports in your community and society. Think about the ways sports in your schools and communities might be transformed so they don’t systematically disadvantage some categories of people while privileging others. Course Objectives What are culture and society? What are sports and how might we distinguish sports from other activities? What is the sociology of sport? Why study sports as social phenomena? What is the current status of the sociology of sport as a field of study? Presentation Objectives Develop a sensitivity to and understanding of the nature of structural oppression in its various forms, e.g., racism, sexism, ageism, and homophobia. Acquire the requisite skills and knowledge to make practical applications from sport sociology theory and research to sport, play, and society separating the “ought” from the “is” when addressing athlete, official, and spectator conduct in sports. In addition we shall focus on the following questions proposed by Coakley (2007, p. 5) Acquire a familiarity with the general scope and major tenets of sport sociology Obtain a basic knowledge of the experimental and observational research methodologies in sport sociology Understand the dynamics of ethnic and cultural factors in American sport Be able to critically analyze the current trends in the sport milieu and the dominant national conversation about sport and the family, education, economy, mass media, politics, and religion. Develop an understanding of the discipline of sociology in general and sport sociology in particular Become familiar with the assumptions of the sociological perspective Introduce the units of sociological analysis Understand sport as a microcosm of society Culture Defined Culture consists of "the common ideas, beliefs, practices, and perspectives that societal members share and that, in turn, provide 'blueprints' for their behavior (Leonard, 1998, p. 52).“ “Culture consists of the ways of life that people create as they participate in a group or society (Coakley, 2007, p. 5).” “Culture involves all meanings that people learn from one another. It includes ideas that are shared by society members (McPherson, Curtis, & Loy, 1989, p. 7).” 2 Society Defined “The term society refers to a collection of people living in a defined geographic territory and united by a political system and a shared sense of self-identification that distinguishes them from other people (Coakley, 2007, p. 5).” “A collection of social relationships represents a society (McPherson, Curtis, & Loy, 1989, p. 5).” Max Weber conceptualized society as a “process of patterned interaction among people (Alix, 1995, p. 24).” Sociology Defined Sport Sociology Defined Good Sociology Good sociology should begin with the application of radical skepticism and criticism to one’s own society, to one’s place in it, and, by extension, to all social behavior. Sociology, in short, should be alienating. “Sociology is the study of human social life (August Comte, cited in Leonard, 1998, p.15).” “Sociology is the scientific discipline that describes and explains human social organization (Eitzen & Sage, 2003, p. 2).” Sociology is the study of social life, including all forms of social interactions and relationships (Coakley, 2007, p. 4). “...the sociology of sport is a subdiscipline of sociology that focuses on the relationship between sport and social relations.” Coakley (1994, p. 3) Pierre L. van den Berghe http://ethology.nsu.ru/hes/hesis03/lnl/pvdb.htm Sport Psychology Defined A science in which the principles of psychology are applied in a sport or exercise setting. Reproduced from Cox, 2007. http://www.snoopy.com/comics/peanuts/meet_the_gang/meet_franklin.html Sport Psychology Defined The study of the effect of psychological and emotional factors on sport and exercise performance, and the effect of sport and exercise involvement on psychological and emotional factors. Coleman R. Griffith Reproduced from Cox, 2007. 3 Social Psychology Defined The study of the effect of actual, imagined, or implied presence of others on an individual’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Sociology Vs. Psychology Psychologists study behavior in terms of attributes & processes that exist inside individuals. Sociologists study behavior in terms of the social conditions and cultural contexts in which people live their lives. Kurt Lewin 1890-1947 Adapted from: Jowett & Lavallee, 2007, p. XI. Reproduced from: Coakley, 2003. What are Sports? From Deportare to Sport Sport is a modern word first used in English at around 1440. The origin of the word sport is from middle French de(s)porter which has its roots in late Latin deportare (to amuse oneself.” Reproduced from: Decker, W. (1992), p. 2 “Sports are institutionalized competitive activities that involve rigorous physical exertion or the use of a relatively complex physical skills by participants motivated by internal and external rewards.” Coakley (2007, p. 6) Z. Polgar Vs. Chiburdanidze at the 2004 Olympiad http://chessphotography.blogspot.com/ Sports are contested activities What is Play? “Play is an expressive activity done for its own sake.” (Coakley, 2007, p. 7) Dramatic spectacle, on the other hand, is a performance that is intended to entertain an audience. (Coakley, 2007, p. 7) Alexis Laree http://www.glorywrestling.com/Wrestlers.asp “[Sports] are activities for which there are no universal agreements about meaning, purpose, and