Midterm 1 Flashcards
Define Society
A collection of people living in a defined geographical territory and united by a political system and a shared sense of self identification that distinguishes them from other collections of people
Each society has different cultures and different forms of political, economic and social organization TRUE OR FALSE
True
What can people within sport do for society?
Change norms within society
Culture
Complex ways of life that people create and struggle over as they participate within society cultures exist within society
Movement culture
Aka physical culture, broader understanding of sports and physical activity, how we move our bodies “how the physical body is embedded in and shaped by culture, values, norms, and power relations that are part of day to day life”
What is key in movement culture?
The active body
Active bodies can be —— and ——
Instruments of physical culture and objects of physical culture
An athlete physically playing a sport is known as ——— of physical culture
Instruments
Professional athlete as performer, body that can become something observed is —- of physical culture
Objects
Traditional definition of sports
Sports are institutionalized competitive activities that involve rigorous physical exertion or the use of relatively complex physical skills by participants motivated by internal and external rewards
Why does the traditional definition of sports fall short?
Games vs sports and definitional challenges challenge sociologists to shift their focus onto the debates of what is sport which causes them to refer to sports as “contested terrain”
Contested terrain
Sociologists refer to sports as “contested terrain” because they are areas where there is no consensus on their meaning, purpose, and organization. This leads to ongoing debates and conflicts about how sport should be structured, who should participate, and under what conditions. Issues such as the integration of different genders and abilities, the influence of commercial interests, and decisions about sponsorship and funding all reflect broader social and cultural struggles within sports. These discussions often revolve around power dynamics, inclusivity, and the role of sports in society, highlighting how sports can be a microcosm of societal conflicts and changes.
Rigorous physical exertion→limiting definition
Institutionalized—> PA does not have to be structured, could simply be enjoyed → take mental exertion into account
contested terrain → conflicts/challenges as to what constitutes as a sport , should we be pushing for max participation or are we building future olympians → Who will participate ?
Contested terrain definition
Activities for which there are no universal agreements about meaning, purpose and organization
True or False Movement Culture provides a broader scope than the strict sports definition
True
What are some of the considerations on the meaning purpose and organization of sports
-creating future Olympian’s
-ensuring widest possible participation
What are considered in who will participate in sports
- gender and ability integration
should the government pay for sports for the common good, poses what question about sports leads you to pose another question what is it
The question who will sponsor sports,
Wil commercial organizations have an influence on who will be involved example LGBT athletes and Christian organization
Sociologist of sport and movement culture study (3)
- People involved in sport (coaches,player,fans)
- The social institutions that shape their sport experiences (economics, politics, media etc)
Education and religion - Social processes occurring within the sphere of sport (social inequality, deviance, protest movements)
Violence and youth socialization
What are 3 reasons why we should study sports and physical culture in society
- Sports are given special meaning in peoples lives
- Sports are tied to important ideas and beliefs in many cultures
- Sports are connected to major spheres of social life
Examples of importance of sport relative to aspects of peoples lives
- sports fandoms
- So important that they have slang to describe aspects of sport ( hockey widow during playoffs, wives of hockey fans are left out alone because of how engulfed they are in the culture/going to games etc.)
Why do sociologists study sport
-to understand how they relate to social and cultural ideologies
True or false sports are tied to many ideas and cultures
True
Usually the most popular types of a sport in society reflect what
The preferences of those in power
The popular current sports in a society allow sports to become..
