chapter

13

Social Class and Sport

Chapter Outline

• Social Classes • Social Class and Sport Activity• Control of Sport• Class Mobility in Sport• Summary

Economic Class Divisions

Social class The categories of people who share similar positions in society based on their economic level, education, occupation, and social interaction.

Social stratification The assignment of class based on inequalities in society such as power, prestige, and wealth.

Key Point

Individual opportunities in life are affected by class status.

Developing Capital

Economic capital The financial resources that one has or controls. These resources affect how we see the world and opportunities available to us.

Social capital Resources available to a person based on memberships, relationships, and both social and business networks. Social capital is affected by family and friends.

Cultural capital The skills and abilities we have based on our education and life experiences.

Key Point

Capital affects the sports we watch, play, and succeed in.

How does social class affect sport involvement, sport opportunities, and

leadership or decision-making opportunities in sport?

Social Class

Social class status affects sport opportunities.– Upper class

• Wealthy (with disposable income)• Exclusive memberships, used to build social capital• Can afford exceptional coaching and sport experiences• Have the highest rates of sport participation• Play exclusive sports such as golf, tennis, polo• More likely to use health and fitness equipment

(continued)

Social Class (continued)

– Upper-middle class• Professionals such as lawyers, managers, physicians• Many sport experiences and opportunities such as

gymnastics, swimming, and archery

– Middle class• Make careful decisions about expenses• Many sport opportunities in community

– Lower class• Low annual income ($18,810 U.S.)• Play team sports available and subsidized in the community• Play strength, speed, and daring sports such as boxing

wrestling, racing

Access and Barriers to Sport• Cost of high-performance training

– Requires economic, social, and cultural capital– Top coaching and training can run as high as

$75,000 U.S. each year in some individual sports– Must pay for coaching, facilities, physical training,

travel, equipment

• Team sports– Often run and subsidized by community– Allows most kids to play– Coaching is much more affordable

(continued)

Access and Barriers to Sport (continued)

• High school sports– Affluent schools win more championships

• Afford better facilities, equipment, and coaches• Participants start sports earlier and receive more training• Affluent schools win more female championships than male

championships

• Community leagues– Serve more children at a modest expense– Provide training even in traditionally upper-class

sports

Who Controls Sport?

• Local communities: Power is in the hands of administrators and boards of directors (parents, politicians).

• National level: Power is in the hands of the people who control the money for the organization.

• Often from upper class or upper-middle class• Media moguls (Rupert Murdoch), league commissioners,

and superstar athletes• Often White males

Key Point

People with power in sport have the ability to promote or prevent change in the game.

Social Mobility Through Sport

• Educational opportunities– Need to stay academically eligible to play– Possibility for athletic scholarships (sport helps build social and

cultural capital)– College athletes may have more opportunities than nonathletes– Leaders in business often attribute success to lessons learned

through sport

• Is class mobility through sport possible?– Unrealistic expectation – Only 0.2% of high school athletes play professionally – Best opportunity is to advance is through education

Summary

• Opportunities in life are affected by social class.

• Social class affects the sports that we play.

• Money allows access to elite competition in many sports.

• Power in sport lies with those who have the ability to make changes. Often these people are White males.

• Sport can provide some opportunities for social mobility, but it also provides some false hope.

On Deck…

• Questions and comments• Assignments and readings • Next chapter: Special Populations and Sport

– People with disabilities– Aging adults