Kines: module 3, sport sociology

Sport sociology

“Sport is a mirror of our society”

Using sport and physical activity to understand, examine, and critique the shared beliefs and social practices in a culture

Why sport sociology is important

Sport is everywhere; we are steeped in it. It is enmeshed in our educational system, unlike in other countries

We engage in it and consume it

It is all over the media

It is one of our most powerful cultural practices; it’s how we learn what our culture values

Do we really “engage” in it?

arguably no

Most Americans peak in engagement at about twelve and then steadily decline. This shows how our society values youth.

Insights into sports and thus into our culture

Provide us with a venue to change culture by altering sport

We value the winner and winning; who has power, who doesn’t? Who is included?

Jackie Robinson broke racial barriers in society through sport

military presence at sporting events?

It adds spectacle and gives you pride

Sport is huge, and military terms are used in football; this suggests that football (our number one sport) mimics a militaristic approach; thus, our values (assertiveness, aggression, dominance) reflect this as well

Youth sport, then and now.

Then: free range, very little adult oversight, “pick-up games”

Now: helicopter, adult-driven, and very supervised; the goal is to be better (get a scholarship, etc.); life has become more professionalized

3x goals of sport sociology

Use sport to understand social life (how we lead our lives, what activities we participate in, how and who participate)

Look hard at patterns of change and stability in sport (EX., e-sports and being device-oriented)

Critique sport, identify problems and suggest changes

Who has power? How do they use it? Gender, race, socioeconomic status, sexuality, etc.

Socioeconomic relations: class. EX: Skiing being an elitist activity

Who must continually ask yourself

Who gets to participate? Age, gender, race, class. What are the implications? Who is thriving who is not?

Ex. organized sport participation drastically drops after the age of twelve; things become more exclusionary

What cultural lessons are learned?

“You learn to work hard, teamwork…” positive and negative aspects

Who is pulling the strings/has leadership and control?

What race, age, ethnicity, class are they? Remember leaders WRITE the rules. There is a trend where leaders do not look like participants

Power

Who are the commissioners of the major sports leagues?

Who tends to be the highest-paid employee on campus? EX. At the UofU it’s the football coaches

What has happened to “power” since NIL (name, image, likeness: collegiate athletes can get sponsorships)

Gender

Dawn Staley, one of the most accomplished female basketball players but not well known.

Nobody pays attention to women’s basketball; why must we frame things using the male version as the reference?

Why are sideline reporters female? It’s a secondary or entertainment position instead of a critiquing or informative position

Pay in women’s sports,

Race/ethnicity

3 black NFL coaches: what does this imply?

Sport success is seen as a major pathway to success for Black men and women. Is this a good thing?

Sport can be a mechanism of cultural change and examination of racial issues in America

1968: black power salute at the Olympics

LeBron tweeted photos of the Miami Heat in hooded jackets to protest violence against black individuals

2016: football players kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice

Sports and politics

1972 Summer Olympics: an Arab commando killed 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team

A professional basketball player was held in Russia for nine months; she was held as a political pawn in Russian negotiations

Sportswashing: World Cup all of the world is watching; an opportunity for countries to push values and promote themselves. FIFA and Qatar were using it to wash away human rights violations

Sports and gender

1973: Billie Jean King, battle of the sexes

US women’s soccer team fights for equal pay, “Equal play, equal pay”

Transgender youth sport participation

Advisor: Dave Belt

Loves: family, sports, music, video games

Find a study spot, use the Get Involved website, schedule a learning consultation, shadow, and interview for careers

Advisor: Maddie Miller

Works with health and PE teachers and kinesiology majors

Loves: family, dogs, movies, gaming, fishing, travel, cooking, tattoos

Tips: time management, build a support team, get involved, self-care, ask for help

Advisor: Johnny Rivera

Loves: food, hiking, soccer, anime, video games, traveling

Tips: ask questions, find community, self-care, time management, think about your future

Advisor: Shelley Nicholson

Previously a Pre-Professional advisor

Listen to students and ask questions

Advisor: Hannah

Loves: reading, gardening, spending time with her husband and car, skiing

Attended Utah State University