Cultural practices, that reinforce certain forms of social organization and power relations
How is gender ideology and sports related
Gender ideology can influence what PA are deemed acceptable pertaining to gender
Gender ideology in sports concerns itself with
-what is considered natural behaviour for men and women and its relation to sport
Stereotypes or beliefs about women, men and sports
- certain sports equated with manliness like power lifting
-women belong in artistic or aesthetic sports like figure skating - men or boys who don’t play aggressively enough is “playing like a girl”
“Throwing like a girl”
Racial ideology and sports
- a set of ideas or beliefs that people use to give social meaning to skin colour and other physical characteristics to evaluate people using racial categories
True or false sometimes coaches or sports fans evaluate the potential/explain the success of an athlete with the race of the athlete
True
Class ideology and sports
- w web of ideas and beliefs that people use to understand economic inequalities and make sense of their own position in an economic hierarchy in society, this can be seen in the rags to riches narratives “underdog” that all you need is hard work to achieve success in sports
What do people need to consider in the way sports and class ideology are tied
- that people need to become over exceptional to get over structural boundaries in order to be successful in sports, work harder than the average athlete/player, becoming successful in not linear
How are sports connected to major spheres of social life
- sports and the family (impact on family’s schedule and activities)
-sports and the economy (increasing importance of corporate sponsorship) - sports and the media (access cost and ideological sway)
-sport and politics ( national pride and identity, international profile)
-sports and education (football in US)
-sports and religion ( athletes and their faith)
Example of sports impacting family schedules and activities
- scheduling based on kids soccer practice
-father son bonding over sport
Provide an example for increasing importance of corporate sponsorship
- western economies purchasing tickets,sport memorabilia, participation fees of non professional sports, food (during games), tourism (big game of rival teams people fly in to see), sponsorship wth olympics
Provide an example if the access, cost and ideological sway of sports and the media
- TV stations, streaming services exp NBC and its 40B contract w soccer
Provide an example of sports and education
-part of curriculum (gym), organized sport is a huge part of student life
How sociologists understand their social world is the simplest definition of what
Sociological imagination
How are individuals and society interrelated
What might seem like an individual problem is often impacted by broader social forces like public policy
In order to understand an “individual problem”
- one must look beyond individual
Using a sociological imagination challenges us to
Identify external forces that shape our lives
How can you use your sociological imagination to understand obesity
- obesity is discussed as an individual problem, nonsensical and isn’t interpreted in its full context, cost division of household labour are not taken into consideration
Sociological imagination allows us to gain a scope on how to view problems (T or F)
True
Can the physically active body be separated from its broader social context and explain why
- no it cannot your body when active is affected by society, “how you move, why you play sports and what sports dependent on culture, politics and economics”
Sports and movement culture are important in what ways (3)
- Socially (build community and identity)
- Culturally ( different cultures different sports)
3.economically ( sports generate big money)
Bodies are both
Natural (biological entities)
We have strength and endurance to do sports
and
Cultural ( athletes and how we view athletes, or even us partaking in PA subject to society’s influence)
Why do sport sociologists take a critical approach
- take nothing for granted in studying social processes and often emphasizes power relations
- it places social processes in their proper cultural, geographical and historical contexts
Why do sport sociologists take a theoretical approach
-theories help us to understand,interpret and explain the social phenomena we observe
- framework of interpretation or an analytical lens
- every theory does not need to be agreeable but it should be reflected upon
What does a framework of interpretation
What is it that they believe their theory is reflecting
What is social constructionism
- part of social reality ( beliefs, norms, values,objects,events, concepts) are all given meaning based on negotiations and interaction among society’s members
Key points in social constructionism in sport
Meaning is Negotiated Society decides what things mean (e.g., sports rules, beauty standards in athletic bodies). These ideas are created by humans, not biologically determined.
Behaviour & Norms: Sports behaviour, roles, and traditions are shaped by socio-historic forces (e.g., politics, culture) instead of biological needs.
Application of social constructionism in sport
Gender norms in sports: Certain sports (e.g., football) are considered “masculine” while others (e.g., gymnastics) are seen as “feminine.” These are social constructs, not based on biology.
Value of certain sports: Society decides which sports are more important or prestigious (e.g., soccer vs. badminton). It’s not inherently biological; it’s a product of culture and history.
Is the definition and meaning of a sport sociologists-culturally determined not inherent or fixed
YES
Examples of varying interpretations of sport in different social contexts
- gender and cheerleading
-gender and field hockey
(Women dominated sport in western world and male dominated everywhere else)
-baseball in japan vs baseball in rot America and showing emotion as an acceptable behaviour
What are the 3 thesis of how we can understand the relationship between physical culture and society
1.the what is relationship thesis
2.The reflection thesis
3. The dialectical thesis
Describe the “what is” relationship thesis
- perspective that sport is separate from the rest of society , unimpaired by power relations or politics
-It is uninfluenced by government prejudices, gender/race inequality
-beyond society (it is separate )
-untouched by social problems
Describe the reflection thesis and an example
- physical culture is a mirror of society or a product of society
- example;women’s rights movement and broadening range of sport opportunities,
-there is still an evident financial disparity in male and women funding in sport, but as feminist movements increased it was evident of a direct relationship in an increase in opportunities in sports for women
What is the dialectical thesis
- sports do not only reflect society but it also infancies society (two way street)
- of the three thesis’ this one aligns best with a sociological imagination and a critical and theoretical approach
- political ideologies, cultural practices and economic formations affects sports and physical culture and vice versa
Example of application of dialectical thesis
Workers’ rights activism in basketball, especially among African American athletes, has influenced broader labor rights movements.
