AS MOD 2
SOCIO-CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL EFFECTS ON
PARTICIPATION IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND
THEIR INFLUENCE ON PERFORMANCE
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PARTICIPATION
OF PHYSICAL RECREATION AND SPORT
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PARTICIPATION OF PHYSICAL RECREATION AND SPORT
To increase participation in sport and active rec across the population there is a need to target specific groups who are
below national average
Who is perceived as the dominant group in society?
White, male middle class section of society (highest participation rates)
Why?
- Most access to employment, decision-making and control of major social institutions eg law, education, media, etc
- Traditionally protects its own position eg establishing laws or membership clauses or has discriminatory practices that
limit the opportunities of other groups
What is DISCRIMINATION?
To give unfair treatment especially because of prejudice
What does sport do for society?
Its good for people
It contributes to health
Increases educational attainment
It provides enjoyment
Creates a sense of pride in community and country
Helps reduce crime levels
SOCIAL EXCLUSION
What is SOCIAL EXCLUSION?
When people or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems
- unemployment
- poor skills
- low incomes
- unfair discrimination
- poor housing
- high crime
- bad health
- family breakdown
Which targets groups are likely to be affected by social exclusion/discrimination?
Ethnic minority groups
Low socio-economic group
Disabled
Women
Youth 16-24
WHERE YOU LIVE
Geographics affects opps/choices
YOUR SCHOOL
+ or – school experiences
THE GOVERNMENT
Politics/exchequer funding
YOUR FRIENDS
Peer group opinions
YOUR FAMILY
+ or - role models
FACTORS AFFECTING PARTICIPATION
YOUR AGE
YOUR GENDER
YOUR SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS
Income and employment
YOUR ABILITY/DISABILITY
YOUR RACE/RELIGION
some ethnic groups still hold
negative attitudes towards sport
STEREOTYPING
What is the cost (social/community) of SOCIAL EXCLUSION to the individual, taxpayer and economy?
COST TO THE
INDIVIDUAL
COST TO THE TAXPAYER
COST TO THE ECONOMY
Individs not realizing their
educational potential
Mass expenditure on income
support, housing benefit,
etc
Lack of skilled workers
Higher risk of
unemployment
Cost of school exclusions
Lack of customers, low
income reduces nations
spending power
Poorer physical health
Save mass amounts by early
intervention with young
offenders
Crime and fear of crime
affect the most deprived
communities
What are the general barriers to participation in sport (Attitude, Access, Programme)?
ATTITUDES
ACCESS
PROGRAMME
Stereotyping
Facilities
Range of activities
Lack of confidence
Times of opening
Inappropriate for ability
Lack of self-motivation
Transport
Inappropriate for delivery style
Image of sport
Lack of information
Quality of provision
Family/personal relationships
Official procedures
Too competitive
Cultural norms
Fees
Not enough fun
Lack of interest
Lack of childcare facilities
Too competitive
Lifestyle
Health
Education
Socio-economic status
Other competing activities
SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUPS
- Individuals from lower socio-economic groups have poorer health/mortality rates, therefore the health benefits of
participation are important
-This group is likely to suffer from social exclusion as they have less
-
power
opportunities
decision-making
disposable income
- Values are transferred through generations and can continue to alienate people who’s values are different to the
dominant culture
What factors might make this group difficult to MOBILISE (motivate)?
Feelings of inadequacy
Low self-esteem
Isolation from major social institutions
What is SOCIAL MOBILITY?
Movement of individuals up or down the social class structure
ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS
DEFINING ETHNICITY
What are Ethnic Groups?
People who have racial, religious, linguistic and/or certain other traits in common
What Ethnic groups can people be classified into?
White
Black African
Black Caribbean
Black other
Indian
Pakistani
Bangladeshi
Chinese
None of these
The gap between men’s/women’s part is greater amongst ethnic minority groups than it is in the population as a whole
REASONS FOR LOW PARTICIPATION RATES
What reasons are there for low participation rates?
Work/study demands
Home/family responsibilities
Lack of money
Laziness
Negative experiences in sport
What activities are popular with ethnic minority groups?
Weight training amongst Black males
Running/jogging amongst Black other males/Black Africans
Badminton by Chinese men
Cricket by Pakistani, Black other and Indian
Basketball amongst Black Caribbean/Black Africans
- There’s variation in levels of participation between ethnic groups, between men and women and between sports
Give examples of racism in sport?
