Midterm Flashcards
what is sociology
systematic study of social behavior
subdivisions of sociology
interpersonal
groups
structured organization
what does studying the social behavior in sport help u with
characteristics of society
ways in which subgroups are marginalized
how to create equality and change
defintion of sport according to eitzen and sage
any competetive physical activity that is guided by established rules
what are assumptions of sociological perspectives
we are social beings
we are socially determined
individuals create, sustain, and change social forms
what is the micro level of analysis in sport
focus on small groups
funxtion and facilitation of cohesion in small groups
what is the macro level of analysis in sport
focus on larger social settings
relationship between sports and education, religion, politics…
who benefits, who is exploited
what are specific areas that are studied in sport
social norms - expected behavior
values
statuses and roles - lines of identity
sport as a social institution
what are sociological theories used for
to explain observations
what do critical theories focus on
social, political, and material inequalities in society
what 5 major sociohistorical changes lead to modern sport
industrialization transportation communication sport technology philosophical views on sport
what is industrialization
change from algrarian lifestyle to urbanization
results of industrialization
more leisure time
city as center of organized sport
sport/recreation diffused down from upper classes
what did sport begin as
wealthy pastime
private athletic club rather than competition
how did transportation change sports
faster modes transportation possible
more transportation -> more social interaction
examples of faster modes communication
telegraph, phone, newspaper, radio, internet,…
what did communication allow people to do
spectate an event without attending
what does citius, altius, fortius stand fo
faster, higher, stronger - olympic motto
what does technology lead to
leads to higher quantification of sport
measures
improve performance
what did Henning Eichberg (1982) argue
adoption of new tech. in sport came from changes in societal behavior
why did early settlers in north america not play organized sports
lack of time and resources
sport was viewed as sinful
main sport played by native americans
lacrosse
what is culture
knowledge that members of social organization share
examples for cultures
language, religion, food, clothing, unspoken rules…
what does hegemony theory say in relation to sport
sports as a cultural practice embedded in political, economic, and ideological formations
views sport as socializing mechnism
values of North Americans
diversity precludes universal acceptance of values
system of values is often inconsisten with behavior
values themselves are not always consisten
major american values
individual striving for success competition meritocracy (everyone responsible for own situation) progress materialism social conformity
sport values
competition, success
winning above everything
what are general beliefs in sport
success results from hard work (vice versa)
total emphasis on winning
behaviors that are culturally expected after losing
self-blaming
accepting personal responsiblity
work harder
personal accountability
what is the problem with the total emphasis on winning
creates antisocial environment
cheating, violence, humilation…
how is success in sport often measured
mone that is made (contracts, endorsements…)
Micro- and Macrolevels in sport
microlevel: teams, locker room, interpersonal
macrolevel: large sport body e.g. leagues)
control in sport
often hierarchy of power (authoritarian)
athletes as tools
what is an hypothesis that explains why many people don´t want athletes to express their political opinions
athletes are gifted or talented not necessarily hard working
how does sport differ from many areas in social life
offers fair chances regardless of background
socioeconomic status
income/wealth
education
occupation
social prestige
social intergenerational mobility
chances to move within social classes
meritocracy/american dream
work hard, success will occur
based on assmption that we all start from same spot
according to Sage and Eitzen how many college athletes graduate
fewer than 50%
common myths related to sports
sports provides free college eduction
participation in sport guarantees a college degree
pro sports career us easily attainable
sport is way out of poverty for minorities
women can use sport as vehicle for upward mobility
problem with the myth that sports would be a way out of poverty for minorities
due to the fact that AAs dominate in many pro sports
can reinforce racist ideas
gives false sense of racial progress
when was title IX passed
1972
what affects participation and fan behavior in sports
socioeconomic status
average length of pro sports career
3 - 5 years
markers of whiteness and blackness in sports
whitness: technical, hard worker, diligent…
blackness: explosive, power, naturally gifted
what is race
social category based on idea that members share genetic traits
often socially constructed
racism
economic and social control over people of another race
what does ethnicity refer to
cultural heritage of a group rather than biology
institutionalized racism
discrimination embedded in social structures
power
ability to influence people through manipulation of resources, ideas, attention
