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Sport
Rachel Gardner, Jordan O’Connor, Supna Agrawal, Will
Wilhelm, Eric Crider
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For most people, sport consists of certain leisure
activities, exercise, and spectator events.
Sociologists define sport as a set of competitive
activities in which winners and losers are
determined by physical performance within a set
of established rules.
Sport plays a central role in American society in
part because it reflects the culture’s emphasis on
achievement.
Sport Subculture: a group with distinct roles,
values, norms, and beliefs that is organized
around a sport activity. Ex: Hockey players, a
“subculture of violence.”
Section 1: The
Nature of Sport
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Sport is a major social activity
through which culture is created
and reinforced.
Functionalists think sport is
important because: it teaches
basic beliefs, norms and values, it
promotes a sense of social
identification, it offers a safe
release of aggressive feelings
generated by the frustrations,
anxieties, and strains of modern
life, and it encourages the
development of character.
Also see drawbacks: When
achievement and winning come
to be seen as the primary goals
of sport, any method of winningincluding violence and cheatingmay be encouraged
Section 2: Theoretical
Perspectives and Sport
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Pros & Cons
Social Integration: Sport can unite
different social classes and racial/ethnic
groups, but sport can heighten barriers
that separate groups.
Fair Play: Sport promotes fair play by
teaching the importance of following the
rules, but sports emphasis on winning
tempts people to cheat.
Physical Fitness: Sport promotes muscle
strength, weight control, endurance, and
coordination, but sport can lead to the use
of steroids and other drugs, excessive
weight loss or gain, and injuries.
Academics: Sport contributes to higher
education through scholarships and fund
raising, but sport takes money away from
academics and emphasizes athletic
performance over learning and
graduation.
Social Mobility: Sport allows athletes who
might otherwise not attend college to
obtain an education, but only a few can
achieve the promise of fame and wealth in
the professional ranks.
Theoretical
Perspective
Concept
Assumption
Functionalism
Social Integration
Athletic teams promote
togetherness and belonging
in a community
Conflict Theory
Social Conflict
Deep social conflict exists
within a community and
persists despite widespread
attachment to athletic
teams
Symbolic
Interactionism
Social Concept
Participate in a team sport
may promote or harm selfesteem depending upon
factors such as emphasis on
winning and fair play
Social Effects of Sport
Stacking: Assignment of players to
less central positions on the basis of
race or ethnicity
 Racism: Historically, minorities have
more often been assigned to positions
requiring relatively little interaction
and coordination with other players.
 Sexism: Sexism has denied females
equal access to organized sports.
Locally and nationally, resistance to
female participation in sports
continues to exist.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD
smz-ogwAg&feature=related
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Section 3: Social Issues in Sport
Will and Eric: Activity & Power Point
 Supna, Ray, and Jordan: Quiz & Power
Point
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Responsibilities
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Slide One:
http://teamvafitness.org/Soccer_players.jpg
Slide Two: http://www.b5media.com/wpcontent/uploads/2008/01/three-sports-balls.jpg
Slide Three: http://marionbarber.info/images/1.jpg
Slide Four:
http://blogs.reuters.com/photo/files/2008/01/hockey
-fight.jpg,
http://images.askmen.com/blogs/health/shouldsteroids-be-legal-199.jpg
Slide Six:
http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/database/ama
ndabynes/amandabynes10_240.jpg