Sport in 20th century Britain

Question 1

How does gender effect sport in early 20th centuary Britain?

Answer 1

Overall traditional stereotypes still exist:
* Women are still expected to fufill traditional roles e.g. housewife/ childcarer - therefore women have very little time to participate in sport
* Women are still viewed as the weaker sex
~ e.g. “Women dont posses any physical prowess or competitive drive”
* Society still has expectations about traditional dress and behaviour

Therefore women are only permitted to participate in certain activities and discrimination is still prevalent (e.g. men only golf clubs)

Question 2

Why does the way gender effects sport start to change between the early 20th century and late 20th century?

Answer 2

WW1 women work in male roles and the emancipation act

Question 3

How does gender effect sport in late 20th centuary Britain?

Answer 3

• Stereotypes challenged - more female role models
• Traditional roles challenged - therefore more opportunity for participation
• Due to women having more opportunity to participate there are more womens events
• Increase in gender equality e.g. prize money more equal
• Less discrimination

Question 4

How does social class change in 20th century Britain?

Answer 4

• Class has more subdivisions e.g. upper-middle class
• Class is less clearly defined
• Some sports are still strongly linked to class
  ~ LC = football/ netball
  ~ UC = rugby union/ hockey
• In some sport both upper and lower classes compete along side eachother e.g. cricket
• Lower class men participate in pub based activities e.g. pool, snooker, darts, skittles
• Spectatorship among lower class men increases: football

Question 5

How does education affect sport in 20th century Briatin?

Answer 5

• Public schools - focus on games/ competition
  ~ still the driving forve behind sport in britain
• State schools - focus on mass participation
• 1944 - education act - compulsory P.E.

Question 6

How does availability of time effect sport in 20th century Britain?

Answer 6

• Ongoing reduction in working week - 56hrs
• Work becomes less manual, therefore more energy for sport
• Home life become more automated, therefore more time for sport

Question 7

How does the availability of money effect sport in 20th century Britain?

Answer 7

• Gradual increase in wages
• Opportunity still effected by income

Question 8

How does availability of transport effect sport in 20th century Britain?

Answer 8

• Increased car ownership, therefore more access to sport facilities, so more participation, competition and spectators
• Gradual increase in air travel, so internaiotnal fixtures and spectaorship

Question 9

How does law and order effect sport in 20th century Britain?

Answer 9

• Cruel/ violent sports eliminated
• Rules continue to increase in complexity