priveledge (social advantage)
unearned advantage by belonging to powerful social group
majority
social group that has power, social advanatge and prestige
minority
social group that lacks power, prestige and social advantage
unearned advantage
more access to resources
experience more positive social assumptions
unearned disadvantages
less access to resources
experience more negative social assumptions
what kind of racism is easier to detect
individual level racism
individual level racism
violent and harassment
slurs and threatening comments
institutionalized racism
racial profiling
less adequate medical care
more likely to be seen as criminals dishonest…
problem with racism prevention
prejudices and bias are almost impossible to eliminate
natural tendencies
stacking
putting specific races and bodies into stereotypical positions ad sports
examples for institutionalized racism
exclusion of specific races
assumption about leadership/intellectual abilities
opportunities for coaching managing and owning of teams
what can mascots be seen as
real life consequence of the majority´s identity
what do mascots perptuate (aufrecht halten)
white hegemony - manifestation of power imbalance
what is important to know when analyzing mascots and nicknames
context
how did feminist theory started
as critique of other social theories that excluded women
hegemony
process by which dominant culture remains dominant
major reason for male domain in sports
hegemony masculinity
mascular christianity
sport as answer to feminization of North America
what was mascular christianity based on
fear that because of changes in 19th century men would lose masculanity
sex
reliable biological differences
anatomical differences
gender
behavioral patterns that are learned as normal
roles are constantly redefined and renegotiated
socially expected
what do roles for men and women depend on
social structure
tradtion and history
social change
south african runner with too high testosterone
caster semenya
feminist perspective of sport
sport as a gendered activity (taught to perform certain sports)
males have the power
what is binary gender logic
male vs. female
opposite in behavior, action, and attitude
how is binary gender logic oppressive
excludes individuals that want to break boundaries
unequal power
valued social and physical traits for boys
aggressiveness
independence
toughness
valued social and physical traits for girls
passivity dependence nurturance beauty soft features
what is an important transmitter of gender norms
language
what can make media content problematic
it is always edited and represented by those who produce it
what decisions are important when it comes to media
money, viewers, likes…
values
appearance, fame
information or entertainment
what does gender research on media sports show
largely by men, for men, about men
valorized elite, heterosexual men
who is often by sportsmedia excluded
athletes who are “out of bounds”
7 key themes of gendered sports coverage
gender marking compulsory heterosexuality appropriate femininity infantilization focusing on non-related aspects sexualization ambivalence
underlying discouse of females in media
female first, athlete second
sexuality is more important than skill
what are athletes of color (especially women) often framed as
hyper sexual
wild
primtive
lascivious
media characterization of tiger woods as only african american demonstrates what
the socially constructed nature of race
which is a consumption of the sociological perspective
humans are social beings
what is the purpose of title IX
mendate equal federal funding for men and women sports
when are athletes at greater risk of CTE late in life
when they suffer repeated sub-concussive hits but no concussions
compulsory heterosexuality
priveledging athletes who who fulfill heterogender roles
appropriate feminity
show athletes with bodies that we that meet gender roles
infantilization
women´s sports as girl/kid activity
ambivalence
not caring or covering
how have men be sexualized differently than women in sports media
often posted in positions of power and dominance
print media and broadcast coverage for female athletes
print media coverage: 10%
broadcast coverage: 5%
what factor did not give rise to modern sport in the early 20s century
integration of race (later)
what idea argues that women are presented as heterosexual objects for male consumption
sexualization
why do we often see overly violent behavior in male sporting environments
socially learned aggresiveness
why is the effect of social issues/sport and masculinity important
men higher risk of suicide, disease, alcoholism, death…
hegemony masculinity
male in power control others to stay in power
what do boys learn early by participating in sports
autocratic leadership
hierarchical organization
bureaucracy
what are male athletes often portayed as
instruments/products
weapons
objects
expendable
what happens when athletes how non-traditional forms of masculinity
denied
trivialized
examples for non-traditional forms of masculinity
homosexuality quite intelligence off the field disabled ...
what is important to understand to understand masculinity in sport
homophobia
briana scurry
black goalkeaper of U.S. national team 1999
brandi chastain
white player at 1999 world cup scored final penalty and took jersey off
jack johnson
black boxer who beat white fighter
jimmy the greek
american sports commentator who gave very racial comments
