Week 1-2 Flashcards
Why does gender and sexuality matter in sport
- girls and women still face barriers
- ongoing disparities in participation between girls and women and men and boys
- trans and gender non conforming persons face significant challenges in participating
- for those with multiple marginalized identities sport is even more inaccessible/ exclusive
Sport is an integral part of the culture of almost every nation and its —— should not be underestimated
- ability to shape perceptions and influence public opinion
The United Nations has highlighted the ———
- potential for using sport in reducing discrimination and inequality specifically by empowering girls and women
Research indicates that the…
benefits of sport include enhancing health and well being fostering empowerment, facilitating social,l inclusion and challenging gender norms
Sociological imagination
- analytical and conceptual tools to understand how our personal experiences relate to broader social and historical structures
Individual problem in the context of broader issues
Interrelationship between “personal troubles of —- and ——- —— of social structures
Millieu (environment), and public issues of social structure
Understanding and thinking crucially about the interrelationships between what 2 entities is using our ———-
- personal experiences (family, job, neighborhood)
- broader social and historical structures
What are things that require the sociological imagination to understand within sports and what are the barriers
- picking up kids/ dropping them off
- financial barriers
- time barriers
Why can’t the work of sport sociologists be controversial
- as we analyze social inequalities and their impact on sports we may call for changes that disturb the status quo
Real sports receive the most — and ——- organized and competitive injuries example
Hockey
Power and performance sports (do 5 things)
- Push human limits (using strength, speed and power)
- Achieve excellence through competition (maybe at the expense of ones wellbeing)
- Control and monitor athletes bodies
- Tryout and selection process (emphasizes physical skill and success)
- Hierarchical authority framework (administration, coaches, athletes etc.)
- Opponents are enemies (someone you are playing against)
Emphasis on connection between
- People
- Mind and body
- Physical activity and the environment
There is an ongoing shift for ——— in sport
- personal expression and empowerment, enjoyment, health, mutual concern
-inclusive of people of different skill levels and abilities (instead of ensuring a competitive environment) - democratic decision making and minimal hierarchy
- opponents not enemies but parties who test your skills (competing with instead of against)
Is one model better than the other and why … because this is the dominant model of sport we become socialized to ——— so society is considered a ———-
- not necessarily, but sociologists argue that there are connections between the power and performance model and inequality
Why
- the power and performance model naturalizes and promotes competitive values (competition comes to be seen as a natural part of society and we become socialized to accept tat rewards are distributed in society due to competition)
Because this is the dominant model of sport we become socialized to accept that rewards are distributed through competition and that those who have power and wealth in society must have earned it. This is the essence of the capitalist economic system
Society is considered a metocracy
One of the most noticeable results of Feminism in Canada … which was most strongly associated with the … some scholars define …
- one of the most noticeable results of feminism in Canada is the very presence of girls and women in sports
- most strongly associated with the cultural changes that took place in the 1960s and 1970s
- some scholars define feminism as a movement that tries to explain the oppression of women and works to change it
There was a divide in seeing women that they were either a —— or —- ——-
A sex symbol, or a husky hard working driven and independent women
Feminism also has other definitions are somewhat broader it’s about …. “To use the words of bell hooks, feminism” “it has the power to transform in a … of our lives”
- Envisioning and enacting a world free from discrimination
- to use the words of bell hooks, feminism is not to benefit solely any specific group of women any particular race or class of women, it does not privilege women over men it has the power to transform in a meaningful way all our lives”
Gender ideologies can limit experiences of men and women (true or false)
True
What does Intersectionality say about gender discrimination, what is the most important part of feminism is the
- gender discrimination does not function on its own, but often goes hand in hand with racial discrimination, discrimination based on ability or based on other characteristics
- important part of feminism is the recognition that oppression works on different levels
Social Theories & Qualitative Research in Sport and Physical Culture
Key Forces:
• Heteronormativity
• Racial Ideology
• Gender Ideology
• Ableism
Context:
• Impact on Larger Social Context
• Influence on Sport and Physical Culture
Focus:
• How different groups (e.g., women, men, trans, intersex, etc.) challenge these forces
• Role of social theories in analyzing inequalities
Heteronormativity
- how social institutions, like education, popular music, the media, and sports value and validate heterosexuality, over other types of sexualities, to the point where it is considered the “norm”
Heterosexuality refers to
how social institutions value and validate heterosexuality as the norm to the point where it can’t be seen as the only option, the valourizing of heterosexuality
Judith butler and gender
• in her conceptualization of gender there are other factors at play more than binary history plays a role
• Everyone has a theory of gender, not too worry about which one is right or wrong, focus on a world where everyone is comfortable with expressing themselves and living a life without discrimination and its worth asking ourselves where do these assumptions come from
• Link sexual oppression to other social movements, she referenced genocide, holocaust and not only Jewish people being targeted but people with disabilities, gay, lesbian people, her point being that when on e recognizes that a threat to justice is a threat to all people and that all social movements are interrelated and part of a similar struggle
Sex and Gender
- Sex
- biological differences between males and females
- intersex people
- intersex people exist and there is a range of sexual characteristics existing between the genders - Gender
- is an idea that has been developed over time and concerned with self identity and certain kinds of behaviours
- people can identify wth their biological sex or have a different self conception of their gender
Example: from around the world
Different categories of gender and sex outside the binary example
- two spirited people
Both sex and gender are binary categories in western society and culture true or false
True
While sociologists do not discount the fact that there are differences between male and female bodies. They do question the …
Extent to which these physical differences provide the grounds for gender-specific behaviours ( don’t question differences but to which ye bodies are responsible for behaviour)
Masculinity
- the images, ideas and symbols traditionally defined to belonging to the male gender
Femininity
- the images, ideas and symbols traditionally defined as belonging to the female gender
In western culture bodies that are divided into male and female categories are overlaid with expectations of
Appropriate gendered behaviour
Biological determinism or existentialism applied to sport
- belief that boys and girls are genetically hardwired to appreciate and participate in certain sports that align with norms of masculinity and femininity
Biological determinism, exists outside of sport so the application to sport true or false
True
Male preserve is the idea .. and is based in and grew and is the domain of… in association with… presence .
