Sports

By : Himaja Achala Evan Michalet Jacob Conley Brandon Senior

Conflict Theory

People from all major segments of a community of society may join in cheering for the same team their union is only temporary.

Social class divisions will continue to affect social relationships in a community even if the local team won the championship.

Sport is a social institution in which the most powerful oppress, manipulate, coerce, and exploit others.

Clip - Conflict theory

http://abc13.com/sports/fight-after-youth-football-game-frays-nerves/1594864/

● Clip shows a fight after a football game

● Shows division among the people even after getting together for a sporting event

Clip-Conflict Theory

● This clip shows that union in regards to sports is only temporary.

● Social class continues to have effects, even after a team victory.○ Clip demonstrates the conflict theory.

Symbolic InteractionismConcentrates on personal meanings, Social relationships, and self-identity processes.

● Gary Alan Fine 1987- Little League Baseball.● Misinterpreted the adult values of hard

work, competition, and winning as the ‘masculine’ value of dominance, ‘toughness’ and risky behavior.

● And the coaches and parent take the aggression behavior as “the evidence of hustle, dedication for competition and desire to win.

● They are being praised, but what about the rest? Like ‘weaker’ peers, younger children, and girls. It may leads to a loss of self-esteem.

Participation in a team sport may promote or harm self-esteem depending upon factors such as emphasis on winning and fair play.

Clip - Symbolic Interactionism● This clip shows the

2015 NBA Finals.○ Warriors Vs.

Cavaliers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMZqOJAVCdU

Clip- Symbolic Interactionism

● This clip shows how self esteem can be promoted (winning team), or harmed (losing team) through participation in sports.

● Shows symbolic interactionism in modern sports.

Functionalism● Functionalists think sports are important because it helps society work more smoothly, it does this

by the following functions:● Sports promotes sense of self identification(A team binds people to a nation of community).● Also a safe outlet for aggressive behaviors generated by frustrations,anxieties, or other situations. ● Sports encourages the development of character. The hard work, discipline and self sacrifice is

demanded from a team sport which teaches kids all together to be more successful. ● All in all, sports teaches basic beliefs, norms, and values. These activities can also teach athletes for

adult roles. Games for instance prepare athletes for work in organization. ● This is the only perspective to see sports as a positive.

Demo - Functionalism● Split the class into two teams● Pick 3 people to participate from each side.● We will ask a question that relates to our topic. The first one to correctly

answer the question earns a point for their side.● Then, each team of 3 chooses one person to shoot a basket.

○ If your shot goes in, you earn a point for your side

● Then, the next 3 from each side come up.● The team with the most points at the end wins candy!

Trivia Challenge

Demo-Functionalism● This demo showed functionalism in action in that it:

○ Showed how people work together to achieve a goal○ Showed how hard work earns a reward○ Was a safe outlet for aggressive behaviors○ Helped you guys work smoothly as a team

Section Main Ideas and Notes❖ Sports is defined as a set of complex activities in which winners and losers are determined by

physical performance within a set of established rules.❖ The American view of sport is expressed in this quote from Vince Lombardi:

“Winning is not everything. It is the only thing.” ❖ Males dominate the sports world❖ However, progress towards equality is being made.

➢ For example, the women’s basketball teams at the universities of Connecticut and Tennessee have both held the best single season record in men’s or women’s basketball history

Section Main Idea and Notes (cont.)❖ Sport subcultures also exist in society

➢ These show the relationship between sport, society, and culture.➢ A sport subculture is a group within the larger context of sport that has some of its own

distinct roles, values, and norms.

❖ Sexism is prevalent in sports➢ Women only have their own league in one sport, basketball (WNBA)➢ The percentage of women coaching women’s programs have declined.

❖ Racism is also prevalent in sports➢ Stacking is known as players being assigned to less central positions on the basis of race or

ethnicity➢ Example: 37% of NBA head coaches were members of a minority group in 2008➢ While 76% of NBA players are black, only about 17% of radio and television NBA sports

announcers are black.