How Sociologists Seek to Understand The Sporting World

Introduction

Sociologists focus on systematic studies of society and social interaction. Sociology aims to explain how the community affects the people living in it and critically reviews how these very people affect society. Social is defined as the ongoing concerting and coordination of the activities of individuals. Therefore, sociology qualifies as the study of all that is characterized by social elements. A sub-discipline of sociology that mainly focuses on the study of sports as a social phenomenon is termed sports sociology. The primary focus here is to critically review how sociologists seek to understand the sporting world as a whole. In addition to that, there will be a review of various sociological theories of sports and an explanation of how differences in gender affect sports participation.

Theories in Sports Sociology

Several theories have helped to explain and understand the sociology of sports. These theories include conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, critical theory, and structural functionalism. In critical theory, the primary emphasis is grounded on the materialist interpretation of historical work, rational analysis, a critical stance on the social arrangement, and a political program of reform and revolution (Smith & Hattery, 2017, p. 113). It mainly draws attention to the differentials in power, such as the conflict among different classes. It is thus viewed as a macro-level analysis of society. Structural functionalism theory views society as a complex model whose different parts work in cooperation to promote stability and solidarity.

Symbolic interactionism, on the other hand, develops from various practical considerations. These considerations allude to the utilization of dialect by people for making normal implications for the various deductions that help in correspondence with others. Under the critical theory, there is a stress on the reflective assessment and critique of society, which is done by applying knowledge from social sciences and various subjects of humanity. It strives to liberate humans from the circumstances which enslave them.

Gender Roles in Sports

In most premodern societies, the role of gender, particularly for females and males in sports, was majorly reinforced at a young and tender age. The sociology that was keenly observed to be surrounding sports was grounded on the idea that sports are for the most masculine (Chalip, 2015, p. 398). Men are perceived as more masculine than females. As a result, females were sidelined and discriminatively exempted from participation in various sporting activities. This was grounded in the argument that they are delicate and thus prone to injuries, given their less muscular nature. They were encouraged to participate more in noncompetitive games while the competitive ones were reserved for males.

The impacts of various sporting activities served as a preparatory model for children to adulthood. During the games, there was a distinct separation of roles between men and women (Delaney & Madigan, 2015). The separation was mainly expressed through the media and gender identity. In fact, it has been commonly observed that in the media, sports played by men are more prominent compared to women's sports. The broadcast of sports between these two genders also varies. There is a clear and distinct contrast in the kind of sports taken by each gender. While males take part in more combative and confronting coordination games, women participate in games that are more stylish and individual.

Impact of Injuries and Identity in Sports

Thorough research conducted by sociologists has proven that the effects of sustained injuries are not just limited to one aspect of the athlete’s life; there are also biological, social, and emotional domains that are severely affected. Studies were conducted particularly on the temporary psychology of both injured and uninjured players. The injured ones demonstrated a lower psychological effect than the uninjured ones. They showed low self-esteem, and in most cases, their thoughts were negative. Their levels of depression were also discovered to be considerably high. This is clear proof of how severe the effects of sports injuries can have on the social life of an athlete.

Participation in sports crosses most boundaries, particularly racial and ethnic boundaries. However, it is notable that a person’s identity may provide an upper hand toward participation in a particular sporting activity (Chalip, 2015, p. 399). Society holds very strong ethnic and racial labels, and when these are applied to particular sports, they may lead to the identity of particular sports being viewed as self-defining. The aspect of self-defining as ascribed in sports may have its historical roots. This is particularly true for African-American athletes. As far as racial matters are concerned, it was discovered that the most obvious assertion made by a particular athlete greatly relates to the assertions they make about themselves.

Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Sports

People with disabilities have been victims of various societal barriers. The fact that one has a physical disability evokes some negative perception, and the aspect of discrimination dominates in most societies (Delaney & Madigan, 2015). However, sociologists have identified sports as one such field that transcends all forms of barriers, ranging from linguistic to racial and even social barriers. It acts as a standard platform for participation and inclusion of all manner of diversities and differences. Through this, persons with disabilities are thus accommodated. Being considered incapable, participating in sports makes them feel like part of others and fosters their inclusion in all manner of activities that others participate in.

Conclusion

Indeed, it is evident that sociology plays an utmost crucial role as far as sports and equality in sports are concerned. The various theories put in place for understanding the sociology of sports are instrumental in enabling learners to appreciate the various aspects of the sociology of sports and their applicability in contemporary society. Various aspects of stigma and discrimination in sports are viewed from a more sociological perspective, and their critical analysis helps in understanding both the initial and current direction of society on this matter.

References

• Chalip, L. (2015). Sociological Perspectives on Sport. In Sport Management Review, 18(3), 398-399.
• Delaney, T., & Madigan, T. (2015). The Sociology of Sports: An Introduction. McFarland.
• Smith, E., & Hattery, A. (2017). Critical Race Theory and Sport. In Sociology of Sport Journal, 34(2), 113-114.