- the idea that sports re fundamentally a male activity or meant for men
- based in and grew out of the history of sports
- domain of male identity formation
- associate with militarism, conquest and colonialism
- presence of very few women athletes
Sports have historically demonstrated areas where “men can be a man” true or false
True
Sport at its core as a male preserve allowed for women yo fight for visibility and to be seen as something normal as opposed as interlopers or invaders in a masculine space true or false
True
Sport typing and an example
The idea that some sports are naturally suited to a specific gender
Example; figure skating, aesthetics are very important and masculine sports as sports with unemotionally, combative, aggression
Social construction is actively created, recreate and invested with meaning by human beings through and social constructionism helps us to understand that…
Social interactions and social institutions
Helps us to understand that something may seem fixed and unchangeable is simply a product of the time and particular society
To say something is a social construct means that what is in question is a product of
A particular society not something natural, innate or inevitable
If gendered behaviours are primarily determined by biology wouldn’t masculinity and feminist look the same over time give an example
No cause its socially determined because gender norms are differently now before it used to be a way for men to demonstrate their graceful demeanour now they have changed and become a female dominated sport
Example- secretary
Aspects of our social world that appear fixed have more to do with a specific society at a specific time in a specific place true or false
True
Social theories are tool that help us
- are tools that help us identify and explain problem in social life
- are inherently political because they are seeking to improve some part of society, address inequality in society
- are used to question, challenge interrogate or explore taken for granted aspects of social life
(Asks questions on how the world is the way it is)
what comes out of using social theory is a call for change true or false
True
Part of us using our sociological imagination how we relate
Individual problems to broader issues in society the relationship ad the casualty seen in society
how does sport sociology make the positive aspects of physical activity to ensure the…
Widest possible participation
Sociologists use social theories to … can help individuals make sense of the
Study and apply knowledge about sports
Can help individuals make sense of the world and make us more informed citizens and help us make more informed decisions
Sociological knowledge, using social theories is …
Developed out of detailed, careful, rigorous, scholarly research
Social theories are based on
- systematic research and deductive logic
- Sociological theories are evaluated, challenged, edited and sometimes abandoned
Early feminist theories contributed to the …
Understanding of black and indigenous activism
Theories are not static true or false
True
Theories change over time (true or false)
True
What is the process of creating sociological knowledge
- Description
- observe and question
- identify issues; review past research; consider existing knowledge - Analysis
- collect and analyze data
- use data and findings to produce knowledge - Reflection
- publish research (peer review)
- academic conservations accept or reject claims - Application
- research used to develop/implement policy and social change
The best theories are those that describe and explain aspects of social life in
Logical terms that are consistent with systematic observations of the social world
Functionalism
- large scale processes
- a given society is a “system” comprising social institutions that seek equilibrium
Structure refers to the… and these social institutions consist of… (within functionalism)
- Refers to the social institutions that provide stability
- these social institutions consist of people banded together for a common purpose and exist to meet society’s need
Function within functionalism (sports)
All of these contribute to “overall stability of the structure of society”
Sports are uniformly positive under this scope because they are ———-, help children ————
Agents of socialization, help children become socialized into the dominant values and form bonds can prevent juvenile delinquency by channeling youthful energy into something positive
Functionalist Perspective on Social Institutions
📌 Key Idea:
📌 Institutions Supporting Stability:
Each part plays a role in…
- All social institutions contribute to stability and equilibrium in society.
