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