Date post: | 24-May-2015 |
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Sociology, Sport and Psychos?
Session aims
• Revise sociology• Examine sport as a sociological
phenomenon• Analyse sport using key theorists• Class, Media, Gender, Race and
Crime
Sociology is…
• The study of society, but…– Society changes– Many societies– Sociological theories change society
• Hard to examine our own society– Critical stranger
What is Sociology?
“Sociology is the systematic study of human groups and social life in modern societies” (Browne 2005)
“Sociology involves the systematic study of the character and patterns of human interaction” (Cohen and Kennedy 2007)
“Sociology is a martial art” (Bourdieu)
What is sport?
• How many of these are a sport? Which aren’t? Why?Darts Ballet
Rugby Rowing
Poker Football
Javelin Beach volleyball
Snooker Karate
Formula 1 Table Tennis
So what about sport?
• Sport is pointless• All human societies
have sport• Animals don’t play
sport
Importance of sport
• Yet very popular to play and watch
• Media obsession• Provides jobs• Links to national
and regional pride
Some further questions
• Why spend £750mn on a national stadium?
• Why doesn’t everyone play the same sport?
• Why is football big here, but not in India (for example)?
Sport and Class
Which sports are associated with higher/ lower classes?
Sport and Class
• Role of sport in diverting working class attention
• Increasing commercialisation of sport (Chelsea, Man U etc)
• Who makes money from sport?
Group Activity
• How might sport help in the reinforcing social class?
– Economic capital– Social capital– Cultural capital
Sport and Functionalism
• Focus on how sports help society stick together
• Everyone playing same sports, gets the same values– National sports
• Watching and cheering same team helps society stick together– Mega-events London 2012
Group Activity
• What values and norms are reinforced through the London 2012 media coverage?– Who were the ‘stars’, what did they
represent?
• Did social media support or hinder this?
Sport and Gender
• Which sports are considered masculine or feminine?– Which are the most gender neutral
sports?
Feminisms and sport
• Why ‘male’ sports get more money and coverage
• How does sport make gender difference look ‘natural’
Group activity
• Will male and female athletes ever compete on a level playing field?– Same pay?– Same level of interest?– Same sports?
• What would the different strands of feminism think?
Race, Ethnicity, Nationality and Sport
• Sport can enhance our ethnic/national identity
• But sport can also undermine these identities (KP, Zamora)
• Sport can reinforce or undermine racial stereotypes
Group discussion
• Does sport promote multiculturalism?
– Multiculturalism – the belief that different ethnic and cultural groups can co-exist and respect one another
Crime and Deviance
• Fine line between being competitive and cheating– Schumacher– New swimsuits (banned, but new
records set)– Sledging
Sport and anomie
• Anomie?• Can sport help reduce anomie?
– How?• Sport and rehabilitation
Summary
• Defined sociology• Examine sport using sociology• Class, Media, Gender, Ethnicity and
Crime