The relationship between sports and society Sports Sociology The relationship between sports and society

What is “Sociology”? Study of social behavior of individuals, groups, organizations, and societies Focuses on links between different aspects of society Ex. Family and economy, religion and politics, medicine and law Also considers social inequality, social mobility, and social justice

So then what is Sports Sociology? Considers relationship between sports and society How culture and values influence sport How sport influences culture and values Sports and media, politics, etc. Sports and social inequality

Just a little bit of history Gender and Sports Just a little bit of history

The 1800’s (yep, I’m going there…) Participation of women in sports was discouraged or even banned Around 1850, they began introducing physical education for women at colleges Sports included bowling, ice skating, archery, swimming, and equitation By the 1890’s sports expanded to include tennis, golf, baseball, track/field, field hockey, and basketball These sports were all just part of physical education, NOT varsity sports.

Early 1900’s Collegiate sports opportunities for women grew in 1920’s and 30’s However, there was much opposition. – The National Association of Secondary Principals (1925) said: “sooner or later, the spectacle of interscholastic contests among girls gives rise to undesirable and even morbid social influences.” Basketball, track/field, and softball were considered too “masculine” for proper women and these sports were eliminated for women in many high schools and colleges.

Effect of WWII Many women were sent into non-traditional roles…all the men were at war so someone had to run the factories… All-American Girls’ Professional Baseball founded in 1943 and lasted until 1954 Quick! Name that movie!!! In colleges, basketball and softball resurfaced however coaching was less available and travel was restricted much more than for the men’s teams.

Enter Title IX – the 1970’s Put into place in 1972 and affected all educational programs that received federal money Was enforced through the Office of Civil Rights Guidelines: Selection of sports that accommodate interests of both genders Participation opportunities in proportion to enrollment Equality in equipment, facilities, scheduling of practices/games, travel funds, coaching and tutoring, access to training and medical services (yay! Girls can get their ankles taped too!!!), and housing and dining services.

Effects of Title IX NCAA incorporated women’s sports and began offering championships in 1980. Coaching and administrative opportunities actually decreased. In 1972 more than 90% of female teams had female coaches. By 1998 this number was less than 47%. Participation, however, increased, especially at high school level

1976 – 19% 1989 – 41% 2007 – some estimates reached as high as 51% Female Participation High School College 1976 – 19% 1989 – 41% 2007 – some estimates reached as high as 51% 1976 – 9% 1989 – 11% 2015 - ???

Effect of Title IX on Men’s Sports In 1992, Brown University tried to cut 2 women’s varsity sports and 2 men’s varsity sports Members of one of the women’s sports sued under Title IX and Brown was forced to reinstate the women’s teams. Football in particular presents problems for equalizing numbers since there are so many on the team.

What about the $$$? Between 1992 and 1996, average spending on women’s sports in Division 1A increased from $263,000 to $640,000. (253%) Between 1992 and 1996, average spending on men’s sports in Division 1A increased from $1 million to $2.4 million. (232%)

Gender differences in viewing What sports do we watch college-age men play? Basketball, football, ice hockey, baseball, soccer Sports based on confrontation, combative coordination What sports do we watch college-age women play? Gymnastics, skiing, diving, figure skating Sports that avoid aggressiveness, individual, stylish & attractive

Ticket-out-the-door $2.00 Summary Each word = $0.10 Write a summary about the history we’ve discussed and changes in sports for males and females, OR changes based on race. Get as close to $2.00 as you can, without going over.

African-American Sports History

Jesse Owens Participated in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany At that time, Adolph Hitler ruled Germany and believed that all other races/ethnicities were inferior to whites. Owens proved Hitler wrong winning gold in long jump, 100M dash, 200M dash, and 4x100M relay. Was nicknamed the Fastest Man in the World In 1976, was given the Medal of Freedom (highest award a US citizen can receive.

Jackie Robinson First African-American in Major League Baseball Played for years in Negro Leagues but signed with Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. Played first Major League game on April 15th, 1947. Was named National League Rookie of the Year Paved the way for other black athletes in professional sports

Earl Lloyd, Nat Clifton, Chuck Cooper All three entered the NBA in the same year (1950) As Jackie Robinson had already broken the color barrier three years earlier in a different sport, there was much less tension for these three entering the sport of basketball They were still spit on by spectators and refused service at restaurants

Althea Gibson In 1950, Gibson became the first black woman to play at the US Tennis Nationals. Advanced to second round In 1957, she won the US Nationals and Wimbledon and was welcomed back to NYC with a parade.

Charles Follis First documented African-American professional football player. Guess when this is said to have occurred… 1902! He played for the Shelby Athletic Club in Ohio. ************ Robert Marshall and Frederick Pollard are the first two African-Americans to play in what is now the NFL. They both started playing professionally in 1919, one year before the official start of the NFL.

Willie O’Ree On January 18th, 1958, O’Ree became the first African American to play in the National Hockey League. Played for the Boston Bruins for two years (stopped playing due to an eye injury) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDy_IPNwIhc

Vonetta Flowers Former track star turned bobsledder In 2002, she became the first black athlete to win a gold medal at a Winter Olympics.