Chapter Preview
Section 1: The Nature of Sport
Section 2: Theoretical Perspectives
and Sport
Section 3: Social Issues in Sport
Chapter Preview · Section 1
The Nature of Sport (pages 496–502)
As a social institution, sport fulfills some important
societal needs. One of these is helping individuals
identify with other members of society. Sport
subcultures have developed around both
team and individual sports. For this
reason, sport is a reflection of society.
Chapter Preview · Section 2
Theoretical Perspectives and Sport
(pages 503–511)
Functionalists see sport positively, as a
means for socializing young people,
promoting social integration, providing a
release for tensions, and developing
sound character. Conflict theorists
believe that organized sports can be
harmful to character development.
Symbolic interactionists focus on the
self-concepts and relationships
developed through sport activities.
Chapter Preview · Section 3
Social Issues in Sport (pages 512–519)
Sport contributes to upward mobility among collegiate
athletes, but the opportunities are too few. Minorities
still face discrimination in sport. Women in sport suffer
from gender-based stereotypes. Although
this situation is slowly improving,
intercollegiate female athletes do not
receive treatment equal to males.
As a social institution, sport fulfills some
important societal needs. One of these is
helping individuals identify with other members
of society. Sport subcultures have developed
around both team and individual sports. For
this reason, sport is a reflection of society.
• sport
• sport subculture
Which of the following are some benefits
you’ve received from sports in your life?
A. Societal needs
B. Individuals identify
with other members
of society
C. Reflection of society
D. All of the above
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
A Definition of Sport
• Sport is a set of competitive activities in
which winners and losers are determined
by physical performance within a set of
established rules.
Do you agree or disagree with the
definition of sport?
A. Agree
B. Disagree
A. A
B. B
0%
B
A
0%
Sport as a Social Institution
• Sport teaches some of the basic values of
society and promotes attachment to
society.
Which of the following are some
values that sport teaches?
A. Basic values of society
B. Promotes attachment
to society
C. Aids in socialization
D. Self-identification
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Sport, Culture, and Society
• Sport reflects American society’s emphasis
on achievement.
• Males dominate the sport world, but
progress is being made by females.
Do you feel that most sports are
dominated by males?
A. Very much so
B. Somewhat
C. Not very much
D. Not at all
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Sport Subcultures
• A sport subculture is a group within a
larger context of sport that has some of it
own distinct roles, values, and norms.
• Examples:
– Hockey players
– Surfboard riders versus surf lifesavers
– Jockeys
What are some other sport
subcultures?
A. Hockey players
B. Surfboard riders
C. Surf lifesavers
D. Jockeys
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Functionalists see sport positively, as a means
for socializing young people, promoting social
integration, providing a release for tensions,
and a developing sound character. Conflict
theorists believe that organized sports can be
harmful to character development. Symbolic
interactionists focus on the self-concepts and
relationships developed through sport activities.
What do you think is the main
function of sport?
A. Character development
B. Promote social
identification
C. Release for tension
D. Teach basic norms
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Culture and Sport
• Sport is a major social activity through
which culture is created and reinforced.
• Sociologists disagree about the social
implications of sport.
Sport Paradoxes
“American sport embodies American
values…”
Do you agree or disagree with this
statement?
A. Agree
A
0%
C
C. Not sure
B
B. Disagree
A. A
B. B
C.
0% C
0%
Functionalism
• Functionalists think sport is important
because it helps society work more
smoothly.
Olympic Success
Functionalism (cont.)
• The functions of sport:
– To teach basic beliefs, norms, and values.
– To promote a sense of social identification.
– To offer a safe release of aggressive
feelings generated by the frustrations,
anxieties, and strains of modern life.
– To encourage the development of character.
Functionalism (cont.)
• Dysfunctions of sport:
– The desire to win may cause extreme
violence.
– It may also cause cheating.
D
C
B
A
How do functionalists view the role of sport in
society?
A. Sport teaches basic beliefs,
norms, and values.
B. Sport promotes a sense of
social identification.
C. Sport offers a safe release of
A. A
aggressive feelings generated
by the frustrations, anxieties,
B. B
and strains of modern life.
0% C.
0% C0%
0%
D. Sport encourages the
development of character.
D. D
Conflict Theory
• To conflict theorists, sport is a social
institution in which the most powerful
oppress, manipulate, coerce, and exploit
others.
• Although sport unites temporarily,
inequality and social division still exist.