NBA players have pushed for better pay, treatment, and rights, reflecting their experiences as workers and minorities in a racially charged society. Their activism has sparked national conversations on labor equality and racial justice, influencing both the sports world and broader societal values.
What is ideology
- webs or systems of ideas and beliefs that uphold social relations (often unequal ones )
What does ideology refer to
Beliefs that might not be explicit but taken for granted over time
Social institutions
-institution that organize social life consisting of people banded together from a common purpose existing to meet society’s needs
What does social institutions play an important role in
-socialization
What are examples of social institutions
-religion, government, the economy, education, sports, family, justice system and the media
What are the 3 “what’s” sociologists study
- people included in the sport
-social process that occur in conjunction with sport
-social institutions
What is socialization
- a process through which we learn what we must know to fit into society and contribute to its operation
- a process through which children adapt to and internalize social norms
What can be described as the way we learn how to how to function in society
-socialization
Why are some people fanatical about playing and or watching sports while others don’t care? What concept can aid in explaining why
Socialization can explain the answer
Why do some people see themselves as athletes and dedicate themselves strongly to sports?
Identity Formation: Sports can become a major part of a person’s identity through socialization, personal achievement, or cultural significance. People might see themselves as athletes because they are rewarded, praised, or respected for it.
What happens when athletes stop playing their sport competitively and when and why are these decisions made
-when they end they have to redefine identity
Functionalist approach to socialization
-emphasis on the role that social institutions play in contributing to stability and maintaining the status quo
Functionalist approach
serve an important role in influencing character development and
reforming “at-risk” youth.
-help prepare children for adult involvement in community activities
that also ensure societal stability
-almost always seen as a positive force
What key concept is important to the model of functionalist approach to socialization
Internalization- as we grow we learn from our families, school, peers and media how one is expected to behave and the roles that we play in society
What are the people who have a major influence on people being socialized called
Agents of socialization aka socializers
In the functionalist perspective socialization in sport
Sports participation is influenced by a combination of personal abilities, the influence of socializers, and the availability of opportunities. Socialization through family and peers, along with access to resources, plays a major role in who gets involved in sports and stays engaged.
A Person’s Abilities, Characteristics, and Resources: in determining sport participation
People’s physical abilities and resources (e.g., time, money) affect their likelihood of participating in sports. Not everyone has equal access, which influences who plays and excels in different sports.
Influence of Socializers (Parents, Peers, Teachers, Siblings):
Socializers like family, friends and mentors in sport participation
Socializers like family, friends, and mentors play a huge role in encouraging or discouraging participation in sports. Parents might enroll their kids in sports they value or are personally connected to, while peers can shape interest and commitment through social pressures.
The opportunity to play sports in sport participation
The opportunity to play sports that fit personal interests or are available locally also matters. If sports are accessible and personally satisfying, individuals are more likely to participate and stay involved.
Why is the question; Who drops out of sports and why important in the functionalist perspective
Sports seem to be ambiguously positive
Functionalism overarching view on sport
Sport is a key social institution that maintains society’s status quo, contributing to stability and equilibrium leading to well adjusted adults
Sport is necessary to societies stability
Critical interactionist approach
- socialization does not just happen in sport
- more dynamic
-we are not automatically shaped by others around us, we are not just vessels that absorb values and social norms, kids could resist messages they receive
-we don’t necessarily learn social values in sport but more through learning through social interaction
In critical-interactionist theory we question and interpret what
What we see and hear, we sometimes resists the messages we receive about who we are and about the world around us
Sports are sites for ——- rather than ——
Socialization experiences rather than seen as direct causes of behaviour or socialization outcomes
In the critical interactionist theory social values and cultures are——
Not automatically passed along from generation to generation or internalized
In the critical interactionist theory socialization involves ——
Participatory learning
In the critical interactionist theory sports are not always——
Sites for positive experiences for children they can be sites of social exclusion, sites with defines closed off movement culture
How People Make Decisions About Participating in Sports: and How People Give Meaning to Their Sports Participation: critical interactionist theory how would they go about these questions
They get at these answers by trying to obtain detailed descriptions about participation then they connect these perspectives to broader socio-cultural contexts THEY USE THEIR SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATIONS
Critical interactionist theorists understand sport as sites for influential experiences in 2 ways
