Social class and SportSocial class and Sport

Learning objectives:Learning objectives:

To be able to describe what is To be able to describe what is meant by the term ‘social class’meant by the term ‘social class’

To list ways in which Leisure To list ways in which Leisure Providers can target the Providers can target the unemployed to become more unemployed to become more involved in sportinvolved in sport

Is class still a determining factor in the Is class still a determining factor in the activities in which I participate and in my activities in which I participate and in my likelihood of developing my performance?likelihood of developing my performance?

Social class and sport:Social class and sport:What is social class?What is social class?

The term used to define social inequalities, The term used to define social inequalities, that is, that certain groups have greater that is, that certain groups have greater access to wealth, income and power than access to wealth, income and power than others.others.Also factors such as a person's family Also factors such as a person's family background, education and income background, education and income contribute to social class.contribute to social class. One of the most significant factors One of the most significant factors determining the opportunities people have to determining the opportunities people have to participate in sport is their social class participate in sport is their social class background.background.

The following table identifies socioeconomic group by The following table identifies socioeconomic group by employment type. It can be seen that people in employment type. It can be seen that people in `higher‘ socioeconomic positions have more `higher‘ socioeconomic positions have more opportunities to participate.opportunities to participate.

GROUP % PARTICIPATION 1987 1990GROUP % PARTICIPATION 1987 1990

Professional 78 79Professional 78 79

Managers 68 71Managers 68 71

Semi-skilled 51 55Semi-skilled 51 55

Unskilled 42 46Unskilled 42 46

Full-time students 89 91 Full-time students 89 91

Those people higher up the socioeconomic scale are Those people higher up the socioeconomic scale are more likely to have access to resources e.g. higher more likely to have access to resources e.g. higher disposable income. more time and more equipmentdisposable income. more time and more equipment

This can help to increase standards of This can help to increase standards of performance e.g. better performance e.g. better equipment/facilities, better equipment/facilities, better coaching/training/practice time.coaching/training/practice time.

They also have better attitudes They also have better attitudes towards and better awareness of, the towards and better awareness of, the benefits of sport e.g. character benefits of sport e.g. character building, health enhancing, socially building, health enhancing, socially desirable.desirable.

They have also been socialised into They have also been socialised into sport by the influence of schools, sport by the influence of schools, parents and peers.parents and peers.

List ways to help the unemployed List ways to help the unemployed become involved in sport:become involved in sport:

Extend opening hoursExtend opening hoursReduce costs, special rates Reduce costs, special rates Reduced equipment hire costs Reduced equipment hire costs Special sessionsSpecial sessionsOrganised activitiesOrganised activitiesEmployment advice in leisure centresEmployment advice in leisure centresDaytime useDaytime useBetter/increased facility provision in Better/increased facility provision in areas of high unemploymentareas of high unemploymentDirect publicityDirect publicityEncourage unemployed to become Encourage unemployed to become volunteer coaches/staff after being volunteer coaches/staff after being trainedtrained

Sport tends to have social class associations:Sport tends to have social class associations:

Upper ClassUpper Class Middle ClassMiddle Class Working Working ClassClass

POLOPOLO

GOLFGOLF

CROQUETCROQUET

HUNTINGHUNTING

RUGBY RUGBY UNION UNION

RACKET RACKET SPORTSSPORTS

HOCKEYHOCKEY

RUGBY RUGBY LEAGUELEAGUE

DARTSDARTS

SNOOKERSNOOKER

FISHINGFISHING

Some sports cross all boundaries Some sports cross all boundaries e.g. football and cricket.e.g. football and cricket.

There are also regional and There are also regional and national identities of sport national identities of sport within the UK e.g. English within the UK e.g. English cricket, Welsh rugby. Scottish cricket, Welsh rugby. Scottish curling, (Irish) Gaelic footballcurling, (Irish) Gaelic football

However, these class and However, these class and sub‑culture boundaries are sub‑culture boundaries are becoming increasingly less becoming increasingly less evident.evident.

Social class and sporting involvement in Social class and sporting involvement in an historical context:an historical context:

By the late 19By the late 19thth century, as a long‑term century, as a long‑term result of the industrial revolution, the result of the industrial revolution, the working classes had more time and money working classes had more time and money to pursue leisure activities.to pursue leisure activities.

Working week decreased initially to 54 Working week decreased initially to 54 hours, by 1920 to 48 hours ‑ half day on hours, by 1920 to 48 hours ‑ half day on Saturdays and Wednesdays given.Saturdays and Wednesdays given.

Between 1875 and 1900 ‑ wages increased Between 1875 and 1900 ‑ wages increased by one third.by one third.

• Factory sports created and sponsored teams established.• Development of railways ‑ allowing better travel.• 1870's = improvement of provision of public leisure facilities... parks etc.Park provision aimed to:• Improve health• Discourage crime• Distract from social deviance (drinking etc)• 1870’s sport become more commercialised.. .. attendance at football and horse riding events increased• 1900's - by now there was a large involvement of working class sporting activity.

However.... despite the increase However.... despite the increase involvement of the working involvement of the working class, sport was still controlled class, sport was still controlled by the middle class in terms of by the middle class in terms of ownership and management. ownership and management. e.g. those in public schools were e.g. those in public schools were being prepared for leadership being prepared for leadership roles through team games, the roles through team games, the working classes were given drill working classes were given drill and therapeutic gymnastics to and therapeutic gymnastics to provide discipline and improve provide discipline and improve healthhealth..

Task:Task:

Complete the work sheetsComplete the work sheets