Conflict Theory (cont.)
• They also believe that the better one is at
a sport, the less sportsmanship he or she
shows.
• Sports scandals seem to be everywhere.
What are some of the drugs that
athletes take?
A. Steroids
B. Growth hormones
C. Amphetamines
D. All of the above
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Symbolic Interactionism
• This perspective concentrates on personal
meaning, social relationships, and selfidentity processes.
• The meanings of the symbols associated
with sports affect the self-concepts, as well
as the relationships, of those involved.
Symbolic Interactionism (cont.)
• Limitations of each perspective:
– Functionalists—critics of this perspective
contend that many sports have become
so closely tied to elite interests that they
contribute more to private profit than to
the general well-being of society.
Symbolic Interactionism (cont.)
– Conflict theorists—they tend to overlook
the positive contributions of sport to
society.
– Symbolic interactionists—they fail to
include the broader social and cultural
context.
Social Effects
of Sport
How were social interaction and selfconcepts affected by sports?
A. Hustle
B. Weaker
C. Aggressive behavior
D. Loss of self-esteem
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Sport contributes to upward mobility among
collegiate athletes, but the opportunities are too
few. Minorities still face discrimination in sport.
Women in sport suffer from gender-based
stereotypes. Intercollegiate female athletes do
not receive treatment equal to the treatment
received by males, although this situation is
slowly improving.
• stacking
Do you agree that inequality exists in
sports?
A. Agree
B. Disagree
C. Not sure
0%
A
A. A
B. B
C.0% C
B
0%
C
Sport and Social Mobility
• Participating in sport increases the
likelihood of improving a person’s place in
the stratification structure.
• Some people argue that sport is a social
class escalator for minorities.
High School Athletes’
Chances of Advancing
to the Pros
Sport and Social Mobility (cont.)
• Others argue that the emphasis on sport is
harmful because it diverts attention away
from learning the academic and businessrelated skills necessary for success in
mainstream society.
• Either way, no high school athlete should
rely solely on sport as a ticket up the
stratification structure.
Do you feel that athletes should be so
revered?
A. Very much so
B. Somewhat
C. Not very much
0%
A
A. A
B. B
C.0% C
B
0%
C
Sport and Racism
• In stacking, players are assigned to less
central positions on the basis of race or
ethnicity.
• Most minorities are not assigned central
positions, which has economic consequences
for them.
• African Americans must perform better than
whites to avoid pay discrimination.
National Football
League Positions, by
Race
Sport and Racism (cont.)
• Minority former athletes profit much less than
their white colleagues from personal
appearances and commercial endorsements.
• They also lose out in sports-related careers
when their playing days are over.
• There are few minorities represented in the
power structure at the professional level.
Who Are the Biggest
Baseball Fans?
Do you feel that there are any
solutions to this racism in sport?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Not sure
D. Sometimes
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Sexism in Sport
• Barriers for women:
– Women who play sports have been
stereotyped as masculine in the past.
– They have also been told that sports
would harm a woman’s health,
especially her ability to bear children.
– Sexism has denied women equal access
to organized sports.
Sexism in Sport (cont.)
– Title IX helped.
– Resistance to female participation at the
local level still exists.
– Women are still denied equal access to
the power structure, and the number in
those positions have ironically
decreased due to Title IX.
– Women at the professional level make
significantly less than men.
What are some reasons that women
have historically been discouraged
from sports?
A. More masculine
B. Unfeminine
C. Harm a woman’s
health
D. None of the above
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
High School Athletes’ Chances of Advancing to the Pros
Source: National Federation of State High School
Associations, 1999–2000.
National Football League Positions, by Race
Source: Institute for
Diversity and Ethics in
Sport, 2004.
Percentage of College Women’s Athletic Teams Coached
by Women
Source: R. Vivian Acosta and Linda Jean
Carpenter, “Women in Intercollegiate Sport.”
Brooklyn College, 2004.
Who Are the Biggest
Baseball Fans?
Source: Latitudes and Attitudes: An Atlas of
American Tastes, Trends, Politics, and Passions.
Boston: Little, Brown.
Olympic Success
Source: The World Almanac and Book of Facts, 2005.
sport
a set of competitive activities in which
winners and losers are determined by
physical performance within a set of
established rules
sport subculture
a group with distinct roles, values, norms,
and beliefs that is organized around a sport
activity
stacking
assignment of players to less central
positions on the basis of race or ethnicity
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