1.studies of sport experiences from the perspective or participants themselves
2.studies of social worlds that emerge and are maintained in connection with certain sports
How do critical interactionist theorists evaluate studies of sport experiences from the perspective of participants themselves
- Christian athletes, sports, and competition and how they negotiated aspects of sport and resolved tensions between sport and their religion , maintaining integrity in their beliefs,no beer, public prayer
- Gay male athletes challenges when navigating social relationships , felt that sports that focused on individual aspects in sports was more inclusive than team sports
How do critical interactionist theorists evaluate studies of social worlds that emerge and are maintained in connection with certain sports + what is a social world associated example
-they understand athletes through placing them in “their social world”
-social worlds refers to a way of life and accompanying worldviews that revolve around a particular set of activities
-example hockey players overtly masculine behaviours are the same on and off the ice
Comparison between functionalist and critical interactionist theory
Functionalist- Children internalize accepted roles based on the influence of socializers
-Sports as unambiguously positive force
- Young athletes- can set them up to become a contributing member of society
Critical interactionist theory
- Roles not automatically internalized; rather, socialization involves participatory learning
-Sports as ambivalent
influence
-Young athletes: are more questioning and interpreting more passive in learning values,sometimes resisting
Are the functionalist and critical interactionist theories opposite
No they exist on a spectrum
Geography
Study of place, space and how it connects the people,things and concepts that tie things attributes together
-describing and drawing the earth
-oldest disciplines
-different methods and ways of doing geography had risen and fallen in favour over time
Two studies or thought of geography
-human (study of human of space)
-physical (study of the physical attributed of space)
-however it has evolved and grown to many categories
Indigenous geography
-ways of thinking about the space and place that are based in centre indigenous
-not separate from space, we are interconnected with one another
-language, place,identity and relationships are all key components in indigenous geographies
What does this have to do with movement and kinesiology
-indigenous senses of space and place and movement are intertwined
-sense of place while moving through place
-movement in land and land based learning
-cultural importance of movement to ojibwe
Indigenous senses of space and place and movement are
intertwined
What contributes to indigenous senses of space and place and movement
-movement influences the way we interacted with a space
-land based learning
-cultural importance of movement
Material geography
-the ways in which our connection to a place is guided through the things that are present in that sense
-unconsciously or consciously it can change and deepen our connection and understanding to a place by the way we move through it
-example; a school feeling a lot smaller the more you move through it
-the way we interact with the physical elements of a space influences how we understand and connect with that place over time
Movement in land and land based learning
-experiential form of learning
-involves getting out and morning
-this is a form of indigenous geographical praxis; fostering connection to place by learning in a given place
-move through the spaces we learn in a deeper ways
Cultural importance of movement to ojibwe
-history of migrations across lakes by water and land
-spiritual importance of running and walking across space;healing walks and runs
-cultural understanding that our connection to space is not static- constantly on the move so we shouldn’t be static
Industrialization
1700s-1800s major turning point in world history. Began in UK eventually worldview (including Canada what was then British North America) almost every aspect of life changed, dramatically
(Industrial Revolution caused the unprecedented and sustained growth of income and population)
Industrialization
Causing an increase income and population
As a result of these changes by the late 1800s in Canada
-transition from manual/animal labor—-> to machine-based manufacturing
- new ways to use iron,coal,steam to power machines
1.meant more products and trade
2. Faster production
3. And improvements in transportation technologies
Industrialization
Move away from animals used on a farm to more mechanized equipment and to manufacture in terms of factory production
Organization of time in Industrial Revolution
-industrialization and urbanization go hand in hand impacts on daily life
The impact of industrial revolution on daily life
1.rise of factories
2.job opportunities= migration to (urban areas)
3.mechanized time
-life lived by the clock
-not daily rhythms or seasons as before
-no amenities or space for sports in the city
Working for x number of hours a day with intense factory demands and labour is an impact of what era
Industrial Revolution
Describe what it means by no amenities or space for sports in the city
-not like small games like in the country side
Status of sports movement cultures during the 1800s involved…
1.concerns about the health of workers and potential effects on productivity
2.calls for new open spaces fore recreation and for healthy leisure activities (we’ll talk more about the parks movement)
3.organized labour unions in late 1800s early 1900s vastly improved working and living conditions
Sports movement and cultures into the 1900’s
- 1880-1920 pivotal period for Canadian organized sports
- middle- and working-class people had more opportunities to play sports
-improvements in working and living conditions
