Sociology Flashcards
What is sociology concerned with?
The study of people, groups and institutions in terms of social behaviour and social order think society.
eg. class, gender, ethnicity, media, power and authority
What do sport sociologists challenge us to do?
Challenge us to critically examine our common and perhaps sacrosanct assumptions about sport, to scrutinize sports from different perspectives, and to understand social problems and social issues associated with sports
What are the goals of a sports sociologist?
Look at underlying relations and factors related to sports .
Relationships b/w family, gender, disability.
Helps us understand the social and cultural impact on sport.
Is it possible for a person to be socialized through sport?
Social- friends, teammates, become family and apart of a community
Relationships- responsibility to others
Roles- understanding that as a part of team you have a rule to take on behaviours, can learn how to behave or NOT behave
-how to act one way in sport or in other parts of your life
What does the functionalist theory of sport look at?
Looks are the roles of sport in socialization.
What is the main assumption of the functionalist theory?
The main reason of the existence of social institutions is to serve to the maintenance of social cohesion.
How does functionalist theory view society?
A kind of organism which consists of several social institutions which are interrelated.
The functions of social institutions is to contribute to social integrity/cohesion.
Social cohesion is achieved by teaching social values to individuals in socialization process. eg we’re taught at a young age to raise your hand, to ask to go to the washroom etc.
What does the conflict theory look at sport as?
Sport is controlled by people in position of power in capitalist society.
Sport contributes to reproduction of social inequalities in society rather than social integrity.
Looks at the professional triangle: 1. athlete 2. sport 3. cost/contract. your ability to perform related to how much you make
How does the symbolic interaction theory view sport?
Sport is seen as a meaningful interaction between people
Belief that our identities are formed through interactions with people
Sport has a dif meaning for individuals
Looks at what types of interactions are seen in competitive sport– different power struggles within the team etc with mentors/teammates/coaches etc.
How does critical theory view sport?
Sport is not a field which characterized as a democratic enviro for all ppl from different ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and social class eg. expensive sports- you are already elimination certain individuals and communities
It is important to understand the experiences of indiv. who are in a disadvantaged position in sport
How does sport contribute to diminish social inequality in society?
What is feminist theory of sport?
Sport is a social field which characterized by male hegemony both numerically and culturally.
Women and men have different experiences in sport.
There is a gender gap in the majority of sports at all levels and positions (coach, athlete, referees, managers)
How does sport socialize boys and girls differently?
Feminist theory.
- girls are pushed to certain activities and males are pushed to others.
- throughout ado- a lot of females drop out of sport because of fears of being labelled
- females not seeming feminine enough takes time
At what level do sociologists work at?
While sociologists may study or be concerned with personal experience, they rarely take action at the level of the indiv
- often focus on critique
- when sociologists do seek to effect change, they do so at the broadest level
1. Legislation, laws, rules
2. Policy and procedures
3. Institutional and social systems and processes
What is an example of a sociological change?
Bikes lanes- bringing bike helmets
building skate parks
What does Jay Coakley’s research look at?
Gender social class and sport -sport development
Researchers typically concerned with
- participation of sport and character
- influence on sport in life
- what it does for minorities and women
- effects of youth programs on Ps/famil7
- politics and sport
- Coaches influence on athletes