organization.” (Coakley, 2007, p. 11) At any point in time, the critical struggle is over whose ideas would shape the national conversation. (Coakley, 2007) http://lgs6632.com/photo/06club/06usc/pages/06usc50043.htm 4 Assumptions of the Sociological Perspective The Sociological Perspective The sociological perspective involves a process of ‘seeing through’ the facades of social structures.” (Berger cited in Eitzen & Sage, 2003, p. 5) “The underlying assumption of the sociologist is that things are not as they seem (Eitzen & Sage, 2003, p. 5).” Individuals are Social Beings Individuals are Socially Determined Problems Addressed by the Sociological Perspective Sociology looks beyond the commonly accepted explanations of what is and whether that’s what ought to be (the naturalistic fallacy). Are collegiate athletics educational? Does competition in sports prepare individuals for real life? Does sport participation build character? Is sports a racism free environment? Tom McMillen, Former NBA player and member of US. Congress The overall message being drilled into our kids is clear and dangerous... Superstars sign 5-year contracts for $20 million. Teachers sign 1-year contracts for $20,000. In those circumstances, to whom will you listen, your teacher or your coach? Where will you spend your time, in the library or the gym? Humans are dependent on others for survival (to some extent...) Humans are products of their genes and social environment Individuals create, sustain, and change the Social Forms within which they conduct their lives thus, what is, does not necessarily justify what ought to be... Eamon Kelly, President of Tulane Univ. after eliminating men’s Basketball (CBS, Face the Nation” April 7, 1985) The focus on big money, the media pressure, drugs, gambling and betting are all part now of our national culture of intercollegiate athletics. ...it was time to say, “No more, we’ve had enough.” Our [mission] is teaching, it’s learning, it’s research. It’s time for university presidents across the country to gain control of their institutions. https://goomer.ncaa.org/wdbctx/LSDBi/LSDBI.home UNITS OF SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS The social psychological approach (e.g., athletes vs. nonathletes with several dep. var.) The Micro Level (e.g., small groups, like family, high school team) The Macro Level Norms, Values, Status and Role, Societal Institutions-- or cultural imperatives regulating culturally prescribed behavior 5 Critical thinking about sports helps us Identify & understand social problems and social issues associated with sports Look beyond scores to see sports as social phenomena Make informed choices about sport participation and the place of sports in our lives Transform sports in progressive ways Sociology may lead to controversial recommendations The conclusions of sociological research often call for changes in the organizations of sports and the structure of social relations in society. Those who benefit from the status quo may be threatened by such conclusions. Cultural Ideology consists of The general perspectives and ideas that people use To make sense of the world To discover their place in that world To determine what is important, right, and natural in that world “Dominant Ideology” Represents the perspectives and ideas favored by those who have power and influence in society Serves the interests of those with power and influence http://www.hhweb.com/stadiumphotos_fbpro.htm The characteristics of Cultural Ideology are: It is never established “once and for all time” It emerges in connection with struggles over the meaning and organization of social life It is complex and sometimes inconsistent It changes as power relationships change in society Gender Ideology The dominant perspectives and ideas that people have about masculinity & femininity relationships between men & women Image source: http://www.glasbergen.com/ 6 Gender Logic Gender Logic consists of prevailing notions of “common sense” about maleness and femaleness in a society) Men are naturally superior to women stronger, better skilled, emotionally controlled physically demanding sports turn boys into men A low skilled boy “plays like a girl.” Class Ideology Class ideology consists of “a web of ideas and beliefs that people use to understand economic inequalities and make sense of their own position in an economic hierarchy in society (Coakley, 2007, p. 23).” A meritocracy is a system where success is achieved by those who deserve it (Coakley, 2007, p. 23).” Racial Ideology Racial ideology consists of “a web of ideas and beliefs that people use to give meaning to skin color and to evaluate people in terms of racial classifications (Coakley, 2007, p. 23).” Racial ideology is often used as a basis for evaluating athletic potential or for explaining athletic success (Coakley, 2007, p. 23).” Common Societal Problems and Resulting Institutions Sex & Reproduction -- Family Young members -- Schools Order, Distribution of power -- Polity Production & Distribution of Goods and Services – Economy Information and Entertainment -Media Meaning for life, death, morals -Religion Sports and the major spheres of social life Sports and the Family Sports and the Economy Sports and the Media Sports and Politics Sports and Education Sports and Religion (Coakley, 2007, p. 24-26) Questions? 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