-more free time, resources, for leisure
Canadas national game cricket
Cricket was established in Canada in the first half of the 1800s
-played by elite men all across the British empire
-Canadians never made it their own,remained an upper class British game
Canadians never really adapted the game to make it their own and they had to modify it and transform the Americana by the settlers leading to elites doing it the way they did in Britain (what game)
Cricket
Did they make an effort to make cricket appealing to Canadians
No
Canadians elites who played cricket wanted it to
Retain its Britishness
Canadas population at the time was still —— and when was cricket played
Largely rural and from an increasing variety of ethnic backgrounds
British upper class game, that had to be played during when most of the population were at work
Is lacrosse canadas national game
-played by First Nations peoples
George W Beers
-create a national mythology to give Canadas it’s own unique identity move out from under the shadow of British dominance
Beers thought
-thought that lacrosse would embody the harsh realities of all the settlers contribute to the rugged self made nation
What is the timeline of lacrosse
-1867 confederation
- Beer tells Montreal newspaper that the parliaments approved lacrosse as he new nations game, “original fake news”
-international tour and exhibition games (1876)
Lacrosse is seen as
Unifying symbol of emerging candida in nationality
What 2 sports claimed to be Canadas national sport for much of 20th century
Lacrosse and the hockey
1994 House of Commons
Bill was introduced to recognize hockey as Canadas national sports
-hockey=national winter sport
-lacrosse=national summer sport
Eugene arcane and residential school sports
1.sports were a way for him to connect to his cultural identity and most importantly-were a tool for survival (athletes had better food, time away from the school,other special treatment)
2.competitive mindset against his peers competing for limited spots on school sports teams (part of a pattern of students learning to use violence against each other,opposing teams were the enemy
3.sports were used by the institution to falsely portray a positive image to the public
1871-1911 urbanization
-Urban population swells
-not only farmers to cities, but new immigrants directly to cities
-changes to relationship to natural world
-nostalgia for romanticized,agrarian past
Hamilton and Toronto in 1915
Yearning for nature experiences not a lot of opportunities, industrial smoke disfigures buildings, impairs the health of the population renders the whole city filthy
Nature as a cure all
For white middle and upper classes, nature seen as antidote to the troubles, challenges and immortality of urban life
Recreate nature experiences
-through urban parks and safe swimming or through managed adventures in the “wilderness”
Orderly and rational outdoor activities for lower classes
-were thought to safeguard public morality
But even upper classes complained about
A lack of open spaces in the city
The rehabilitating effects of nature
-Discipline
-will lead to morals
Parks in Britain
Need for parks becomes evident-19th century (reduce bars and strip clubs)
1833- select committee on public walks
1848-public health a linking parks and health
Timeline
Industrial Revolution—> leads to industrialization and urbanization directly leads to Britain moral and social reformers Canada,moral and social reformers—> parks in Britain
Industrial Revolution—> industrialization and urbanization—> Canadas moral and social reformers concerned about urban life—> parks and playgrounds movement in North America
Industrial Revolution—> industrialization and urbanization—> Canada moral and social reformers concerned about urban life—> labour movement more time and resources for sports and leisure
Context of playground movement
1.social and moral fears
2. Hazardous, environment,disconnected from nature
3. Rising immigration and urbanization
What does the playground movement bring
-positive effects of nature
-spaces of proper development of kids
-internalization of societies desire within youth
-socialization
What are playground dedicated for
-play,were uncommon they played in alleys and the streets
-urban environment perceived to be hazardous (true or false)
True
Desire of playgrounds
-physically and moral safe environment for recreation for children when away from formal schooling
Sport is part of
Part of national and international social reform movement
Key points Canada about playgrounds
1.the national council of women of Canada 1901 resolution
2.1908 the city of London formed a playground association
3.1926 the city had 14 playgrounds with 25 supervisors and lifeguards
4. 1922 gyro club of Edmonton; started developing and said that they wanted to mould the children with this
moral and physical wellbeing of urban dwellers are theretened by 2 factors
1.sedentary lifestyle
2. Polluted environments
Sport and games were thought to
Provide children, with positive social and moral
New York City
-in the mid to late 1800
- sand gardens (known as the earliest playgrounds, “sand boxes”, “slides”
New York City
Small parks advisory committee established in 1897
Why playgrounds direct links to
Social morality
Playgrounds
Healthful influence upon morals and conduct for the physical energies of youth which if not directed to good ends will manifest themselves in evil tendencies
Theodore Roosevelt
(1900s) said that playgrounds play a fundamental part of human culture if not prioritized for children, a life of crime could result
Old belief on play
Play was instinctual it can be improved by adult organization and supervision therefore ,structured activities were important
play is important but must be structured and serve a greater purpose play should be channeled into social benefits , keeping children on a desired path
Structured activities
-marching singing
-drills
-good citizens club
