sport, social identities and differences sport race and racism leisure, social problems and social...
TRANSCRIPT
Sport, social identities and differences
sport race and racism
leisure, social problems and social divisions, women, youth, work etc.
sport gender and sexism
Introduction
• Sport was created and is still largely dominated by white men. Many popular sports today have been in existence and played for over a century but the ideology of the traditional ‘sportsman’ still exists.
• This presentation looks at how, multiple disadvantages combine to restrict different social groups from becoming professional competitors in sports today.
Sport ,race and racism
Vince Hilaire, footballer‘I was pushed into certain sports at school like athletics. The teachers naturally thought because your black, you must have some sort of athletic ability in you; but I didn’t even want to do athletics at all.’
Role Models…
Realistic or dangerous fantasies…‘Sport thrives of the ambition of millions of wannabes.’
Olsen 1986‘At most sport has led a few thousand African Americans out of the Ghetto but for hundreds of thousand’s it has substituted a meaningless dream.’
Statistics% of population
Involvement in sport
USA (African American)
13 80-90% of NBA professionals
UK (Afro Caribbean)
3 1 in 5 professional footballers
Adapted from Cashmore, E (2005) Black sportsman.
Racism in football
Gambian Goal keeper Pa Dembo Touray‘if you throw a banana at me, I’m going to eat it’
Mario Balotelli, Italian striker who is an Italian citizen has become a target of racial abuse wherever he plays.
WOMEN – social differences and problems
FEMINISTS: • Looked at the area of sport• Different kinds of leisure activities – not
usually sport• Recreationally disadvantaged• Socially and geographically deprived
WOMEN – social differences and problems
FEMINISTS: • Challenge the idea that social class is
important when looking at the access to and participation in leisure.
• Gender and race as important.• Regardless of their income and resources all
women are constrained by their position of in society.
WOMEN – social differences and problems
Social policy example:• Sports council campaign to promote women’s
participation in sports• Gender and social class provide the central
structuring for the division of labour in a patriarchal society and operates in constraining women against playing sport.
WOMEN – social differences and problems
LEISURE FOR SHEFFIELD WOMEN
Findings : women’s access to free time and leisure opportunities are structured by social class and income levels, age and ethnic group, work and their domestic situation.
WOMEN – social differences and problems
Conclusion• Women are generally more financially poorer
than men, and are more likely to be dependent• Women’s leisure is a low priority in household
budgets• Women are expected to choose their leisure
time orientated around the family and being socially acceptable
Sport, Gender and Sexism
Traditional notions about women and sport:• Victorian ideal of women rejected them being
involved in the majority of sports.
• Sport is physically demanding and women are not capable of exerting themselves strenuously.
• Men should participate in sport “with female applause as reward” (Pierre de Coubertin)
Women’s Olympic Participation
• Influence of Pierre de Coubertin- Founder of International Olympic Committee and considered
the founder of the modern Olympic Games- Female participation should be prohibited from the Olympics
• Women included in 1900 Olympic Games
World War Period
• Fragile image of women was challenged• Women forced into areas of work traditionally
occupied by men• The gap in sport left by men away from home was
filled by women
Post-War Sexism and Feminism
• Women’s liberation feminism- K. V. Switzer- Billie-Jean King
• Idea of inferiority of women within sports spheres challenged
• Stereotypes of top female athletes and sports personalities
Consumerism and female athletes as ‘sex-symbols’
• Women as sex-symbols- Suzanne Lenglan and Esther Williams
• Female athleticism • Sport shifted from a form of competition to
entertainment and hence a consumable commodity
Conclusion
• Even though society has changed dramatically over the past century, it seems that the values and stereotypes that were around when professional sport started are still in effect today.
• However the image of sports personalities from different social identities is slowly changing with many notable efforts being made to challenge the divisions that are still existent in sports today.
Questions.
• It is clear that certain groups in society are still excluded in modern day sports. What are the key issues that maintain these disadvantages in sports today?
• Although there has been a recent increase in sport policy change (e.g. Kick racism out of football.) what further measures do you think could be brought in to create more equality in sports?