STACKING
disproportionate concentration of ethnic minorities in certain positions in a sports team based
on stereotype that they are more valued for their physical skills than decision-making eg black
fly halves
CENTRALITY
restricts ethnic minority groups from more central positions requiring decision-making and
social interaction
LABELLING
agents of social control (eg teachers) attach stereotypes to particular groups of people eg
having lower educational expectations of black children compared to white, or girls compared to
boys on the sports field
CHANNELLING
teachers/coaches channel children from ethnic minority groups into certain sports that they
feel they are most likely to succeed in
ATTITUDES/PREJUDICE
RACIST ATTACKS
SOLUTIONS TO THE LOWER PARTICIPATION MINORITY RATES FROM ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS
What solutions are there to lower participation rates from Ethnic Minority Groups?
Sport policies that are sensitive/respectful of other cultures eg single sex swimming for Muslim women
Use of policy planning, race relations advisors and customer care
Info should be available about sport provision in a local area
Clubs should be supported but integration not enforced
People from ethnic minorities in local communities trained as sport leaders and SDO’s
Greater media coverage raising awareness of ethnic minority sports and role models
Campaigns to eliminate racism
Can you name a high profile Anti-Racism campaign?
“Kick it Out” in football, from the “Let’s Kick Racism out of
Football” campaign, est in 1993 by Commission for Racial Equality
and PFA
It was supported/funded by PFA, FA Premier League and the FA
FEMALE PARTICIPATION
What sports have high female participation?
- Swimming
- keep fit
- yoga
What are the reasons for lower female participation rates in active recreation?
Domestic role
Social stereotyping
society less positive about female sport participation compared to men. Stereotype that females
should not be seen to be too competitive, assertive, achievement orientated
Sport traditionally the preserve of males
it was est/controlled by men, actively discouraging women
Less media coverage
Traditionally less money/power
Sexism
women generally earn less money, occupy fewer positions of power (esp in sporting
institutions)
Overt eg legislation/club membership
Covert eg society’s more negative attitudes towards female participation
Evidence of inequality in sporting opportunities
unequal provision of facilities, less variety of activities eg traditionally
football, boxing, rugby.
Fewer female coaches/administrators
SOLUTIONS TO LOW PARTICIPATION RATES
What are the solutions to low participation rates?
Equal opportunities
NGBs must create/deliver equal opportunity policies following Sex Discrimination Act 1975
WSF est to raise awareness of inequalities in female sporting provision
More facilities for women
Women only sessions, effective child-care facilities
Better links between school and clubs
Help lower the “post school gap”
Media coverage
Health related activities
What does the term “sex” mean?
What does the term “gender” mean?
Women should be aware of all possibilities in their area and the health benefits of
sport participation should be promoted
The biological aspect of a person, male or female
Roles that different societies/cultures attribute as appropriate behaviour for
that sex
What gender roles do we assign to women in this country?
What impact does this have on modern day sport?
A dainty/delicate female, physically slim/emotionally
vulnerable
Sports like tennis/gymnastics receive more social acceptance than
sports requiring “masculine” orientated features
- Historically sport was always seen as a male preserve as they developed/controlled sports whilst women have had to
fight hard to achieve similar opportunities
- Limitations/restrictions were based on medical grounds and idealistic image of femininity
- This led to many myths/stereotypes regarding medical problems women would encounter if they participated in sport
too strenuously
How has female sports participation increased in the 20th C?
Greater independence via more disposable income
Transport
Availability of more sports
Clubs and competitions
Media coverage
Women in positions of responsibility in sport orgs
SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT 1975
A female should be treated in the same way as a male in similar circumstances
THE WOMEN’S SPORT FOUNDATION
- Set up 1984 by women working in sport concerned about lack of sport/rec opportunities for women/girls and low
representation of women in sports coaching/management/media
- Its leading org dedicated to improving/promoting opportunities for women/girls in sport/physical activity
- Committed to improving/increasing/promoting opportunities for women/girls (in all roles at all levels) in
sport/fitness/physical activity
What do you think is the biggest factor for female participation in sports?
What is the no.1 sport for women and girls?
The growing emphasis placed on
health/fitness and the toned/slim
stereotypical female form
Football
- There are 61,000 women competing in clubs affiliated to the FA
- Increase in number of girl’s teams developing in schools
What is the major problem holding back the number of girls taking part?
Lack of career prospects
DISABILITY AND PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVE RECREATION AND SPORT
What do you refer to as disability?
People with a PHYSICAL, SENSORY or MENTAL impairment
What are the most popular sports for the young disabled?
What is it about these sports?
Horse riding and swimming
These are sports that tend to organise events specifically of people with disabilities
Participation in other sports alongside non-disabled is low
Have sports been modified for the disabled?
What is Goalball?
Modified (volleyball or wheelchair basketball)
Specifically designed (goalball for the blind)