- The Family 🏡
• Education 🎓
• The Media 📺
• The Economy 💰
• Religion ⛪
• Sports ⚽ (Promotes positive social behavior, prevents juvenile delinquency)
- The Family 🏡
- ensuring a well-functioning whole.
Structural-functionalism
- enhance group bonds and a sense of community
- help people to become socialized into society’s dominant values, esp.children
- are a form of positive entertainment
- foster national unity and pride
Criticisms structural functionalism
- assumes all groups benefit and benefit equally from sports
- does not account from social problems in a realistic way
Conflict theory
- sports especially mass spectator sports are used by wealthy and powerful to distract working classes from their economic exploitation
Conflict theory
Major assumptions
- capitalist society must exploit workers to function
- every part of social life revolves around economic functions
- change only possible if workers rise up
What is the key research questions in the Conflict theory
- what factors allow the wealthy and powerful to use sports to further their interests
- what rights do athletes have to control the conditions of their work
Conflict theory sport priorities
- decreasing power imbalances
- effort to unionize athletes decrease imbalance between wealthy and the athletes
Conflict theory drawbacks
- no recognition of enjoyment or liberating aspects of sports (there are positive aspects of sports that are not taken into account), sports can be liberating and provide a path of economic stability
- underestimates other factors contributing to societial inequalities
Epistemology concerns itself with “how do we come to…” and
How do we come to know what we know
And
Who decides
Particular feminist concerns
- who holds the power to know whose knowledge is valued
Patriarchy
- form of social organization that prioritizes the rights and perspectives of men
- sociologists argue that patriarchy persists
- positions of power and influence in society
- ceos and politicians
- cultural realm (norms and conventions about care work)
- naming practices (last names)
Feminist theories are used to
- investigate and challenge traditional notions about sex, gender and sexuality
- expose social inequalities (based on sex, gender and or sexuality)
- impact on boys and men ( consider and analyze personal experiences in relation to broader social conditions)
Feminist theory and sports assumptions
- women have been systematically devalued in many societies
- sports are gendered activities
- sport as a male preserve and traits associated with femininity are devalued
Feminist theory and sports key research questions
- how do sports perpetuate ideas about what it means to be a man
- how have women, girls, and gender-diverse people been excluded
- media representations
Feminist theory and sport sport priorities
- transform the culture of sports “locker-room talk”
- make space for alternative masculinities
- expose and challenge expressions of sexism, homophobia and transphobia in sports
Feminist research simply research about gender
- looks at the historic disempowerment, the power differences and how power hierarchies mean that some women and girls feel disempowered not only research about gender, the research has social aspects to it
Key approaches in feminist research; Feminist standpoint
- as a disempowered social group, women and by extension other marginalized people are better equipped to understand some aspects of the social world
Key approaches in feminist research feminist reflexivity
- questions of power in research
- feminist participatory action research (f-par)
Feminist postmodern epistemologies
- all knowledge is partial and filtered through our experiences that must be placed in a wider social context, that marginalizes women
Feminist standpoint epistemology
- research using feminist standpoints epistemology as its theoretical framework aims to capture unheard (black women)
- intersectionality- womanhood is not a universal experience
Different women experience life differently thus experience different experiences thus different experiences of discrimination and the overlooking of women of colours experiences true or false
True
People from marginalized groups not only understand
- their social world but the social world of the oppressor
- they understand their own experiences and the experience/ perspective of the “higher class”
Feminist post modern epistemologies
- no such thing as objective or essential truths, just partial understandings of the world
- in research, analyses the language that female athletes use in interviews to speak about themselves by comparing it to, for instance, how female athletes are written about in the media
- are the women unconsciously reproducing stereotypical language as the speak about themselves? If so what might this suggest about the persuasiveness of gender ideologies
Because of the feminist lens you see the wide context as the one that marginalized women
Feminist post modern epistemologies
Structural-functionalist theory key assumptions
- society seeks equilibrium and need to be in equilibrium so that society can function smoothly
- sport is seen as always a good thing
Sport priorities
- development of elite sports
- organized sports programs for youth to prevent youth misbehaviour
Feminist theory Key assumptions
- women systematically devalued in many societies
- sports are gendered activities
- sport priorities; change the narrative around masculinity (abolish locker room talk) increase the participation of women, girls and non binary people in sports and better their experience in sports, challenge discrimination in sport, sexism, homophobia and transphobia
We have covered 3 main feminist epistemologies
- feminist standpoint epistemology
- feminist reflexivity
- feminist postmodern epistemologies
conflict theory key assumptions
- sports controlled by the wealthy and powerful and serve to distract working people from their
- every part of life revolves around economic interests of powerful versus working class/ labourers
Conflict theory sport priorities
-unionization of athletes the labour conditions of athletes
